The quintessential Parisian handbag isn't as one might think a Hermès Kelly or even a Lancel shoulderbag. No, the Parisian bag par excellence is the ubiquitous Hervé Chapelier bicolor nylon tote. Sturdy, foldable, machine washable, every Parisian female - from the schoolgirl using hers as a bookbag to the mother who alternates hers between gym bag and diaper bag - has at least one in her closet. Available in a dizzying array of colors and sizes, it's nearly impossible to pick just one – a choice that the truly helpful salespeople at the brand's flagship store just off the Champs-Élysées won't make any easier! -Charlotte Bonin
