My Designer Purse
Have you like me had a fascination with designer purses? From the time I was a girl, playing house with my dolls and trying to be like my mother whom I idolized, I have always wanted to know more about designer purses.
As I grew older, I noticed that the designer purse was a definite symbol of status for the woman. This led me to research the origin of handbags to see why they have been such an essential part of fashion history.
In the 14th century, the Egyptians carried designer pouches (purses) around the waist. Bags were attached to “girdles” that were fastened to one’s waist. Purses were adorned with fancy embroidery, jewels and stitching. The more elaborate the design, the richer the person.
The term “handbag” was coined in the early 1900s and at the time referred to handheld luggage that was carried by men. These bags were the concept that inspired the design of the “designer handbag” that later became a popular buy for the lady.
In the roaring 20s, when fashion underwent a revolution of sorts and hemlines started to vary as clothing became lighter; the designer handbag no longer needed to match the outfit perfectly.
In the 1940s during the war years, the handbag saw another change as supplies such as leather, metal zips and mirrors were hard to find so manufacturers switched to using plastics and wood in making handbags.
The 1950s ushered in designer fashion houses like Chanel, Louis Vutton and by 1960s, the old notions of classical styles gave rise to the ideas of the youth culture - illustrations of imaginative designer purses in numerous colors and shapes emerged as the new fashion style.
It makes perfect sense to have a handbag to carry around intimate, personal belongings that need to be at arms reach quickly. In our modern time, as a woman can you picture not having easy access to your cell phone, money, car keys, face powder, lipstick, perfume bottle and other essentials? How would you carry these items - your designer purse is therefore the perfect authentic handbag leather fashion style?
