It is difficult to be a women in today’s society. Women need to have a few readily available items to look cute while going about daily routines. A girl needs to have a purse to make life a tad bit easier so she can carry her most important necessities, such as a cell phone, a set of keys, a credit card and a tube of lip gloss.

For the average college girl, the task of finding a timeless little purse that matches her own individuality isn’t easy. Most people in college can’t afford a sleek and sophisticated $350 Gucci handbag or a $315 crocodile-style Dooney and Burke tote. Luckily there are other options to fit a college girl’s style and checking account.

For a girl on a budget, it may seem as though the only affordable purses are those made of cotton, pleather, or faux fur. If you find yourself settling for a poor-quality purse, put in a little more effort and search a little harder for something much better. As funny as it sounds, cute, quality and affordable purses are out there. You just have to be on the look out for them. For a girl who wants to spend no more than $100 on a bag, Macy’s is the perfect place to begin the hunt.

Coach and Dooney and Burke specialist Barbara Campbell said the color of the season is chocolate brown. “Brown is a big color this year,” said Campbell who has been a Macy’s associate for 15 years. “Chocolate brown is not only the color for purses, but for boots and clothes too.”

According to Campbell, the chocolate brown bag that has been selling-out frequently is the Coach swing-pack which hasn’t been popular in the past. However, they are now on the wanted list for its interchangeable style. With its adjustable strap, you can wear this purse on your shoulder or around your hip, making the swing-pack literally a hip new fashion.

Since most college students don’t have extra cash to spend on a chocolate brown Coach or Dooney and Burke purse, Campbell suggested several designer purses that would suit a girl with a $100 dollar budget. “Nine West is good,” Campbell said. “XOXO, Rampage, and Paris’ purses are trendy too.”

Campbell advised that girls should never settle for a bag that is not made poor material and to never purchase one that you are not totally content with. “Be sure that it’s the bag you want,” said Campbell. “Make it a bag that you’ll want to carry for years.”

Olivia Gray can be reached at [email protected]