Bags

Your handbag goes everywhere you go, from the office to the supermarket to the theatre, so it ought to keep up. We picked these women's handbags for exactly that sort of life: shapes that look smart on the train, sit happily at your desk and still look the part at a long lunch. A bag also does something clever to an outfit, pulling a plain coat and jeans together as though you had planned it all along.

Shoulder bags make up most of the collection, from slouchy, relaxed shapes to neat structured designs. Next to them are open tote bags for the working week and the weekend shop, hands-free crossbody styles for travel and markets, top-handle bags for a more polished look, and a few woven styles for summer. Black, brown and beige come first, then green, khaki, red and soft white for a little lift, and several designs come in more than one shade. Browsing our women's handbags by colour is the quickest way to find one that works with the coats and shoes you already own.

Think about how your days actually go. A brown shoulder bag goes with almost every coat in our coats and jackets, a tote sees you through the working week, and a crossbody style keeps your hands free for a coffee and a map on a city break. A smaller bag finishes a wedding guest outfit, and matching it to a favourite pair from our shoes makes the look seem planned. Women's bags in black and brown go with nearly everything; the coloured ones are where you can play.

You pick up your handbag more often than anything else you own, so go for one you will still be pleased with on a wet morning in February. It is the one accessory that has to cope with everything you do.