Handbag History 101

In the 21st century, designer handbags are all the rage. They are a coveted icon worn by celebrities and people of wealth. But how did they become so popular? What brought them to the status that they have so well attained? They have not always held such a desirable position in the world of fashion so let's take a trip down memory lane and review the history of the handbag.

Bags first began appearing in the ancient days. They were carried solely for practical reasons, such as transporting food and other necessities. They were probably made from bunches of leaves and sticks or other readily available materials the people could find. The next time we see bags being used is in Egyptian hieroglyphics. They showed men with them around their waist proving that bags were originally carried by men instead of women.

By the Middle Ages, bags were more evolved and had firmly established their presence. They were now carried by both men and women and bore different styles. For example, some featured metal frames that were slung over the shoulder while others were slouchy with a drawstring and hung from the waist. Their purposes also varied. They were considered important for traveling, they held coins for the wealthy and seeds for the peasants, and were often given as presents from men to ladies who would carry personal items as well as perfumes to mask the atrocious odors of the day. This is also where we see a rise in heavy decorations and ornate features.

The beginning stages of modern purses started surfacing in the late 18th century. Until then, women had worn small pouches or pockets unde
eath their clothes. This trend was put to a halt when tighter, more figure-hugging fashions came into style and posed a challenge for hiding bags under garments. This led to the development of the reticule, a small purse that was shaped like a pouch and featured a drawstring or chain. These purses were quite beautiful and were often made of luxurious materials such as silk or velvet and were heavily beaded and embroidered. This is the first time in history where we see women judging others for what their purses were made of and how expensive they were.

The term handbag was not coined until the late 19th century. It originally spawned from small travel bags that were designed for ladies. After this, baggy clothing came back into fashion, as did the use of hidden pouches, therefore, diminishing the popularity of visible purses. This trend continued until the 20th century when more fitted clothing came back into style. Handbags resurfaced with a vengeance and soared with popularity and saw the emergence of the concept of the designer handbag.

Today, designer handbags have reached new heights and are available in every style, color, and material available. They are no longer restricted to velvet and silk, but have moved on to more exotic materials such as ostrich and crocodile. And they are not solely used for practical purposes anymore with women using them to carry things such as lipstick and even dogs. While the styles and materials of designer handbags have reached new heights, so have their prices. With many purses starting in the thousands of dollars, purchasing one can be tough on a pocketbook. However, there are many online stores such as Queen Bee of Beverly Hills that offers authentic designer handbags at a discount price. This enables women to easily continue the tradition of the handbag for several more centuries.