One size does not fit all when it comes to purses

The perfect handbag becomes an extension of the woman.
By BONNIE BING
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Finding the perfect handbag is as difficult as finding the perfect husband -- or the perfect car.
The choices are there, but you don't know if you love it or if your needs are met until you've had it around for a while.
The choice is difficult because not only is a handbag a useful, constant companion, it also makes a fashion statement.
While some women worry more about function than appearance, others prefer to be trendy and will sacrifice function for the right look.
When asked what the must-have feature in a handbag is, women offered very definite answers:
It has to be a shoulder bag.
The purse has to have a cell phone compartment.
It has to stand up when I put it on the floor, and it has to have little metal thingys on the bottom so the bottom doesn't get gross.
It has to be an unusual color. No black purses in my closet.
My purse has to have an outside pocket for my keys.
The answers go on and on.
Finding the right handbag isn't as easy as it may seem. A purse can't be so big that it could double for an overnight bag, or so small that it won't close when you jam everything in it.
Some women don't like having two handles on a shoulder bag because one strap is always falling off the shoulder.
With so many opinions, it's not surprising the handbag sections of department stores offer a mind-boggling selection.
Some women prefer to carry one purse all season and not change except for evening. Others like to change their purse with nearly every outfit.
Regardless of your preference, there's a handbag -- or many -- for you.
It's just finding it.
Trends in bags
"The very first bag was probably a fistful of skins tied to a bit of stick, a provisional container for food and flint," writes Anna Johnson in her book, "Handbags, the Power of the Purse."
"From these simple beginnings, the bag has blossomed into every form, color and material imaginable."
Blossomed indeed. Walk into a handbag department this season and you're surrounded by metallic leather hobo bags accented with rows of grommets, rectangular purses with a wrist strap, crocheted bags covered with paillettes or sequins, and sleek, colorful tote bags, to mention a few.
Purses range from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars and every price in between.
I love purses because even if you've gained weight, you can go shopping and still have fun. You don't have to go into a little dressing room, and you can try on a lot of purses in a very short time. And it's fun to watch the huge selection and check the trends.
Affordable fakes
A popular movie star carrying a particular bag will start a run on them, and before long the style is on back order. Those who can't afford the genuine article will search for a good knockoff.
Most women won't leave home without it, and somehow it offers a sense of security. A handbag full of personal property becomes an extension of the woman.
I was with a half dozen fashion writers who were having lunch in New York. A guy grabbed a purse from under the table and was gone in a flash. The owner of the purse was stunned, then she said, crying, "I feel violated and mad. I feel like he stole a part of me."Whether you're carrying one of this season's "it" bags or that favorite from last year, you know the importance of getting just the right purse and the attachment you feel after you've carried it for a while.