At one time you could only buy quality handbags from big department stores in large cities. Today with the magic of the internet you can now get those high end designer bags and amazing bargains from the comfort of your sofa. All this choice is great but where do you start when trying to buy a new handbag? Well, we spend more time than most searching online for handbags, so we decided to produce our quick guide to the best places to buy handbags online.

YOOX.COM is the No.1 virtual boutique

Thanks to a direct relationship with designers, manufacturers, and the most prestigious boutiques in the world, YOOX.COM is able to offer a massive collection of high end designer handbags from the fashion worlds biggest names: Mulberry, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney, Versace and 100s more. The bags might be a little pricey for everyday use but you can spend hours window shopping at this great online store.

With over a million items delivered across the globe this year and an average of 2.5 million visitors per month, YOOX.COM has been recognized by as one of the top 100 greatest shops in the fashion industry. Bags purchased from Yoox.com can be delivered to England, Europe, America, Russia, South Africa and Australia.

Click Here to visit YOOX.COM

BagsDirect Store

BagsDirect are the UK’s leading online retailer of handbags and luggage. BagDirect has a great collection of affordable handbags from big names like: Radley, Yoshi, Gilda Tonelli and Kipling who recently had a collection designed by Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas!

The bags from BagsDirect fall into the medium price range, they do have expensive designer brands but they also carry lots of reasonable priced bags that won’t break the bank. We especially liked the prices and range of the ever popular Radley brand including the hard to find ‘Poppies’ bag, the eye-catching bag which features quirky, colourful design that is distinctive to Radley. This shoulder bag features an artistic print of Radley walking in a field of bright red poppies.

Click Here to visit BagsDirect

NotOnTheHighStreet

notonthehighstreet.com is a fast-growing unique and stylish marketplace for creative small businesses. It offers thousands of original fashion & jewellery items, all from hundreds of small creative businesses, and all through a single basket and checkout. What’s great about NotOnTheHighStreet is you’ll find handbags you just want see anywhere else. From beautiful handmade silk bags made in Vietnam to funky tote bags designed in London NotOnTheHighStreet has it all.

Our favourite bag at NotOnTheHighStreet is the Part of The Reusable Range, a collection based on everyday disposable objects, this shopping bag is derived from the plastic grocery bags found in your local supermarket. Handmade and hand printed on genuine leather, each bag is packaged with its own unique design number, as all leatherwork by Natalie Thakur is made in limited quantities.

Click Here to visit NotOnTheHighStreet

They key to choosing the right handbag for you is buying a bag that’s the opposite to your body shape. If you’re lucky enough to be one of those tall, thin ‘eat anything you want’ and never but on a pound girls (I hate you already) then look for a slouchy, rounded hobo style bag to compliment your figure.

If you’re short and voluptuous, then choose a longer/taller more structured bag, this will give the illusion of making you appear longer and taller. In general, the rounder your figure, the more structured your bag needs to be.

Some popular handbag shapes:

Tote Bag – Open-top bag with straps or handles, great for shopping.
Hobo Bag – Crescent-shaped shoulder bag, looks good on the tall and thin.
Clutch Bag – Small, handheld bag which looks good on anyone.
Satchel Bag – Large handheld bag, a great option for fashion conscious business types.
Messenger Bag – Large, soft shoulder bag with long straps (often worn across the body).
Kelly bag - A classic Hermes style named after Grace Kelly; a large structured handbag.

Size Is Important!

While the shape of a bag should oppose your body type, the size of the bag should be in proportion to your figure. Think scale here ladies: a woman who is 6 feet tall and a size 14 would look lost with a tiny bag. A size zero waif would look overwhelmed by an enormous slouchy bag.

A shoulder bag’s length (where the bottom of the bag hits your body) will accentuate whatever part of the body it comes near. For example, a shoulder bag that ends around the hips will play up your hip width (the eye is drawn to the bag). So don’t pick a bag that accentuates your worst features. Most women look great with a bag that hits mid-torso because it flatters the waist.

Everyone loves a bargain and in these troubled financial times the thought of paying top whack for a designer handbag can leave even the most dedicated fashionista in a cold sweat! Not to worry, we have a great way to pick up a genuine designer handbag for peanuts ~ EBAY!

That’s right, Ebay isn’t for just selling your unwanted christmas presents! You can pick up fantastic handbag deals on the latest designer bags. Below with have included a selection of the latest bags for sale, these are real time auctions so if you fancy grabbing a cheap designer bag click on the links below.