The History of Handbags

 and the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb was
The first documented use of handbags is fromalso reflected in handbags and purses of the time.
fourteenth century hieroglyphics, showing men carrying 
little pouches around their waists called ‘girdles’The outbreak of the Second World War meant a
for carrying flint. However by the 1400s women asshortage of leather and metal for frames and zips, so
well as men were wearing handbags adorned withhandbag manufacturers started using wood and plastic
jewelry or embroidery to reflect their wealth and theseinstead. The 1930s and 1940s also saw the
objects became a status symbol, depicted in portraitsdevelopment of the clutch bag – which are still very
of affluent and influential people proudly sporting theirpopular today and websites such as SexyHandbags
handbags fastened to their outfits with tasseled strings.offer a wide range of clutch bags in various different
 designs and colours to suit all tastes.
By the early seventeenth century men and 
women’s handbags had virtually disappeared andIt was not however until the 1950s that fashion houses
were replaced by pockets under their clothes, but bydeveloped producing designer handbags and in the
the close of the eighteenth century puffed skirts were1960s reptile skin and silk handbags came into fashion.
out of fashion for women and close fitting dressesAgain silk handbags are still very much in vogue as
became the in thing. Leather and embroideredoccasional bags and SexyHandbags stocks a large
handbags became popular as handbags started toselection of stunning silk embroidered handbags.
complement their clothes and women had different 
handbags for different occasions. Perfume, smellingToday the majority of leather handbags imported into
salts, fans and visiting cards were carried inthe UK come from Italy and China, which is where
women’s handbags and these handbags wereSexyHandbags sources its leather handbags from and
called ‘reticules’.we have recently seen a trend for handbags made
 from wool and tweed, such as many of
It was not until the 1900s that the termSexyHandbags’ stylish winter handbags, like the
‘handbag’ first emerged, to describe satchelsAutumn Rose, the Poppins and the Patchwork winter
and briefcases carried by men. However designers ofhandbag.
women’s handbags made similar versions to suit 
feminine needs including tiny compartments for fans,Improvements in manufacturing processes have also
gloves, opera glasses and makeup.meant that handbags can now be produced much
 cheaper, allowing people to buy beautiful handbags at
The years after the First World War witnessed theaffordable prices and this has long been the ethos of
physical freedom of women and a more independentSophie Curtis’ website SexyHandbags which sells
attitude to women emerge and this is when handbagsa huge range of stunning handbags, clutch bags, silk
really became indispensable accessories. Handbagshandbags, purses and jewelry wraps at very
really came into their own, with different materialsreasonable prices to suit all pockets, styles and tastes.
including mother of pearl and bolder colours being used