Handbags at dawn It seems that for many British women, the humble handbag has gone beyond a must-have fashion item and has become an essential status symbol.



Designers are reporting that sales of top designer handbags are soaring as women compete to outdo each other with the trendiest bag.

And as demand for a piece of top-of-the-range "arm-candy" increases, so do the prices of these handbags.

Department store chain Selfridges has reported that the average price of a handbag at one of its outlets rose by 55 per cent in around a year to £850.

Those who really want to dress to impress could consider splashing out £23,484 on a Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork handbag, made from patches of other bags and decorated with buttons and alligator skin.

Alternatively, a Fendi bag made from chinchillas and sable costs £20,000.

Fashion executive at Harrods, Abigail Rainer, told the Times: "Historically, English women were quite mean about handbags - now we've got into it. It's an investment and a status symbol. Python-skin bags have become quite a mainstream thing, and £1,000 is pretty average."

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