Most women agree you can never have too many shoes. But they can't reach a consensus on purses. True fashionistas change purses as often as they change shoes. Others get comfortable and keep their bag for an entire season. Still others are still carrying their favourite purses from 1998. But really, how many purses should a woman have?

"As many as she wants," said Jane Ip, designer and owner of Jeanne Lottie.

But for each season, "on average, you need at least three bags," she says. "A fun bag for weekends, a special occasion/evening purse and an everyday work bag.

"Most women don't have time to change their bag, so they like to keep one bag for the workday, but on weekends they have more time."

Ip has tips for women who resist changing purses lest important things get left behind in the switch.

"Put all your important things -- credit card, lipstick, compact -- in a smaller bag and just lift the smaller bag into the different purses."

In fact, in her fall/winter collection, Ip has designed bags with a smaller bag inside.

But this season there's been a change in women's tastes. Colour is big, whereas last year's spring and summer consumers bought black purses in large numbers.

Women are loving the bright, candy-coloured bags, purses with retro, '60s-inspired floral prints and straw bags, Ip said.

Ip thinks that between SARS, mad cow disease and West Nile fears, the country has had more than its fair share of bad news, so people want something cheery.