Report: Handbags are the most popular accessory
According to a report published by The NPD Group, a sales and marketing information company, "Women's Fashion Accessories: It's All in the Bag", 44% of women age thirteen and over reported buying a handbag/purse for themselves, or for someone else as a gift last year, with women buying an average of three handbags in 2004.
On average, women report owning six handbags and ownership is said to be correlated with age, with younger women owning fewer and older women owning more. Four in ten women age 55 and over said they owned seven or more handbags.
"Collecting handbags has become even more important for women today, especially with the new burst of colour 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 collection, but their handbag collection as well," said Cohen.
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.
Three in four women are said to have a favourite handbag that they use most of the time. As women age, they tend to use one primary handbag and see it as functional rather than fashionable.
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.
