Have you or your friend actually looked at any of the plethora? They are not all black ugly fabric bags with MOLLE straps. Some of the bags are downright stylish. I dunno man, which do you think might look better, a CCW handbag one can live with, or perhaps even like, or the makeup job the mortician's beautician can do because you got smoked while playing Feeley Meeley in a handbag?
Perhaps your lady friend should look at some of the YT videos posted by women about their particular experiences carrying. Also, there are at least two or three web sites (commercial) specifically for female CCW accessories.
Here's one --> https://thewellarmedwoman.com/
Not as a loose gun, rattlin' around with all the other junk in the purse. Nope, just don't do it. Something is bound to get caught in the trigger guard during the draw...I'm looking at you, lipstick.
A holster somehow affixed in the fashionable handbag would be an improvement, but a real concealed carry handbag is better still. In addition to the dedicated handgun compartment already mentioned, they generally have a thin steel cable running through the shoulder strap, to shut down the 'slash and grab' purse snatching scenario.
On-body carry is still better, if at all possible, but it can be a real challenge to make it work with women's attire.
I know they have some nice purses with a slit to slide your hand in and grab your gun(holster mounted in purse). I dont even know if that would be legal in NJ.