Do you long for the feeling you get from buying top quality fashions? Do you stay on top of the latest trends and wonder what's going to be next on the designer runways of Milan and Paris? Or are you a function-driven consumer, looking for the best quality in classic styles that will last for years? Whether you're seeking practical and proven, or trendy and hip, handbags are a great way to express your style without blowing your budget!

One of the most important considerations in choosing a fashion hand bag is its capacity to hold your worldly possessions. If you can't get through the day without your laptop and your make-up bag close at hand, a clutch is not the right purse for you. Today's ladies business bag, with a padded space for your notebook computer, pockets for your keys and credit cards, and zippered compartments for sunglasses and cellphone, can still be a fashion item of supple leather in shades of brown with an elegant lining. And without that clunky briefcase look! For an even more casual carry-all, how about a leather messenger bag in tan or chocolate brown?

If your needs are for a somewhat smaller handbag, look for zippered pouches on the inside to keep your things organized. A small clutch or shoulder purse can often disguise a roomy interior, but beware of buying too small and overstuffing your bag ? a slim profile on a larger bag is preferred over a small bag bursting at the seams.

The right handbag can be the finishing touch that completes the outfit. It can also change the look altogether, in the same way that a new belt or different jewelry dresses up or tones down your clothes. So for the practical at heart, each new handbag is an inexpensive way to get more mileage out of those classics in your closet. And for the trendy clothes hound, how can you ever have enough handbags?