Interestingly enough, handbags were first made and worn by males as early as 480 BC. So the next time you decide to go window shopping with your man, try dressing him up with a bag and as he begins to lecture you about his masculinity, impress him with your newfound knowledge. This probably won’t convince him to go with you to Saks for a handbag shopping spree, but it might make him a tad bit more open-minded. Anyhow, I’m going to start talking about the history of handbags; beginning with the ancient times and concluding with modern handbags.

Handbag making started as early as the 16th century. At the time, handbags were made out of cloth and leather. During this era, travelers usually carried large cloth handbags which were worn across the body (today this type of bag is called a messenger bag). It was not until a whole century later that handbags became a fashionable necessity. Both men and women wore purses which were eloquently stitched and embroidered. As a matter of fact, women that were able to embroider and stitch were considered to have a higher social marital value (in this day and age it’s more about how much Botox we can inject into our cheeks). Then came the 1900s; handbags began developing a personality!

By the 18th century, handbags became extremely fashionable items to wear. Women started to carry different handbags (known as reticules at the time being) depending on their outfits or the occasion. Ladies would carry their face powder, fan, rogue, scent bottle, visiting cards, a card case, and smelling salts in their stylish reticules. What about the men?  Actually, the term, “handbag,” was used for the large luggage bags men carried while travelling. Before we knew it, reticules were upgraded and transformed with internal compartments, complicated fasteners, and locks giving birth to women’s handbags. This era’s handbag revolution continued to succeed on to yet another century in our world of popular fashion.

Till this day, handbag fashion continues to be a luxurious necessity. While some ladies leave their bags in its proper storage pouches, others replace their week-old bags for more freshly designed purses. So what if your man doesn’t appreciate your handbag fetish? Let me let you in on a little secret, within the next two years, your man will probably be asking for your opinion--“Does this Jimmy Choo handbag make me look fat?”