The Bag

Do you want to know a woman? Take a look inside her...... bag. A woman's handbag tells you who she is.

Handbags are known to carry all kinds of things. A young mother's would resemble a mini baby shop while the fashionably inclined would be a peek into 'life with fashion tv'. In short, ladies handbags come in various shapes, designs and sizes to cater to women of different tastes.

So what is this wonder invention called a handbag. Who invented them? How long have they been around?

Research has shown that after the French Revolution women's clothes had become so delicate that it was impossible for them to contain a pocket,giving birth to the handbag. The purse was also known as a Reticule and occasionally a 'ridicule' by men as a joke.History offers evidence of early rural peasants using them to carry seeds, there are even depictions of early handbags in Egyptian hieroglyphs.The 1400's had both men and women sporting the latest purse. As world economy improved the humble sack became fuller and more ornamented with gold or elaborate embroidery.The 16th century handbags were more practical, everyday material such as cloth and leather came to stay.From the 16th century there were also 'sweet' bags for the ladies, which were like lavender bags, made of a variety of available herbs to scent their handkerchiefs, and to disguise foul smelling odours from privy and street. Pockets were called 'bagges'in the 16th century. Tobacco pouches came into existence from the 17th century. By the 18th century ladies' side dress pockets became large and useful for carrying a multitude of items and were often made separately, and attached singly or in pairs onto a band around the waist. Access to the pockets was provided through slits in the skirts.

Remember this??

Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it.
Ne'er a penny was there in it
Except the binding round it.

Handbags dont seem indispensible in the present. Wonder what our future holds. Even if they were outdated, I am sure women would still show them off as antiques. After all "Vanity, thy name is Woman!!"