We live in a society that is obsessed with perfection. Our advertisers use it as a premise to buy their products. Language is full of expressions that denote a typically unattainable level of excellence : straight A's, pitching a shutout, perfect attendance.

Despite this obsession, we tend to accept imperfection in most areas of our lives, leaving perfection to select areas. We would all like to have the perfect career, house or car. My two greatest wishes are for the perfect man and the perfect purse and not necessarily in that order.

There are many qualities that are desirable both in a man and a conveyance for life's necessities. I made a list of all my requirements for both, in order to achieve success. The perfect man would be the ideal partner in every aspect of my life. He would be in step with all of my emotional, physical, intellectual and social needs. And so would the perfect handbag.

I- The perfect purse/man should be pleasing to the eye.

As a visual person, my first impression of most things is their appearance.

While a handsome face or a well-placed shoulder strap will catch my eye, I have found that this has not been a reliable factor in choosing men or bags. Excessive good looks have been a drawback in both cases. Bags that I am afraid to carry because I will stain, tear, stretch or lose them are pretty useless. The gentleman who takes more pains with his appearance than I do is likewise. In many animal species, the male has the more spectacular plumage or pelt. However, it gives me cause for concern when a man would rather stare at himself in the mirror than at me in a new dress.

II- The perfect purse/man ought to be user-friendly.

I have owned bags that looked great, but were a real challenge to actually use. Designers seem to aim for style first, function second, if at all. A common flaw in handbags is the wearer's inability to find anything easily.

I have found that complicated men are similarly taxing. I avoid the moody, unavailable and high-maintenance models. Like the perfect bag, the perfect man has to provide easy access to himself and his emotions. Like their leather-bound counterparts, I tend to leave these types behind after a few outings.

III- The perfect purse/man should "play well with others".

Bags that only go with one or two outfits are definitely out. So is the guy who only talks about himself, never asks what I want to do, or won't hang out with my friends. Like a purse with limited potential, the self-centered or insecure male is more of a liability than an asset. The one caveat to this rule is that you don't want a purse or a man to play too well with others. I had a leather backpack that everyone and her sister "had to" borrow. I'm afraid that my willingness to share doesn't extend to loaning out a boyfriend in a similar fashion.

There are many other nuances to be considered in the quest for a man or a purse. Good listening skills are as valuable as a handy pocket for my cell phone. Stain-resistant leather is as important as a good sense of humor. Once I realized how much the perfect purse and the perfect man had in common, my search became easier and more focused. However, this system has one major flaw. While I have found the "perfect" purse over and over again, the perfect man will presumably only come along once. I hope I am not too concerned with how well he matches my shoes to notice.