Women have a very special relationship with their accessories. But, asks JO HAYWOOD, is our intimate acquaintance becoming an addiction?.

"SO, Norma, I understand you're a bag lady?"

Not the most promising start to a conversation with one of York's leading businesswomen, but a fair question nonetheless.

"Well, I am now," she replied thoughtfully. "But if you had asked me two years ago, I would have said it was shoes that did it for me."

Norma Middlemiss, who runs the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in York (talk about a kid in a sweet shop), is one of the many, many women who can't resist a gorgeous accessory. For some, it is belts, for others it's shades - but for most of us it is a constant running battle between shoes and bags.

But what is it that makes us stretch our bank balances to breaking point; fill our wardrobes to bursting point; and force our partners to ask "what's the point?". We asked two self-confessed accessory addicts to tell us their stories...

Norma Middlemiss, of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet (she not only runs the place, she's one of its best customers!)

"I HAVE two confessions that I think will give you a good idea about my level of obsession. First, a couple of weeks ago I bought five bags in a single week Norma had one of her purchases, a pink leather number, on her lap as we spoke. Second, I have a range of gardening shoes but my favourites are a pair of Armani loafers.

Bags are my big thing at the moment, but I fluctuate. Sometimes it's shoes, sometimes it's bags, but it's always one or the other.

They are just so easy to wear. When was the last time you tried on a bag and it didn't fit you?

I like a good bag and a good bargain. If I find them both together, I'm in heaven. Yes, working here for me is a bit like working in a sweet shop, but at least I never have to pay full price for my sweets.

The most I have ever paid for a bag is £250. That was a stunning leather bag that I found in Italy. It wasn't a leading designer brand, but it was big and boxy and the craftsmanship was superb.

I don't actually have as many bags as I used to. My husband and I don't live in a huge house so, about a year ago, we decided it was time for a massive clear out.

After giving a lot away to friends and charity shops, I ended up with about 30 bags and 40 pairs of shoes, although some of them might have mysteriously made their way up into the loft.

I now have a deal with my husband that if I buy a new bag or pair of shoes, an old bag or pair of shoes has to go. It's difficult though because you get attached to them; they remind you of a good night out or a wonderful holiday. Men just don't seem to feel the same about their accessories.

I don't think I have a problem, although I did realise things were getting a bit out of hand when a colleague sat at my desk and said 'okay, where does the centipede work?'. There were dozens of shoes under my desk, but they are gone now.

Gone, but not forgotten."

York fashion pundit and YO1 feature writer Natalya Wilson.

"ONCE upon a time, not long ago, I was an archetypal, 20-something student who lived in Doc Martens and slung her purse in her pocket on the way out to the pub. How different to the 30-something me, who now has something of a name for being a bit of a bags-and-shoes fanatic - much to my other half's chagrin.

Yet, when I look back, I realise it isn't that strange that I've turned out this way, as even when I was a student I had an array of Doc's in a variety of styles and colours for all occasions, and a selection of purses to match.

I have a love of shoes that borders on the obsessive. If I'm feeling down, or even a bit bored (it doesn't take much), I'll hit the shops in the hope of finding some wondrous discovery to add to my already overburdened collection. And then, of course, I have to find a matching bag. That is a sure-fire cure for the blues.

How joyous I feel when I find an unusual pair of sky high stilettos or cowboy boots in my favourite pink. And I feel even better if they are in the sale, leaving me more pennies to put towards my next pair.

I can't really describe what it is that makes me love them so much. It could be the thrill of a particularly good find, or it could be the compliments I receive when I'm sporting my new purchases with pride (a double bonus!).

One thing I know for sure, an outfit is not complete without a fantastic pair of shoes and a matching bag."

Updated: 11:32 Tuesday, April 18, 2006