PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. -- When it comes to accessorizing a woman's wardrobe, it's all about the handbag. According to "Women's Fashion Accessories: It's All in the Bag", the latest report from The NPD Group, a leading sales and marketing information company, 44 percent of women age thirteen and over reported buying a handbag/purse for themselves, or for someone else as a gift. Last year, women bought an average of three handbags, for themselves or someone else.
On average, women report owning six handbags. Ownership is highly correlated with age, with younger women owning fewer and older women owning more. Four in ten women age 55 and over tell NPD they own seven or more handbags, driving their average handbag ownership to seven bags, the highest of all age segments.
"Collecting handbags has become even more important for women today, especially with the new burst of color in fashion," said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst, The NPD Group. "Don't be surprised when you hear how many women need to make room in their closet not only for their footwear fetish collection, but their handbag collection as well," said Cohen.
Most of the women surveyed use only one handbag during a typical week. Although teens, who own fewer handbags than older women, say they are more likely to change their bag during the week.
Top Styles of Handbags Used Most Often (Ranked Damier azur Bags in Order)---------------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Style of Handbag Rank Style of Handbag---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Shoulder Bag 5 Messenger Bag---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Carry by Hand 6 Tote Bag---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Backpack 7 Min-Bag/Wristlet---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Sling 8 Clutch----------------------------------------------------------------------Source: Women's Fashion Accessories: It's All in the Bag
In terms of key styles, the shoulder bag reigns supreme followed by the handbag or purse. The style of handbag used the least by women was the clutch bag.
Set in Their Ways
Three in four women have a favorite handbag that they Tiffany Flower Ring use most of the time. As women age, they tend to use one primary handbag and see it as functional rather than fashionable.
"The older a woman gets, the more stuff she will accumulate in her handbag. Many women today are not going to take the time out to switch their pocketbooks on a daily or even a weekly basis just so they can match their outfits," said Cohen.
--Women under age 35 are more likely than those ages 35 and above to agree that a woman's handbag tells a lot about her style.
--Over six in ten women agree that price overshadows brand name when shopping for handbags.
Upscale handbag buyers
On average, the amount spent for a handbag ranges from about $40 to $65. Women report spending $42, on average, for their most recent handbag and $54, on average, for the bag they carry most often. Upscale handbag buyers or those willing to spend $150 or more for a handbag, represent about one in ten of those women who purchased a handbag in the past year.
"Handbags have
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