The 10 Best designer handbags

Yes, we know most of us can’t afford them, but sometimes fashion is about inspiration. And, hey, there’s always that lottery ticket

1. Celine

£1,800, selfridges.com

Kourtney Kardashian has been spotted with this bag, but don't let that put you off. Seen here in effortlessly cool yellow and black, the trapeze-line shape is modern and unusual, and it conceals within its minimal exterior plenty of space for all your essentials.

2. Givenchy

£1166, harrods.com

Spring 2013 sees the unveiling of several new shades for Givenchy's acclaimed Lucrezia bag, including this oh-so-pale blue version, which is printed with a snakeskin motif. A detachable shoulder strap means you can carry as a doctor's bag or sling it on any old how.

3. Alexander Wang

£785, alexanderwang.com

Creator of the popular stud-bottomed bowling bag, Wang has taken a more minimal route this season with a shoulder-cum-tote-cum-clutch number. Stylish and sophisticated, this will last you a long time without looking tired.

4. Dolce bucket

£1,165, 020 7659 9000

Dolce's compact raffia bucket bag is the chicest way to carry your spade to the beach – but it'll do for real life too. This structured shape makes a nice change from a gigantic It-bag, so it's just thing for summer. Available in different colours, this black version is perhaps the best to slot into your existing repertoire.

5. Mulberry

£1,500, mulberry.com

The British brand has become known for its of-the-moment styles for those who want to embrace key trends – this Willow bag looks like a classic in the making, here in spring's ubiquitous pistachio shade, and comes with a detachable pocket which can double as a clutch.

6. Chanel

£1,450, 020 7493 5040

At Chanel's spring 2013 show, this bag came roughly five times bigger, like a hula hoop slung over the shoulder. You'll need to style this more manageably proportioned version slightly differently, but it's an excellent way of reinvigorating the classic quilted 2.55.

7. Louis Vuitton

£842, 020 7399 4050

You might not have clocked a drawstring, duffel bag out and about for some time, but if Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton suggests it, you'll be noticing more and more of them. Called the Petit Noé, it's an update of the label's Champagne bag, originally made in 1932, and now available in a range of colours. New meets old.

8. Maison Martin Margiela

£1,090, net-a-porter

Spacious, understated and eminently practical, this Margiela tote is androgynous and low-key, for those who like their handbags quiet. Use either the chrome handles or the shoulder strap to carry and never lose your keys again, thanks to a zipper that opens almost all the circumference of the bag.

9. Miu Miu

£995, miumiu.com

Known for its cutesy and quirky satchels and totes, Miu Miu's bag comes in cracked leather – a key fabric this season. A pristine white bag is the ultimate uptown statement, so this might be an option for the clinically clean.

10. Prada

£850, 020 7647 5000

This pochette style is the latest addition to Prada's range of saffiano leather bags. It's a slick and small shoulder number with both a leather and a chain strap which you can vary according to your mood, and the monochrome colour-scheme won't date too quickly.