The goody bags given out at New York Fashion Week have been criticised.

While party bags at high profile events can be a luxurious item, recipients can often become disheartened if the standard of freebies falls.

This is what has happened at New York Fashion Week, according to DNA.info, which argues that the usually exclusive and cutting-edge gift bags were a little disappointing this season.

Speaking to the site, fashion blogger Liz Black said: "A few years ago I would come home with so many gifts of makeup, perfume, clothes and jewellery that my boyfriend had to help me unpackage and sort them."

A stark change has been recorded with this year's more skimpy gifts.

Traditionally expensive items such as sunglasses, watches, diamond earrings and leather bags were common finds, however, more recently, perhaps due to economic conditions, attendees will be lucky to receive nail polish or makeup.

In this year's gift bags recipients were handed fashion magazines, cereal bars, Pepsi, water, vodka cocktails and Prosecco, while those with week-long passes can look forward to free professional hair stylings and mock red carpet pictures.

Despite the bags coming under criticism, there were a few free standout items from the fashion shows.

These included Katya Leonovich, who gave away scarves in a print reminiscent of the styles in her runway collection, while Reema Acra handed out bottles of perfume to her guests.

Meanwhile, the biggest gift bag buzz was generated by designer Chris Benz's pink bag holding a 'Barbie for President' doll, which was handed out during his walk-through presentation.

Paper gift bags can be an important part of events, creating talking points for guests, spreading brand messages, advertising products and rewarding people for their attendance.

Another event which recently gave out exciting goody bags was the MTV Video Music Awards, with items such as sunglasses, makeup, leather bags, gig tickets and exclusive alcohol tucked inside.