Clutch bags: 'New daytime must-have'

The clutch bag is increasingly making daytime appearances as more and more designers are creating clutches that will suit a woman's everyday needs.

Clutch bags are popular among most women - they are cute and beautiful and can complement or stand out from an outfit in perfect style.

Elle Macpherson is one of the biggest celebrity fans of clutch bags. She told the International Herald Tribune that they are the perfect addition to any outfit.

"I am quite relaxed about fashion and a clutch fits my dress sense perfectly," she said.

"I think of it as a practical accessory and like to wear mine with Belstaff motorcycle pants, or jeans and Christian Louboutin heels."

As much as these bags are the perfect accessory, something recognised by designers from Yves Saint Laurent to Belen Echandia, they have not always been the most practical of handbags.

Beatrix Ong, a London shoe designer, recently branched out into the world of designer handbags. Her range includes a clutch bag that is streamlined and elegant but can hold all female essentials.

The clutch bag made its biggest appearance yet at the Oscars this year, being seen in the grips of stars from Jessica Alba and Heidi Klum to Dame Helen Mirren.