"Because, unlike clothes, we don't need to shed a thing to try them on," says Amy Goodman, style expert and author of "Wear This, Toss That!" (Simon and Schuster, $27).

"For this reason, the handbag department is one of my favorite quick-stop shopping fixes to instantly add splash to a wardrobe," admits Goodman. "Still, among those who have the bag bug, I'm surprised by the number of people who wear them all wrong."

After all, the average price of a woman's handbag is $31, according to Goodman. And I don't know about you, but I usually pay much more than that for my handbags. That bag bug can indeed come back to bite you! But here are some tips from Goodman for those shopping trips when you do catch the bug:

— Your bag shape and body shape shouldn't match. If you're tall and thin, consider an unstructured, slouchy bag. If you're round and curvy, get a structured style. Think opposite for a beautiful balance. And if you're average all around, lucky you — you can sport any style. Be sure to try on your bag in front of a mirror. It's a must.

— The bag should hit your assets. If you have hips, make sure the bag hits above or below, but not at your hip. If you are busty, the bag should hit below the bust. If you are petite, your bag should go no lower than your waist, or you'll appear to be all bag and no body! Tall? Celebrate your stature with a long bag that hits just below the hip.

— Consider your bag's main functions. Will you wear it to work? Are you a mom on the go? Do you need a bag to carry you through a weekend or simply to hold a compact, lipstick and ID for a special evening out? Do you dig pockets or just one main compartment? The answer to these questions will determine the size, style and durability of your bag. A small crystal clutch won't likely hold a work file.

— What specific bags work for tall women? Goodman suggests buying medium to larger unstructured bags and bags with long straps, as long as the purse isn't tiny. "You can play with volume," she says. She cautions taller women about top handle bags with a strict frame and rigid edges, which produce a stark overall look and create too many angles when juxtaposed against a tall frame. Instead, she recommends a rounded or trapezoid satchel with soft curves to better balance your look.

— Petite women should think proportionally smaller, and not venture bigger than a medium-size bag, says Goodman. "With your body type, bag shape is less of an issue, so you can embrace a round or slouchy bag." Bags that don't work for petite women include overly long body bags and enormous bag-size satchels. "A too-big bag will envelop you entirely," she says.

— Curvy women should look for medium to larger bags with structure, form and stiffer fabrics, according to Goodman. Steer clear of bags with handles that barely clear the arm. "A shoulder bag with long straps is no better because the bag's body will hit at the hip and make you look wider." Also, curvy women should avoid slouchy bags that look like cushioned pillows, round and duffle-shaped bags, structure-less satchels, oval handles and super thin chain straps.

Photo courtesy of www.landsend.com.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.