YammyMonkey,
The women I know who have carry purses all seem most pleased with the ones from Coronado Leather. Since I don't carry that way myself, I can only vaguely recommend the company as one that I have heard good things about.
I can tell you some important things that I would look for, however, having discussed carry options with a lot of different women face to face.
First, the purse has to be stylish and work with a wide variety of outfits. On a related note, if your wife changes purses as often as, or more often than, she changes shoes, she is likely to be unhappy with having to carry
the same purse every single stinkin' day (and she probably won't carry a gun that way very long). This isn't a consideration to brush aside, as being able to blend in is an important part of her concealment. If the purse works in every other way, but is not stylish or doesn't work with a lot of outfits, it's not going to be used and you might as well save your money
unless it is a backup plan to some other, every day carry method.
The purse should have an easily-accessible built in holster, separate from any other compartment -- preferably close to the body when carried. Most of them do that, so this one is usually a gimme. The easily-accessible bit is in the eye of the beholder, so if she can try the purse out with a dummy gun, have her do that if at all possible.
The purse has to be comfortable to carry -- preferably with a wide strap (most of them come with reinforced straps, which is really good for security, but sometimes compromises comfort). Because the purse will be heavier than the average purse, and because it should be carried more relentlessly than the average purse, it simply
must be more comfortable to carry than the average purse usually is.
The internal holster should be adjustable or customizable somewhat. While she may absolutely love a non-adjustable built in holster, every woman I have ever talked to about this has ended up doing
something to her carry purse -- adding an extra internal strap somewhere, usually. (Of course, my experience is
not universal, and probably as soon as I post this four women will post after me and say, "I love mine the way it is and haven't changed mine at all!" So YMMV; this is just what I have heard from the people I know.)
Finally, before she purchases her carry purse, she should honestly assess her plans for coping with security and social issues in situations where she would ordinarily put her purse down -- such as while working at her desk if she has an office job, or visiting at a friend's house, or at home if you have children or if children ever visit your house. How is she going to explain to friends who notice that she's become "paranoid" about putting her purse down? This isn't insurmountable, but the time to think it through is
before she has six girlfriends standing in a circle around her and playfully teasing her about her sudden purse fetish.
As far as getting your wife IWB gear, you commented, "She has a tendency to bump into things (not the most coordinated girl) too so the carry on the hip may not be all that great an idea anyway." I'm laughing because that sounds like me! I was never able to carry on or behind the hip -- and yes, being a klutz
did figure into that decision. I carry a Glock 26 in front of the hip, approximately halfway between bellybutton and iliac crest, and have done so almost every day for over three years now.
Good luck to both of you. Let us know how it works out.
pax
