5 Handbag Trends you will be Wearing this Winter

With next season's fashion weeks in full swing it is time for us to work out what we will be wearing over the all-important winter months. This season is very important for two reasons. Firstly, it encompasses the change in fuctionality in clothing from bohemian, laid back image-centred summer styles to a more practical winter-warmer. And secondly, it contains the Christmas party season - the most eagerly anticipated date in any fashion calendar.If you're planning on turning heads at the end of 2009, you'll need to look out for these key trends.

Considering the financial meltdown of the past year, it is not surprising that the old saying "Make Do and Mend" has made a comeback. The fact that most of us are becoming a lot more conservative about our spending habits has meant that vintage has become not only a style statement, but a necessity.

Eighties inspired looks are being re-made in the form of quilting and chain handles. These  can be found in most charity shops as well as in the dark corners of most of our mothers' closets. If you were smitten by the Chanel 2.55esque chain handle in spring/summer there is a key way to instantly transform it into a bang on-trend look. In Spring and Summer, the chain handles were thrown effortlessly over our shoulders. Now, we need to wrap the chain around our hands to create the shape of clutch handbags. Just as effortless, but now bang on trend.

If you want to buy new, but keep it vintage inspired, I would recommend investing in tweed accessories. The English Heritage is a look that fashion designers have fallen in love with. Woolly and warm tweed purses and handbags will have you head-over-heels and are perfect for teaming with this season's must-have cosy, knitted styles.

We'll need something to take us from crisp winter days into party nights. For me, there is one trend that is certain to spice up eveningwear more than any other… That is safari-inspired prints. Whether that is mock-croc patent leather handbags, shaggy faux fur or wild zebra and leopard prints. Set free the animal inside with a handbag that embraces this key look. Of course, we're only going to be wearing skins of the faux variety.

Any girly-girls out there who are more sex-kitten than lioness, don't let your whiskers get in a twist. Pretty embellishments and hand-sewn detailing were all over the catwalks in last season's collections of designer handbags. More good news, they  have hit the High Street too. The arts and crafts style is securely at the top of our must-haves with the help of beading and buttons. However, harsher stud and zip detailing has inspired a more gothic feel. Just in time for hallowe'en!