Dear handbag manufacturers of the world...

... I have been looking for approximately two months for a new handbag.

A handbag is in many ways very much like a girl's daemon. It is another part of her, whether she likes it or not.

My requirements are as follows with explanations:

Medium sized: I would like a bag that is attractive and can fit a phone, wallet, notebook (for writing), perfume (of course!), travelcard and possibly other sundries in it. I do not want a teeny tiny bag that I can only fit a phone, a cashcard and a lip gloss into. I am not Carrie Bradshaw and cannot survive with these things alone all day. Neither do I want a humongous bag that is going to give me curvature of the spine. I am not Mary Poppins and I do not need to be able to carry lamps, large mirrors or any other furniture items in my handbag.

Secure: I am a twenty something girl who works in London and regularly uses trains, tubes, buses, a car and her feet to get around. I often take my handbag to work and then straight out to dinner/ bars/ clubs/ theatres/ cinemas. I therefore need a bag that has a zip or other very secure fastening. I would add that London and most other places I have visited experience rain from time to time and a bag that is wide open to the elements is not only insecure but a bit silly if you don't want the contents to get wet.

Attachments, buckles, bling, rhinestones: I want there to be as little glitz and razzmatazz on my bag as possible. I know tastes vary but really how many people can take a bag that looks like it was designed by Barbie to work.

Price: I actually don't mind paying a reasonable to borderline over the top amount for a bag that fulfils these requirements. However the only bag I have come across so far that does is a Birkin and I can't afford one of those- and even if I could I need a new bag now, not in three years (or however long the waiting list is now).

Fakes: I don't do them, I don't want them. Just because I can't afford a Birkin, or Kelly or Bayswater doesn't mean I want a much cheaper, copied version. I am not a snob but I don't watch pirate dvds and I don't want something inferior. I don't see that that means I can't have something nice. I want you to design your own interesting bags please.

My current bag was a mere £50 from Gap and I adore it. It is part you can take me to the office but part bohemian and is just the right size. With hindsight I should have bought two, or more. It is now coming to the end of it's natural life after service over and above the call of duty and I would like to be able to buy something new so I can stop wrestling with the broken zip.

Please can you make me a workable, secure bag of a reasonable size that doesn't cost the earth? I would be most grateful.

Eagerly awaiting your reply... or designs.

Yours Sincerely,
Rose