Byline: Carole Ann Rice
Only the hideously rich and It Girls can afford to put any store by a status handbag. This year's Fendi baguette, Chanel tote or Louis Vuitton clutch is, to some women, a matter of life or social death.
But when all you have to worry about is abercrombie clothing the next botox injection for that recalcitrant crow's foot, handbags take on an altogether cosmic significance.
Luckily for the rest of us handbags and our accessories are just fun add-ons. We can mix and match as often as a Page Three gal changes her footballer boyfriend and with as much thought.
At a time when the old credit card gets a bashing when holidays beckon and new wardrobes just groan out to be purchased, a good blitz on one's accessories can rejuvenate high power led bulbs last year's summer collection.
This year bags go all folksy with appliqued mirrored details, straw and raffia finishes and embroidered hippy themes. Sunglasses too can instantly elevate you into the forefront of fashion in a quick and inexpensive way.
Look out for wrap-around aviator styles and graduated dyed lenses in pink and pale blue and diamante flourishes add a spot of glamour.
Dig out your old denim jacket but add badges, diamante Union Jacks or American flags to update it and the odd safety pin adds a bit of punk chic. If you can't stretch to a new pair of fun fashion sandals (Ravel have the best Valley of the Dolls Perspex mules) then the ubiquitous flip-flop is a sound investment.
They look good with skirts and jeans so check out River Island's beaded, silk flower-trimmed and transparent varieties. Every fashion store has them from The Gap to Next and Monsoon and with many pairs coming in under pounds 10 you can afford to have a whole wardrobe to match your mood.
If you've ever wanted to wear a hat but didn't dare then now is the time to don one in the interests of protection as well as panache.
An instant head turner, take your pick from Farrah Fawcett floppy brims to sassy baseball caps for that all American gal look.
embroidered patches
For stockists for Tula and Radley bags telephone 020 8451 6455
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