It seems like anyone who’s anyone on the London scene is clutching a clutch. Brit starlet Emma Watson (soon to be the face of Coco Mademoiselle) was recently seen with one in tow, and everyone from Pixie Geldof to Jamelia is following suit. Whether it’s oversized, patent, raffia or mock-croc, the clutch is a chic, if a little impractical, addition to a cocktail dress, or, for the Carrie Bradshaws among us, a purse to be carried in daylight hours.

Everyone is talking about Chloé’s supersized, bright purple croc clutch, an accessory not for shrinking violets. Models on the runways of Alexander McQueen and Chanel toted silver metal purses – think Audrey Hepburn goes space travelling. Always known for its covetable ‘It’ bags, Prada didn’t disappoint, with stripy fold-over clutches in candy colours to match the label’s larger Harlequin bags. At the fashion house’s sister label, Miu Miu, small purses with butterfly prints were clutched, rather than held by their handles: Miuccia certainly knows how to design purses that will have fashionistas in a flutter.

Faux snakeskin is big this season: Miss Selfridge stocks a great clutch in a mock snakeskin finish for £20 ($39), or opt for Warehouse’s glimmery pewter version (£20/$39), and save on CPW (cost per wear), since metallics really do go with every outfit. Bring a tired dress into this season, by working a clutch in a bright, block colour, like this fuschia one, £25 ($49) from Topshop, or save your pennies and seek one out in a charity shop.

Images courtesy of The Fashion Spot, Style.com and Style Finder