Our quick help guide to buying a bag - these are the do's and don'ts that should help you make the right decisions.

Watch Out for Fake Designer Bags

Once you are happy that an evening bag / clutch bag is the ideal gift - here are some tips on making the right choice.

If it's a genuine Designer Bag that the women in your life is after - be sure you are buying the genuine article and not a cheap fake designer bag. The general rule is cheap means cheap.

If you are buying a bag that should cost £500 for £50 it is not the genuine article. Yes you may think you have a bargain and it looks the same on the photograph - but guess what, the photo is probably not the bag you will get, this will be immediately obvious to your loved one and you may end up being seen as a cheapskate.

That's not to say you won't get a very lovely designer bag for £100 or less - because you certainly can - have a look at our Mayaa range, but it won't be a Louis Vuitton and anyone who tells you it is should be treated with a high degree of suspicion!

Always buy from a website with a guarantee, displaying a genuine landline telephone number and business address.

Buy from a site where you can speak to real people and if you have any suspicions, then why not ring them, or check if they are registered with Companies House as a limited company - its free to verify and quick to check - a few minutes could save you a lot of heartache and hassle.

Buy from a site that has their own product photographs. Many sites selling fake designer bags lifts their photo's from the genuine handbag designers site. If you see the same photo on two sites, be cautious and treat with suspicion. If they don't have their own photographs - do they have the actual designer bags in their possession?

Trends For 2009

The 5 big trends for next year are

• The clutch bag
• Metallic finish evening bags
• Convertible bags (ones you can have as a clutch or with detachable shoulder strap)
• Patent materials - smooth or crinkle
• Mini bags - the answer to last years giant bags!

Which one do I pick?

Think about your loved one. Are they funky or classy? Most of our designer bags will suit everyone - but in general the classier you perceive your loved one to be then the simpler the design. Go for something with simple lines and one colour - in black, ivory or silver with pearls or beads and crystals.

If she is funkier - look at something in a vibrant colour - or a different shape - there is a triangular designer handbag on the site which is really unusual.

If you are buying for a very young woman - for a prom or an 18th for example - then something like our prom bag or polished stone clutch bags are ideal.

If your loved one is a celebrity watcher or aspiring celebrity herself - then go for one of the full Swarovski Bags like Claudia Schiffer or the Black Stone Clutch Bag like the girls from 'Living on the Edge'.

Our Mayaa designer bags are generally younger, funkier and on trend, whereas our Amishi bagsAmishi bags are timeless classic designs that will look just as good in 5 years or 25 years (and will last that long!).

If after all the above you are still stuck - please drop us an email or call us and we'd be only too delighted to help.