Woman using handbag every so often (3)
I believe the answer is:
ada
'woman' is the definition.
'handbag every so often' is the wordplay.
'every so often' means one should take alternating letters.
The alternate letters of 'handbag' are 'ADA'.
'using' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ada that I've seen before include "Palindromic girl's name" , "Computer language; girl's name" , "Woman" , "Girl's name, one letter short of a man's name" , "girl?" .)