Designer Handbags

People used analogues of handbags and purses for a long time already. Initially, these items performed only a utilitarian function, but gradually bags have become an important accessory.

Like the fashion changes for clothes and hairstyle, changes of bags fashion were the same way and many bags of the past centuries seem works of art to us today.

Bags up to 17 century
In the Middle Ages the main “accessory” was a bag for storage of coins. Made of leather or fabric, it was worn on a belt both by men and women. Over time, purses became bigger: they started to have space in them for documents, the Bible, the sacred relics. Along with the complication of cutting suits for handbags they began to use more expensive materials: velvet, suede, and decorate them with embroidery, beads, and ruffles. By 17 century the division of bags for men and women came, they were of different shape and volume: it was convenient for men to fold supplies for gambling or smoking, and for female to keep items of toilet.

Bags in 18 century

We can speak about the bag as the subject of the female wardrobe, starting from 18th century. Fashionable ladies in high society were everywhere to carry bags for needlework, made of expensive fabrics: silk, velvet and lace.

One of the first women to fall in love with this accessory was the famous mistress of Louis XV Mme Pompadour. Miniature handbag, which is a bag, wrapped in ribbon, still bears her name. However, contemporaries used a different name – handbag (born reticule).

Bags in 19 century

In the 19 century, enterprising tailors began to offer the ladies even more original models. Bags can be rectangular, square, round, they were decorated with ruffles, and lace, tassels and pompons, and a whole picture was sometimes painted in silk. As the finishing details of gold and silver were used. In the burgess homes, women produced their own bags, decorating them with embroidery in the form of initials, flowers, or intricate ornamentation. Brides sew a special wedding purse, which was supposed to be especially beautiful.

By mid-century, every woman of fashion had already a few bags of different shapes and sizes. The smallest – for visits -nothing but a business card could be put in it. In the bigger bags perfume, powder box, small mirror could be put, some also had pocket for coins.

For balls, receptions and trips to the theater real works of art were produced, richly decorated with embroidery, beads, and precious stones.