The Araline Leather Bag from Mulberry is made of claret-red leather, just bright enough to be eye catching, but not so bold as to be distracting. In other words, it could easily work with business attire, with which conservative handbags are usually the standard. This bag has a braided leather shoulder strap and ties with two leather tassels. All the hardware is antiqued brass, a good match for the warm red color. The leather, already soft, is said to improve further with age, so this is definitely a handbag to keep around. Price: $695.

The Mulberry Bayswater Bag, part of the pre-fall collection, is a seasonless, versatile handbag that is a mainstay of any purse collection. Constructed from a soft, oaky leather, the tote has two comfortable, rolled-leather handles that can be carried in-hand or slipped over a shoulder. In an old-fashioned twist, the bag's flap closure uses a small gold buckle to secure it, but comes with a padlock hidden inside the bag for extra security when traveling. Adjustable side straps mean that this tote can be used as an overnight bag or a daily carryall. Price: $995.