It's that time of the year again to start surfing the Net for the best authentic designer handbags and purses. Christmas is a perfect time to give the extra-special women in your life a gift with a special logo, label and price tag. Be careful not to fall prey to all the new websites popping up just-in-time for the Christmas rush. Make sure to make your purchase from a reputable ecommerce site you trust which responds to emails quickly.

Women of all ages enjoy receiving a new purse any time of the year, and Christmas is as good a time as any! So, if you are wondering what to give this Christmas to the women in your life, give a new authentic designer handbag or purse. The designers are creating some of the most fabulous styles you've ever seen. This year, you can select from a variety of bright colors, patterns, fabrications, prices and sizes. There are hand-held, shoulder strap and backpack styles. The inside is important, too. Are there extra pockets for a cell phone? Is the bag lined? There are a number of handbag characteristics you'll be thinking about in your search for the right handbag gift.

Please don't buy from the websites showing you the same designer handbag in every color under the sun. Designers don't manufacture those bags. They are made by factory owners in third-world countries who produce them fast and cheap. Then, they turn-around and unload them by the truck load to street vendors and jobbers in the USA. One of the hottest counterfeit styles this year is the Celine Boogie Bag. Another hot counterfeit is the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag. Just be careful! Ask questions, and purchase from a website who replies to your questions and emails.

Some women like a big slouchy leather bag, and others like a small rigid constructed purse to carry. So, there are many questions you should answer before making the purchase. Because of the wide selection of purses available online and the same or more available styles of the way women dress, be certain to select a designer handbag you know she'll like and keep for a very long time.

It's important to select the right purse because you want her to smile when she opens your gift. However, you may be making a very big investment financially, too. Designer handbags are not a cheap item. Handbags have become the staple in most fashionable women's closets. So, the investment you make may as well be for something she'll adore for many years to come.

The most difficult part of giving a new purse for a gift is making the purchase decision based on what you think the receiver will like, and not buying something just because you would like it for yourself. Here's some information to use whenever selecting a purse as a gift. First, visualize the woman in her everyday clothing. Is she a jeans and T-shirt person? Does she wear a suit to work everyday? Does she dress conservatively or funky? If you can, look inside her closet. What are her favorite colors? What style shoe does she wear? What style of purse does she carry now? Is it a shoulder bag, a satchel, a tote or a backpack?

Shop around, and then visualize the woman carrying the bag you want to purchase. How does she look? If you start laughing, then it's time to keep looking. But, if you can actually see her carrying that bag, then grab it because online, what you see today may be gone tomorrow! Don't pass up the perfect gift. Online merchants do not stock pile inventory. They obtain enough stock to get them through each season and move the stock as quickly as possible. So, when you find the right item, buy it quickly. Most of the time online shoppers find the item they had been eyeing is regretfully sold. It's happened to me, and it can happen to you as well. Don't let it happen this Christmas!

Once you have a good idea of the color, size, style and price-point, you can purchase the purse of her dreams! Look for something stylish and yet something basic enough with a classic flare. Don't invest too much money in a fly-by-night fad. Funky styles are better selected by the woman herself. Most women buy the funky styles based on their mood or style of the moment. So, if you want to make a lasting impression, select a classic style in a basic color. My favorite recommendations include the basic colors in shades of brown or black leather or cloth bags by Ferragamo, Prada, Tods and Chanel. You can't go wrong with these Designers. Classic Ferragamo have enough style to sail into the next millinium. Yet, they are fashioned for everyday and transition easily into evening wear. You can't go wrong with a classic Ferragamo.

The Prada handbags are phenomenal and come in every size, shape, color and fabrication. Women of all sizes, ages, and styles adore the thought of owning an authentic Prada purse. The important thing to look for in a Prada is the triangle logo positioned on the exterior of the handbag. It can be strategically placed front center, back center or either side of the handbag. Just make sure the triangle logo is there! Fashion-conscious women of all ages want to see the Prada Logo, and they want everyone else to see them carrying it, too!

As stated earlier, be careful not to fall prey to a website selling fake or counterfeit handbags. I can't mention names of websites here because it's just not proper, but believe me, they are out there, and their prices are not cheap! The sites selling fakes keep their prices right up there comparable to the authentic bags. And, many of the bags look real in the photos and may not be when you receive them at home. I'm certainly not trying to instill fear about online shopping. My intention is to educate consumers so they learn to make the right choices. I own and operate an ecommerce website. I want people to feel safe and comfortable doing any type of shopping online.

Merry Christmas and happy handbag hunting! I find the best prices online and do almost all my shopping online nowadays. Don't be afraid to buy online, just be smart. Your email can be your best friend when you shop online. Write, ask questions, and make your purchase from someone who replies with the right answers. You'll be happy you did, and so will she.