Although it's tempting to leave our handbags packed with our daily essentials ready for the next day, instead take the time to empty them completely to avoid warping. Once empty, you can maintain the handbag's silhouette by gently filling it with plain, acid-free tissue paper.

If you are planning to leave your bag in storage for an extended period - until next season, for example - you might also like to take the time to wrap hardware such as zips and clasps in tissue paper to avoid them creating any unwanted imprints on your leather.

The next stage is to cover your bag, preferably in the dust bag in which it arrived with - these are cut to the right size to avoid squashing and warping. If you no longer have the original dust bag, a white cotton pillowcase can be an ideal substitute - avoid using a coloured fabric to avoid the colour transferring.

Once covered, place your covered handbag away from direct sunlight and artificial sources of heat. Be sure to stand it on its base rather than hanging it up, as this can stretch the handles. Additionally, take care to choose a spot that is tall enough to allow the handles to stand up unimpeded. Doing otherwise can cause them to become bent or misshapen.