I began carrying a purse around age 6 or 7 to remind me to carry my inhaler (for asthma). Little did my parents know what seed they had sown...
1) to carry stuff
2) as a fashion accessory
3) to display wealth and status
4) to draw attention away from their "physical appearance" and onto their bags (me!)
5) because everyone else is
6) to shoplift (LOL!)
7) to carry cute little doggies around
8) to hide their recent purchases from their SO (me again!)
9) because it's silly to belong to the PF and not carry a purse!