Kate Spade Spell Check

When I read that Kate Spade's latest collection of accessories had been inspired by a love of books, libraries and academia I couldn't have been more excited - that is until I saw the spelling...

Have you spotted the glaringly obvious error? Yes, it should be Austen with an E if they're referring to the author and not the state capitol of Texas! Oh dear, better call the copy editor.

Spelling errors aside, a library index is a lovely idea for a quirky handbag - but it's guaranteed any book lover who's bought the bag without giving it a second glance is not going to be happy, and at $298 purchasing the 'Required Reading Index Organizer' is one pricey mistake to make.

Berry Nice!

This winter I'll be making a nod to the berry tone trend with this Zara handbag (£29.99). It may be known as the Mini City Bag but it's still big enough to carry all the essentials - and that's including a brolly and my Kindle. I know, I know, not another handbag - but it's practical, on trend and good value, so what's a girl to do?

Celine Laundry Bag

They say never air your dirty linen in public, but if you've got the cash to splash on a Celine handbag you'd want the world and his wife to see your new arm candy - am I right? But don't you think Celine's new must-have shopper is more than a little reminiscent of those woven check bags we see hauled in and out of the Albert Square launderette for poor old Dot to deal with? Albeit an uber-luxe version, of course.

Who'd have thought the humble laundry bag could inspire something so beautiful? No question this bag is way too good to lug around dirty laundry, but that said a girl's got to show off her handbags somewhere.

Just don't expect these to be popping up on Eastenders any time soon.

Alexander Wang After Dark

Don't big nights out always go wrong? You pop to the bar only to get pushed and shoved to the back of the queue - then when you've finally been served you've got to face walking round and round a dark club to find your friends again - none of whom ever seem to have a phone signal. Well all that could be at an end - just tell them to look for the girl with the glowing handbag!

Alexander Wang's white leather shoulder bag magically transforms into a glowing green beacon after dark - now that's a partypiece if ever there was one!

Alexander Wang Glow-in-the-Dark Bag, £748 Selfridges

The Future's Bright...

The future's orange - well for the coming summer months at least, so prepare to be tangoed. If the prospect of head to toe orange fills you with the fear of looking more like an Oompa Loompa than as if you've just stepped off the Carolina Herrera S/S13 catwalk, why not just brighten-up your accessories?

As if their orange perspex clutch isn't enough, Zara have also produced a great orange shopper for £22.99 - and as soon as it's back in stock this baby is being added to my handbag collection.

A Handbag for £1!

I love nothing more than finding a bargain, and can never keep news of a great deal to myself. On a recent shopping trip down Oxford Street I stumbled across this small black messenger bag in H&M reduced from £14 to just £1. Who would turn down a handbag for £1?! How do I do it? For all the latest sales in London, just go to www.salesgossip.co.uk.

Get Carter

From the Roxanne to the Alexa, Mulberry certainly know a thing or two about creating the most covetable bags around! The Carter is the latest design to top the most wanted lists. The chain straps give it all the glamour of a Chanel 2.55, whilst the boxy, utilitarian shape makes it perfect for carrying all your everyday essentials. Kate Bosworth, Emma Watson and Kate Moss have been sporting this arm candy all summer, and in my view it is definitely the bag to be seen with this autumn/winter - if you've got a spare £895, that is. Sadly I don't - but a girl can dream...

Addicted to Vintage

The allure of vintage shopping seems to have increased during the recession - after all, you can get a great piece for a fraction of new designer price tags. Then there's the appeal of owning a little piece of history. Hardened vintage shoppers often cite 'the story' - the fact that an item has had a whole other life before it fell into their manicured hands - as a reason for buying pre-owned items.

I recently stumbled across an Aladdin's cave of a vintage emporium in Warwick. Most of the shop is taken up with 'antique' nic-nacs - the kind of place David Dickinson would frequent at the weekends. But squashed in the back corner were a couple of clothes rails - which on closer inspection were filled with hidden gems - a DVF wrap dress could be yours for £40, or a YSL suit for £100. The only problem is when you fall in love with something that simply won't fit - you can't just grab an assistant to order in another one for you. I suppose that's another reason why vintage handbags are so great - it doesn't matter how much Ben & Jerry's you've knocked back.


Some girls have a shoe fetish, others collect bikinis - but my obsession has always been for handbags. The mock-croc bag pictured above was only £2.50, and I know I'm not going to walk down the street passing ten girls carrying the same one!

I can't help but wonder who owned it before - for all I know it could have been slung over the shoulder of a '40s screen siren.