Why less is more when it comes to a new handbag

IT’S handbags at dawn as British women downsize their trendy totes to smaller clutch and grab-bags.

A third of women who bought a bag in the past year went for smaller accessories from labels such as Mulberry. It could mean the days of rummaging through huge designer bags to find a purse could soon be over.

And medical experts say heavier holdalls could be linked to ailments such as backache, muscular pain and even the early onset of arthritis.

Last year saw 1 per cent of British women buy a handbag and of those who did, 29 per cent bought a smaller type such as a clutch bag, retail analysts Mintel said.

Experts also believe smaller types indicate that the holder is more organised – which benefits women in the workplace.

But big bags are still popular and often used by mums or those in a hurry who pack everything from nappies to a spare pair of shoes.

The trend towards smaller bags means overall spend on the sector – including manbags – is rising more slowly. In 2015, value sales of handbags rose five per cent on 2014 to £1. 4billion, which in turn was up nine per cent on 201 .

Mintel senior fashion analyst Tamara Sender said: ‘A change in trend away from large bags such as totes to smaller styles such as cross-body bags, which are lower-priced, has also had an impact.

‘Several designer brands including Mulberry, Fendi and Alexander Wang have looked to appeal to aspirational shoppers with less expensive diminutive versions of bestselling styles.’

In an interview to launch her own line of smaller handbags, British designer Lulu Guinness said women had big-bag days and small-nag ones ones. She explained: ‘Big bag day is when everything’s gone in just because you are in a hurry and you can sort it out later. A small bag is a badge of being organised.’

Her more recent designs are a third smaller than previous versions.

She explained: ‘I just thought it would be more glamorous smaller.’