Celebrities and their styles shape our personal styles. We pay attention to what celebrities wear, say and do. We note the shape of their hair, the height of their heels. But in recent years, we’ve paid attention to something altogether different – their purses.

Celebrities have set the trend in recent years for what’s hot on the arm, under the arm and around the arm. They’ve made us regular people think that we, too, can have that great bag and look great carrying it.

So, what handbag styles are the celebs showing us right now?

First is the clutch. Actress Emma Watson was spotted this summer carrying a Louis Vuitton clutch bag, the one that features the LV monogram and a fold over style, which is particularly kind to women who usually carry too much in their purses. With the fold over clutch, you can generally get more in the bag before closing it up.

Another celebrity trend is the wristlet. Formerly the domain of little girls pretending to dress up like mom, the wristlet has turned into its own purse. Celebrities have been spotted carrying their wristlets into clubs, the grocery store and on their errands. Trendsetters like Lindsay Lohan and Victoria Beckham have been spotted with these cute purses hanging from their wrists. Beckham, in fact, was spotted with the tailored looking Marc Jacobs quilted wristlet clutch recently.

What’s fun about the wristlets is you can go traditional and choose a brown or black purse, or you can have some fun and choose a red, green or hot pink version. They are so small, they don’t infringe too much on your outfit or personal sense of style.

Celebrities travel a lot, but that doesn’t mean they grab a tote bag from Target, load it up and go. Even when they’re traveling they show style. These days, many stars are choosing what are called “weekender bags”. Similar in shape to a traditional handbag, the difference is in the size. These bags can be a perfect carry-on accessory or they can hold everything the celeb needs for a luxurious weekend away.

Although many celebrities change their bags as often as they change their shoes, many more do not. They show us that even though hair changes, clothing changes and continent changes, the purse can remain the same. A good quality purse, then, is an investment in style and versatile fashion.