Byline: By MOLLY WATSON Western Mail
Every girl knows you can never have enough shoes, but the same can now be said for handbags. According to a report published today, sales of handbags in Britain have increased by 146% over the past five years. The evidence shows that the days of having one handbag for every occasion are well and truly gone. Instead, women are matching their bags with their outfits, their activity and even their mood. And with women earning more money than ever before, they've more money to spend on accessories.
The report, by Mintel, attributes the trend to the fact that a growing number of high street stores are putting out look-a-like versions of designer Monogram Multicolore Bags products, so you can have the bag without the price tag.
ITV Wales Style Doctor Elin Davies said a handbag is a vital part of any outfit.
She said, 'Women only used to have one handbag but now they change their handbag all the time. They have different coloured ones, bigger ones for when they have a lot to carry, and smaller ones for going out after work.
'It's partly because of the emergence of all these celebrities wearing different bags every day and also because they're so accessible.
'The high street is so good at making quality bags these days, you can't even tell which ones are made of leather, and which are plastic.'
Monogram Denim Bags ReplicaWendy Morgan, who is in charge of the accessory department at TopShop in Cardiff, said bags are flying off the shelves.
She said, 'It's not just the designer imitation ones. If someone like Sienna Miller is seen with something on her arm and then we bring out something similar, then they just disappear immediately.'
Kate Blythe, a fashion writer at Elle, said over the past year the magazine has increased the space it gives to accessories and is also producing a separate shoe and bag supplement.
Most of the major fashion houses rely on accessories for about 80% of their sales, she said.
'The market is huge. The average British woman isn't able to afford pounds 4,000 on a dress, but they can save up for an investment piece like a bag which will stay in your wardrobe for season after season.
'And if you've got a bag like that you can wear high street or even supermarket and it just smartens everything up.
'Most girls are either bag girls or shoe girls, but they're definitely the two things women are obsessed with and are willing to save up for.
'The fashion houses are now competing so much with each other that they're all trying to design the 'It bag' so you've got competitive designing and competitive buying because you see someone with an amazing bag and you want it.
'And designers hold back products so there are only a limited amount which makes them more desirable.
'Even the high street stores are selling out.'
Melissa Cowen admits she's handbag mad, and finds it hard to stop buying them, especially as she works with them all day in accessory shop Jon Ian, in Cardiff.
The 24-year-old admits she owns about 20 handbags.
She said, 'I think it makes it a bit worse working with lovely handbags all day.
'I can't really afford to buy them but last summer I b
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