If you are in need of a new purse or a looking for a special gift for a female friend or family member this Christmas, you’ve definitely come to the right place. As designer leather specialists we stock a wide range of quality ladies’ purses in various styles, colours and finishes from top brands including Auchamo, Bramble & Brown, Fossil, Harness, Mywalit, Prime Hide and many more. Faced with such a selection, choosing the right one for you can seem a daunting decision, so here is everything you need to know about choosing the perfect ladies’ purse.
Ladies’ purses can be made from many different materials but leather is in many ways the best choice. Leather is not just a very attractive material, it is also very durable. If you look after your leather wallet well, it can last for years. What's more, with some vintage styles, the leather can look even better with age.
The particular type of leather you choose is usually determined by the kind of quality you are looking for. Full grain leather is the thickest and most hardwearing type of leather because it has been processed the least. Due to the relatively natural state of the leather, it may also vary slightly in colour and pattern. Split grain leather is not as high quality as full grain leather. The hide is split into layers. The top layer is known as top grain leather and the bottom layers are known as split leather. Like full grain leather, top grain leather has a natural grain pattern and may vary slightly in colour. However, as the leather is thinner it may not last as long. Split leather does not have a pattern of its own. This is usually embossed onto the leather. This kind of leather is the least durable.
As for the style, ladies’ purses are available in coin purse, trifold, cardholder, double flap, zip-around and matinee styles. Coin purses are the simplest kind of purse available. They consist of a leather or fabric pouch that fastens either with a zip or a metal clasp and are ideal for carrying a large amount of coins but not for cards or notes. This makes them great for taking on holiday when you need lots of small change for ice creams, postcards, parking etc.
Trifold purses either fold in half but have an extra flap or fold three times. As a result trifold purses are generally neat and compact and great for carrying in small handbags.
Cardholder purses are specifically designed to hold a large number of cards, as the name suggests. This doesn’t mean, however, that they don’t accommodate notes and coins too. Many cardholder purses also feature pouches for notes and coin pouches or zipped pockets. However, those that don’t are either like an accordion or a basic men’s wallet in design.
A double flap purse is literally a purse with two flaps. They come in a range of different designs but typically have a flap on each side when closed. The flaps then open out to reveal various card slots and ID windows and a central zipped compartment.
A zip around purse has a zip that goes all around 3 sides of the purse. They typically open up to reveal card slots and ID-windows and have a zipped pouch for coins on the reverse. Zip-around purses are ideal for those who like extra security for their cards.
Matinee purses come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours but they have a number of key features in common. A typical matinee purse opens like a book. On one side there are card slots and often also an ID pouch. The number of these will depend very much on the size of the purse. On the other side of the purse is a zipped coin purse that folds out like a concertina. There may also be further pouches and pockets on this side and another zipped section on the back. Because of the large coin purse that is integral to the design, the typical matinee purse is longer than other ladies’ purses so that notes can be slipped in vertically, either inside the concertina coin purse or in a pouch just behind it. Matinee purses are ideal for carrying lots of change in that the concertina shape allows you to see at a glance and access quickly exactly what you need and have the added advantage of card slots. There really is no better style for an everyday purse!
When choosing your purse you will need to have a good think about how you will use your purse and how many storage options you will need.
Once you have chosen and purchased your purse, you will need to make sure that you take good care of it. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and keep it away from water or anything else that could stain it. If your purse does become damp simply wipe it gently with a cloth. If your purse becomes stained you could try a leather cleaner and conditioner, available from department stores, supermarkets or your local shoe shop. If you maintain your leather purse, it should last you for years.
Now browse our extensive range of quality ladies designer purses in our online shop.
Happy shopping!