Women 'opting for cheaper bags'

UK women are less impressed by the celebrity endorsement of handbags, it has been revealed.

A new study from Mintel has shown that, while many women have previously clamoured to have the 'in bag' of the season after seeing it on the arm of several celebrities, they may be becoming harder to win over, Brand Republic reports.

The trend of handbag sales growth that has been experienced in recent years is set to end, according to Mintel, despite the fact that between 2002 and 2007 sales rose by 139 per cent.

The result will be that women will opt for more reasonably-priced handbags in the high street and perhaps online.

Katrin Magnussen, senior fashion analyst at the company, stated: "Women have become more cynical about celebrity endorsed products."

"Many will no longer be as quick to spend hundreds, even thousands of pounds on a bag just because the likes of Posh Spice have been snapped with one. Especially when these days the must-have looks are quickly translated to the high street."

Ms Magnussen added that ethical issues are also beginning to influence women's purchases, with concerns over the use of plastic and cheap labour.

The Telegraph reported this week that the handbag fad was being overtaken by shoes, however, suggesting that the must-have purchases of 2008 will be footwear.