The modest handbag is something very special. Yes, it's there to carry your lipstick, paperback and taxi money, but it's also an item where good design can really shine: a sculpture that you tote around with you for all to see. A beautiful bag gives you a thrill every time you reach for your purse; without it you feel naked and unfinished. 

If we were rich and famous, we'd collect great bags with the same fervour with which we once collected nail polishes – one for every mood. That's how celebrities operate, and while they carry around their (often freebie) designer arm candy, we admire them from afar. But here in the Never office we're not satisfied with idle admiration – we need the cold hard facts, the where-did-she-get-it and how-much-will-it-cost-me. That's why we've scrutinised some of the world's most fashion-obsessed women, from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Kim Kardashian, to see exactly what they're carrying.

Yes, Lily Allen has a Chanel bag in every design, and we're unlikely to ever reach those heights – but maybe we can stretch to a treasured piece or two for our very deserving arms. Browse the gallery to see the finest bags out there, and if you're feeling spendy, click through to buy.