Handbag is an accessory that never got out of style right from the day it was conceived. The first mention of the handbag was from the 14th century, though Egyptian hieroglyphs from much earlier period show pouches being carried around the waist. Those pouches were often decorated with semi-precious stones, pearls and beads. The richer the person, the more decorated was their bag. By the 16th century, handbag designs took a practical turn and started being made from leather and fastened with a drawstring. Cloth bags too were made larger and was mostly used by travelers. The 17th century saw more variety, and both men and women carried small purses in complex shapes. The popularity of embroidery saw the rise of beautiful and unique stitched artwork in handbags.
In the 18th century, Neo classical clothing became quite popular, significantly reducing the amount of underclothing worn by women. Wearing a purse could ruin the look, so women started carrying handbags, called reticules. Different bags were used for different occasions. Reticules were used to carry rouge, face powder, visiting cards and even
smelling salts. It was not until the 1900s that the term ‘handbag’ came into existence. Handbag was referred to hand held luggage bags usually carried by men. But they served as an inspiration for modern women’s bags. The new handbag was designed with internal compartments, locks and fasteners. This new design enabled women to carry their jewelry, cosmetics and fan and opera glasses in those handbags. Bags no longer needed to match the outfit perfectly. But by 1940, due to wars, the years demanded austerity. Hence plastic and wood was used instead of metal, zips or leather.
The 1950s saw the rise of important designer houses like Chanel,
Louis Vuitton and Hermes that gave rise to new trends and designs. But these designs were not limited to the high and mighty any more. Smaller companies copied the designs and produced replicas, making it available for general public in no time. Since then, many types of bags made from different materials hit the market. Leather is an evergreen material that has been used since bags were first made. It’s weather proof and timeless and comes in beautiful designs. Materials like suede, canvas and nylon are also extremely popular. Faux leather or PVC also look good and so do straw and croquet bags.
For everyday use, a day satchel, tote bag, day clutch, or a cross body bag works best. The bag that will look best on you, depends on your body shape. If you are abundant from the waist down select a small purse with a short strap. If you are heavy on the top then a larger bag with a longer strap is best to take attention away from the bosom. For women with a thin and sleek body, a large bag will add to the thin body type. For well-endowed women, a smaller bag of a subtle color will work best and for the perfect hourglass body, you can go all out with various styles and shapes as long as it goes with the outfit. Check out the cute /Gothic /punk handbags on www.Beverlyheels.com.
