History of the Handbag

The term “handbag” has only been around since the mid-nineteenth, but the concept and idea of them have been around since the day humans have needed to care important items with them.  From the ancient beaded bags to the haute couture totes of the modern era, handbags have been strongly influenced by technological and societal changes. It is the chameleon of the fashion world, constantly changing in its surroundings based on the needs and taste of the wearer and time.

Biblical times make reference to satchels, bags, and carriers in many forms. Both men and women used them on a daily bases and continue to utilize them in the work place as well as home life. At the turn of the fourteenth century, the location of the pouches themselves switched from whole body bags to attaching them to their girdles. Not only were the useful, many types of purses had deeper meanings such as an ecclesiastical purse would hold important relics, and most importantly the seal bag was made specifically for the Keeper of the Great Seal.

As time and fashion shifted, so did the needs of the bags. In the sixteenth century, women’s skirts became fuller and more unconventional to have your important items attached to a girdle that was not easily accessible any longer. This time of the world is also when the invention of pockets became prevalent in every day fashion which will be carried in to the future of purse design. By the end of the seventeenth century, purses no longer were used solely for the obvious uses of bags but as a sign of sophistication and class.

The nineteenth century saw many agricultural, industry, and societal which had an impact on every facet of life. Science during the Victorian era brought women a wide array of new fabrics which women were anxious to incorporate in to the rest of their outfits. The increase in textile excitement also lead to woman embroidering and adding unique details to the purses they have. Beyond science, the creation of the railroad system lead to women traveling more and needing larger, portable places to put their clothing and toiletries. Hence, the luggage industry was born, in which many of today’s most renowned handbag designers had their start such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton. 

By the 1930s, most of the bags trends of today had been invented, including the classic handbag which had a handles and a clasp frame, the clutch, the satchel, and the shoulder bag. The 30’s bag reflected the art deco style and also introduced plastic and zippers. The 1940’s took a shift with the war, and everything began to have a military feel to it and the bags became larger and squarer. The 1950s catapulted handbags into cult status. Major designers enjoyed a culture where accessorizing and color coordinating was almost an expectation. This is the time when bags began to represent femininity and beauty which is the culture norm as of the 2000’s.

From the 1960’s until the 1990’s there was a constant shift in trending and breaking of fashion boundaries. The patterns, fabrics, and sizes shifted like the waves at each as each and every decade came to an end. Women saw everything from the invention of the long to the clutch, to the addition of buckles and zippers as a décor mechanism. One of the brightest moments to come out of this thirty-year span was the classic quilted handbag look brought by Vera Bradley.

Now here we are, in the twenty-first century and you can find a nearly bewildering array of styles and materials. The number of designers that have made a successful name in the business are at a staggering high, and increasing each and every day. These designers continue to play with the handbag to bring even more diversity and excitement to them. As you can see, the history of the handbag is long and in depth. The next 100 years are going to be some of the most exciting times as we see what levels are going to be surpassed in creativity and design. 

Check out my website: http://www.vandalux.com

The Future of Purses

Handbags have revolutionized convenience and accessibility for women of all walks and ages. They have created a world that is so much better and brighter for all those who choose to own a bag. It allows us to walk out of the house with any and every possible item in our bags without making us feel cluttered or weighed down. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and textures, and price ranges which makes it one of the most versatile items on the market. What would our world look like without these magnificent accessories? 

While we think these beautiful bags are the best thing since sliced bread, there are definitely some much needed additions to make them even more wonderful. Here are a few simple and innovative modifications we think all handbag designers should take note of very soon!

1       1. Built in charger: Have you ever been stranded with 5% of your battery life left and hours to go before you made your way home? It is stressful , so why not have a purse that doubles as a charging station? They make portable ones already so just take it one step further and put in a handbag! 

2       2. Built in light: Women often stuff one too many things in their bag which can make it difficult to find that lipstick you love or the keys to your car. Adding a light that automatically turns on when the purse is opened is not only cool, it is necessary especially in the dark hours of the night when it gets even more impossible to see in to the dark abyss of a purse.

3      3. Pen/Pencil/Liner/Lip-gloss holder: Those little buggers are the first thing that disappear in a purse. Someone should take the logic found in make-up bags and implement them in to a purse; individualized slots to hold a pen, pencil, lip gloss and more! It keeps things organized and also keeps sanity intact!

          4. Alarm system: This is a safety feature that needs to happen. All purses should have a loud or annoying buzzer that you can sound off if you find yourself being followed by a stranger, getting unwanted attention, or in an attempted purse robbery. 

5      5. Cooler system: Some purses are large enough to hold bottles of water or soda and in those bags there should be an insulated pocket that keeps all beverages, or snacks, cool! That way no matter how long it has been sitting in the bag, it is still as refreshing as when it was first taken out of the refrigerator.

And finally, and most importantly by a landslide: 

6      6. Bottomless bag: Mary Poppins has ruined handbag dreams for women for many years with her seemingly endless bag. One day science and technology will be able to recreate this for the everyday women…we hope. 

Women are very willing to spend a few extra dollars on a handbag, and if they are so willing then they should be getting their entire dollars’ worth. These may not be to most realistic ideas, but we certainly think they would make everyone’s lives just a tad bit better. So listen up Coach, Prada, and everyone in between-these ideas could change the world! 

Check out our website: vandalux.com!