Most of us carry one, they complete any outfit and are a usefull ad practical way of keeping our posessions safe and on our persons at all time,

but have any of you ever wondered where the first handbag came from, or where it derived from?

It is important to know your history and thsi subject is very useful to know whether you are entertaining guests or thinking of a conversation starter for those awkward

situations!

Here i shall tell you the entire history of the noble handbag.

The very first literary mention of handbags was way back in the 14th century! however, handbags were used as far back as in anchient Egypt, where people would attach pouches to 'girdles' around their waist, and were adorned with flamboyant jewels and encrusted with gold, thses were used as a symbol of power, basically, the more rich you are, the more extravagant the handbag you carried.

In the 16th century, handbags got more practical, and were equipped with a handy strap and a draw-string fastener. During this period, larger cloth bags were used by travelers, which was useful and practical for storing many possesions whilst on the move!

The 17th century saw more variety, and fashionable men and women carried smaller bags with ever more elaborate shapes and designs.

Young girls were taught embroidary and was a must for any marriage to work! naturally. Fromthis we see a rise in ever more beautiful handbags.

Neo-classical clothing became popular in the 18th century, and the classic handbag would ruin any minimalist outfit with an unsightly strap and intrusive appearence.

Handbags evolved into much smaller strapless accessories and indicidual handbags could be bought for every outfit! Many fashion magazines of the era would argue as to which handbag suited which outfit and how they should be worn. The small strapless bags were called reticules, In the reticules one would find rouge, face powder, a fan, a scent bottle, visiting cards a card case, and smelling salts.

The word 'handbag' came into use in the 1900's and generally reffered to hand held luggage carried by men. These were an inspiration for a new breed of bags popularized by women, including complicated fastenings, inside compartments and locks. With this new fashion, jewelers cashin in my creating extra compartments for opera glasses, cosmetics and fans. The 1920's saw a revolution in fashion with varying hemlines and lighter clothing. Bags no longer needed to match the outfit perfectly and the rage was for the stylish lady to carry a doll dressed exactly like herself, complete with matching bag for her minature companion! The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb inspired Egyptian art on purses.

The 1940's saw new austerity in clothing, including handbags with the war effort in mind. Metal frames, zips, leather, and mirrors were in short supply so manufacters used plastic and wood. The 50's saw the rise of important designer houses including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes and the 60's saw the breakdown of old notions of the classical and the rise of youth culture.

Copy is the most sincere form of flattery and, if so, Kate Spade, Gucci, Coach and Dior must be very flattered! There are many replica handbags flooding the market (just visit Canal Street in New York City!). Some of these "designer fakes" even carry the label of the Company they are imitating while others just have the signature "C" or "G" without the label. What's in the future of handbags? My personal prediction is more individualized bags and interesting fabrics.

So next time you pick up your favourite handbag, cast your mind back to its origin and appreciate the intense history of the handbag and its beautiful e