The history of the handbag
THE STORY
The purse was originally found to be carried by former slaves. They carried their "owner's" belongings there in containers made of goat's hair because they had no pockets. Associated with a relatively low social status, handbags were by no means trendy!
Half a century ago , it was only worn at Sunday mass. Inside was at most a bottle of cologne, a missal and a handkerchief. Or again, it only served as a chaplaincy in order to store these coins intended for the needy.
Then the years passed, women got ahead of themselves, and their bags got heavier.
Over the centuries, the appearance of the first handbag as we know it today appeared in the 19th century ; women are inspired by the antique style for their dresses: they are closer to the body and the waist is raised. It now becomes impossible to put pockets under skirts, or even to carry a bag on your belt.
In the 19th century , the handbag became a fashion accessory in its own right, since it now completed the outfit, made of precious fabrics and embroidered with pearls or precious stones. Like jewelry, it shows what social class people belonged to.
In the late 1860s , handbags developed to satisfy the desire to travel. The Vuitton house will above all launch a “flat bag” style which responds well to the new demands of the time. Inspired by this luxury luggage, the handbags expand to contain the panoply of these high society ladies: sewing materials, jewelry, silver, fans...
Handbags have had their ups and downs this century, depending on fashion and the economy. But today , it comes in a wide range of styles, suitable for all dress codes.
Ranging from the "tote bag", the croissant bag, the tote bag, the mini bag is THE trendy bag of our century!
