The right handbag can transform the simplest of dresses into something special. It's about silhouette and about touch. I get a real buzz out of unwrapping a new handbag, sitting there like a gem on a bed of tissue. Handbags are a size-free zone. The more expensive, the better.
Exotic materials are in demand again, ranging from ostrich to lizard and crocodile.
These days, it is never too early to acquire a handbag. It might take that long for the bag to arrive. Waiting lists for the most coveted bags at the big name luxury goods houses extend to several months. By contrast, styles have been zipping through at an energetic pace since the mid-'90s. The short-handled bag, elegant and ladylike in a traditional sense, sold well last year and is still a winner.