Hold me, thrill me...

WOMEN and handbags literally go hand in hand. And handbags are still hot, they always will be, no matter what people say about them. There’s a bag for every season and a bag for every reason. Here, some hotties in the stores.

Never smile at a crocodile... but no one can resist this one. In red alligator leather, the Premier Flirt Croco is Lancel’s roomy all-occasion bag with handles and shoulder strap, contrast stitching, an outside pocket and timeless drawstrings that end in playful tassels.

Yeslam is the newcomer in the local shopping scene. It’s brand new store in Starhill Gallery, which opened on Friday, has an impressive array of handbags. Called the miniature Riyadh, this black evening number is dressed in galuchat, or stingray leather. Its petite, neat appearance makes it a seductive choice for evenings. The handles can be cleverly tucked away to make it into a clutch.

This season, Tous fuses new with the old. It reaches back into its archives of 87 years and draws out classics which, after minor tweaking, is the in thing. This off-white leather bag features extended shoulder straps and useful pockets on the outside.