Bags of style; ready to wear

A few summers ago, I was given the most divine little bag by a woman called Natasha Barrault, who made these gorgeous things. It would have cost more than pounds 200, made as it was from silk and antique beads from Twenties' Paris. It caused me to meet one of the great loves of my life, as on first meeting me he said: "What's that, a pumpkin?" (it was a dolly drawstring bag of palest orange and lime). I am not sure of my point, other than a lovely bag is well worth the money. This summer, cutsey embroidered bags are all the rage - vintage clothing shops are the place to go for these. But nude bags and fruity fun shoppers will also be big bag news. The cloth Etam bag featured here will - I warn you - be a massive sell out. I went bonkers over the Jil Sander leather clutch seen here - it's the sort of bag I believe could change my life. Again. Did I say fashion was frivolous last week? Really! ANNALISA BARBIERI

Small pink leather shoulder bag, pounds 195, Aquascutum, 100 Regent Street, London W1. Enquiries: 0800 282922. Blue leather bubble bag, pounds 190, Bill Amberg, 10 Chepstow Road, London W2, 0171 727 3560. Enquiries: 0171 924 4296. Yellow nylon bag, pounds 160, Matt Murphy, from Questionnaire, 2 High Street, Wimbledon, London SW20, 0181 944 1008. Green leather flap-over shoulder-strap bag, pounds 89, Dollargrand. Stockists: 0171 794 3028. Orange laminated leather shoulder bag with front pockets, pounds 115, Jaeger, 200 Regent Street, London W1, and 14/14 King Street, Manchester. Enquiries: 0171 200 4000

Black satin organza evening bag with silver-star chain, "Snowflake", pounds 247, Emily Jo Gibbs, 0171 490 8834. Navy and sterling silver back with hand- held straps, pounds 247, Emily Jo Gibbs, as before. Black square beaded bag, pounds 24.99, Accessorize, 123a Kensington High Street, London W8, and branches nationwide. Enquiries: 0171 313 3000. Green/purple beaded bag, pounds 130, Samantha Heskia, from A La Mode, 36 Hans Crescent, London SW1. Enquiries: 0171 373 7613

Cream leather oblong bag, pounds 69, La Redoute. Mail order: 0500 777777. Stone leather clutch bag, pounds 488, Jil Sander, from Browns, 23 South Molton Street, London W1, 0171 491 7833, and Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW1, 0171 730 1234. Cream shoulder bag with tortoiseshell squares, pounds 89, Dollargrand. Enquiries: 0171 794 3028. Cream snakeskin link-strap handbag, pounds 370, Pollini, 47 Sloane Street, London SW1, 0171 235 9025. Camel leather bag with tortoiseshell buckle, pounds 115, Cocinelle, from Selfridges, Oxford Street, London W1

Blue suede pansy bag, pounds 125, Russell and Bromley, 24/25 New Bond Street, London W1, and branches nationwide. Enquiries: 0171 629 6903. Blue raffia Gladstone bag, pounds 85, Anna Sui, Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1, 0171 235 5000, and Cruise, 39 Renfield Street, Glasgow. Denim shoulder bag with front pockets, pounds 275, Russell and Bromley, as before

Floral bag, pounds 145, Gina, 189 Sloane Street, London SW1. Enquiries: 0171 235 2932. Orange/red floral fabric bag with bamboo handles, pounds 10, Etam, selected branches nationwide. Enquiries: 0171 494 7732