Fashion and the Ladies Handbag

By Jo Archibald

Handbags have played a big part in the development of the fashion world. Bags are used to contain things and are being used by people from all age groups. They are made from plastic, leather, cloth, paper, or other materials that are sturdy enough to support the items inside it. The purpose of carrying bags is pretty much the same as before and only the designs and styles are different.

In the 14th century, it is revealed in Egyptian hieroglyphs that people carried small bags, secured about the waist through the use of "girdles". Influential and wealthy people had bags with many ornaments. Their bags were accessorized with embroidery and precious stones. The 16th century was a time when the emergence of functional and artistic bags took place. Bags were usually made from leather with a drawstring.

For the travelers, their bags were made from cloth and much larger than an ordinary bag. Bags for travelers were fashioned in such a way that they can be carried by the body diagonally.

During the 17th century, the revolution of fashionable bags took place. These didn't only appeal to women, but to men as well. The designs became more intricate and sophisticated. This period also gave rise to the significance of embroidery and was enhanced further when young ladies were required to learn how to embroider. This has gained a lot of recognition since then. Nowadays, we continue to see the impact of that instance to our society. We can attest to this each time we see genuine and artsy handbag designs.

In 18th century, the use of neoclassical clothes became widespread. Men and women favored the use of reticule than carrying purses because reticules were more fashionable at that time. There were a lot of women who liked to collect bags that would compliment their apparel for different occasions.

The next century saw to a more fashionable sense of bags, hence the period of the purse was born. Fashionable men and women had the clutch purse, and it radiated status symbol, especially on the type of purse one was seen to be holding. Young girls were even taught to learn embroidery, to make sure they are considered a 'prize catch' if they knew how to embroider, and this was during the classical period of the states and English time period.

Nowadays, bags can be a fashion statement, they could be a status symbol, and there is generally no gender on who uses what, except possibly, on the material that is used to create that bag. They are even considered accessories to some, because of what can be placed inside these small purses, or pouches, or for the incredibly large bags.

There is no discrimination on ages. For both men and women, these bags will complete their outfit. Youngsters can use totes to accentuate their styles. If you are shy, sassy, or exuberant, there surely are bags to your liking. There are also sleek styles perfect for professionals such as briefcases, travel luggage, and handbags made from leather.

If you are not a fan of commercialized bags, you can purchase custom-made bags from stores near you and from online shops. You can pick out personalized bags and cases for cosmetics and evening wear, and embroidered totes. These are perfect gifts to get yourself, or for your loved ones. - 29871

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