The Development of the Handbag

Most women carry a handbag every day of their lives, but where did they originate? 

Handbags – Once Upon A Time

Although in modern times handbags are often a fashion statement and chosen for style, early on they were purely designed for convenience.  Early handbags were basically a pouch.  A small round piece of fabric had a leather strap sewn right around the circumference.  When the drawstring was pulled tight, a pouch was formed.

It’s interesting to realize that these early variations of the handbag were almost solely carried by men.  They used them to transport small valuables and coins, and these items were kept safe by tying the bag to the man’s belt.  Mostly they were tied near the sword, so that he could protect his valuables with ease. 

The Evolution of the Handbag

By around the 16th century, bags had increased in size.  At this point they were generally large bags worn diagonally across the body.  They were popular with both men and women, and particularly with travelers who wanted to keep their valuables protected. 

As the 17th century continued, the bags evolved from simple items of plain materials to something a little more fashionable.  A wider variety of materials were used, and they became a little smaller again.  Various, more intricate shapes were popular.  It also became commonplace to embroider the bags, decorating them with intricately woven pieces of art.

In the 18th century women stopped carrying a bag around the body, and instead started to carry them in their hand or looped over their wrist.  They became known as reticules, and the era of a bag as a fashion statement had started.  Reticules were carried because of the fashionable appearance they gave the owner, rather than just because they were useful.  Rich women would have a reticule to match every outfit, or at least a range of designs, each one for a specific entertainment.  Fashion magazines began suggesting the type of handbag that was appropriate for a specific event or location.  Although they were often small, reticules were still used to carry a fan, rouge, face powder, scent bottle and smelling salts.

Modern Times

By the 1900′s the name “handbag” had been commonly used, although initially it referred usually to the traveling bags used by men.  As time passed, though, the term widened to include bigger bags that became popular with women.  Fashions changed throughout the century, from the fashion item of the 1920′s, through the war years when the materials for bags became sparse and other materials were utilized, and on to the later years of the century when designer houses started becoming interested in handbags and added them in their collections.

If you want to find out more about handbags, check out this interesting site: http://www.www.infoabouthandbags.com