They're yummy, soft leathered, lovable, huggable little treasures that hang on my shoulder or snuggle at my side wherever I go.

I'm a registered bag-aholic, or "bag lady," as my husband calls me! You can never have enough handbags or shoes, I say! I always feel it's necessary to add just one more to my outrageous collection; after all, one never knows when I might just need that fuchsia-colored, patent leather number with the chains and dangling fringe! It's so cute, how can we possibly resist?

In the old days, most American women bought 3 kinds of handbags; one black, one navy blue, and one brownish-heavy leather, all-purpose shoulder bag. In addition, one might have bought a white or straw bag of some kind for summer. Oh, and yes, maybe, if you were going to a formal or semi-formal event, a small, beaded, peau-de-soie bag would be purchased to match or to coordinate with the gown.

Those days are certainly long dead and gone! Bags are all the rage now and are considered a necessary part of a well put-together woman's accessory collection. They are in a league all their own, and they are a multi-billion dollar business worldwide. From a teeny, tiny little Channel bag that retails for $500 and barely holds a lipstick, to the huge, patent leather, glitzy tote bags popular this season, bags are the "it" thing to buy.

So what's out there in the handbag world these days? What's new, what's in, what's out, who's styles are hot and which designer is soooooo out? Let's take a look.

What's hot in Paris?

In Paris, one trendy, popular line of bags, "La Bagagerie," offers the same fabric and color in every piece from the briefcase to the wristlet, to large and small satchel-styled bags. You can choose to match your wristlet to your briefcase, or your satchel to your wallet, whatever works best in your lifestyle. I bought a large satchel, wristlet and makeup bag, all in the same cool, sparkly fabric. When I got home, I was despondent that I hadn't bought the briefcase, as well.

Also, a French Woman would never leave her home without her scarf or pashmina. When the weather fools you, and your pashmina is hanging loosely around your neck, tie it to your purse for a casual look and a practical application. I am always amazed how Parisian women manage to look so fashionable, one important accessory that they are never without is a long, raw silk or light wool scarf. They throw them casually over a coat collar and, voila! A very fashionable look.

Here in the U.S., we can choose from American made brands, or fabulous, pricey imports such as Channel, Ferragamo, Luis Vuitton or any number of other couture lines. I get faint just thinking of adding a real Valentino to my collection.

Let's be real. We can't all afford designer bags. Since I'm not the type to "rent-a-bag," (yes, you can rent a different designer bag each month, just look on line,) I generally buy mid-range bags, those priced similarly to Coach, Furla, Biagia or Rafe New York. It is great fun to find a Francesco Biasia bag that might have retailed for $450, tossed on the "sale table," marked down to $285! It can happen, and if you mull around the table's general area on a big sale day, the salespeople re-stock the table periodically! How much fun is that?

When one talks handbags, without fail, Louis Vuitton and Burberry come up. It is my humble opinion that if you have more dollars than sense, then you should spend $900 on a bag that looks just like everyone else's LV bag. Pour moi, I would spend the money on a ticket TO Paris, and pop old Louis on the bum in person! And then there is Burberry; if I see that same obnoxious plaid one more time, I know I'll gag. $1295 isn't money for an ugly plaid bag, it's a condo on the Lake at Tahoe for a week!

But, we love our designers. No doubt about it. So much so, that some designers have gotten smart and decided to design "bags for the masses," so to speak. Betsey Johnson, for example, has created her "Betseyville" line. It may not be my cup of tea, but the teenage to thirty-somethings LOVE her creations. They are young, cute and reasonable; as reasonable as a $135 black-fabric back studded with hot pink bows can be. Some of the designs are quite cute and very unique.

There are a few things that you should think about when buying a handbag, briefcase or tote. Here is the shortlist of considerations:

1. Shoulder bags work best for women on the go. It's tough to balance two kids, a shopping basket and a clutch bag, all at the same time! A large tote bag or more moderate "hobo" bag can look casual or dressy, but always practical.

2. Be smart; if you live in the city or commute via public transportation, buy a bag with a zipper that makes it more difficult for a would-be thief to gain access. Also, buy a shoulder bag or messenger-style bag that you can loop over one shoulder and under the other so that the bag itself is held in front of you.

3. When buying a briefcase, consider a couple of things; a less-structured bag will accommodate your laptop and is easier to carry than a structured, more heavy case. I even found one that works as a shoulder bag, then converts easily to a backpack for a more comfortable way to carry my computer if I find myself walking a long distance.

4. I love my big, wonderful authentic Ferragamo copy patent-leather tote, but I hate taking it into the grocery store with me. So, I have a small wristlet with 2 credit cards, my ID and a bit of cash inside. When I don't want to drag my tote along, I simply grab my wristlet/cell phone carrier. The same idea works well with a briefcase. A hands-free wristlet allows you to carry only your briefcase all day, then, to run errands on the way home, take only the wristlet to shop more easily.

5. Messenger bags are popular. They are big and some accommodate laptops. Bring your laptop along when you shop for one, typically, messengers are not very wide/thick. They are designed more for looks than practicality in that a notebook might fit, but a computer, not so much. I do have one bag that does accommodate my MacBook. My favorite is another light, leather, messenger-style bag with a strap long enough to loop all the around the body and hang in front, for comfort. But here's the best part; when your hands are full, it converts to a back-pack with the single pull of the strap! These can be found on line.

6. Whether you are buying a wallet, wristlet, satchel or briefcase, real leather is real leather and fabric or plastic isn't. In other words, don't pay leather prices for pleather! I had to laugh when I saw a cheap-looking Prada fabric tote bag that retailed for over $400. The only thing of value about the bag was the little "Prada" logo on the front.

7. Bags should all be marked clearly "leather" or "man made material." Always check. Know that the man-made bags are the first to hit the sale table because lots of women think like I do. So, you'll be able to pick up that cute Kate Spade gingham in a couple of weeks for far less $$$$$. A soft, plush, Kooba Hobo, however, is much more worth the $675 price tag.

8. Copies and Knock-Offs: Lots of boutiques are now carrying very cute, quite reasonable "copies" of haute couture bags. Some are very nice, like my Feragamo look-alike. However, it is not a knock-off. The label nor the logo is that of someone else's property. The designer simply copied the bag to look somewhat like the Feragamo but put his own label on it. If a fake Gucci, however, has a Gucci label and uses the Gucci logo, it is illegal, and don't try taking it across customs lines. Knock-offs are not cool, most are made poorly and the fabric used isn't worth the price you'll pay for one.

9. Beaded bags, shiny metallic and gold chains are not just for evening anymore. The rules have changed. Metallic totes or satchels with tassels and chains go great with jeans. I have the cutest little gold number covered with peacock-toned feathers and sequins that rocks with a pair of jeans for a casual dinner out.

10. Two more old school rules to break: Your shoes have to match your handbag; NOT! In fact, it begins to look "showroomy," if you know what I mean, when everything matches. I wouldn't, however, wear clashing colors on shoes and feet, just look in the mirror; if your reaction isn't "OH MY GOD," you're probably fine. Rule 2. My bag has to be a designer bag to be cool. Please, grow up! If you can't afford Chanel, there are so many cute lines that are not pricey. Be an individual! Buy a cute bag from a boutique that won't cost an arm and a leg but that will always get noticed.