With spring just around the corner, I have been thinking of giving my wardrobe a fresh new look… and where better to start than with a handbag?

For effortless style, your handbag should co-ordinate with your coat;   and where coats are concerned, fur never goes out of fashion.   Choose a bag in a colour that complements, but never dominates, the subtle shading in your fur.  You won’t go wrong.

But is the bag large enough?    Here’s how to check, in three easy steps:

Step 1:   If, like me, you carry a panoply of tools and accessories – nail files, face wipes, shrew peeler – you’ll know how vital it is to be able to find them in a hurry.    Check that the bag has enough handy pockets.  Do this by placing both paws in, and digging.

Step 2:     With your front paws inside, check out all the other compartments for size.   How many rodents do you acquire on a daily basis?   Three, four… sometimes five?   Will the bag accommodate them comfortably?   If the answer is no, then think again.

Step 3:    If the handbag satisfies the above criteria, then the last step is to get inside and see how it feels.   While I’m out foraging, I sometimes refresh myself by taking a short nap;  a handbag that converts into a sleeping bag is therefore a catwalk must-have.  This one, however, falls sadly short of expectations.  My bum is squashed and I am sitting on some keys.  Remember that elegance cannot be achieved by forcing your rear end into a confined space:  discard the worthless bag, and consider a better brand.   Miu Miu is looking good this season.

Purdey cropHave you cast your vote in the prestigious PAWS Awards for 2013?    The results will be announced shortly!