It's all about the Shoulder...

As soon as I saw this photo of supermodel Abbey Lee Kershaw in Chanel's A/W 2011 show, I knew I had to have what she had. No, not her waifish figure, not her hair as blonde as sunbeams, not even the pin-sharp bone structure. Nope, what I really wanted above all else was her shoulder bag.

Handbags move in a trend orbit of their very own these days. We've had "It" bags, under-arm clutch bags and across-the-body bags. It's the latter style that seems to have stuck. The across-bodies are comfortable, they keep your hands free to text/tweet/email, and they have an effortless, preppy casual style to them. But actually the shoulder strap does us women no favors, cutting a rather unfortunate line between our breasts. Plus, they bang on your hip as you walk AND transform into a pick-pocket's dream when the bag slides around your back as you move.

What Karl Lagerfeld showed us on his catwalk, and what Alexa Chung and Chloe Sevigny have been sporting for a while, is a simpler vision all together. A classic rectangular bag, big enough to fit in your essentials without causing a shoulder dislocation; a long chain strap, which just rests comfortably around your hip.

Wear one casual-style with jeans, brogues and a blazer. Or dress it up with heels and a long line trench coat. As with everything Lagerfeld, so chic...

Model Abbey Lee Kershaw totes the Chanel 'Boy' bag Photo: VLADIMIR POTOP