The evolution of handbags: A fashion history

More than functional accessories to hold items, handbags and purses have become an important fashion statement that completes an outfit. But handbags weren’t always as glamorous as they are now. The bag evolved from having a utilitarian purpose to becoming the accent to one’s look of the day.

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Amazingly, bags were actually carried by men in ancient times and during the Middle Ages. These were drawstring purses, usually holding coins and jewelry, and were hung around their waist. But by the turn of the 17th to the 18th century, bags were then given by men to women as gifts, and these bags were beautifully embroidered and embellished. In Italy and France, a bag containing coins was a traditional gift to the bride. It was the time when purses became more of an accessory for women than for men.

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The notion of a “handbag” came at around the late 18th century when women would carry toiletries and makeup when traveling. Up to the 20th century, artisans were experimenting with new materials and designs. High-fashion brands, most of which come from Italy, saw the fashion potential of the handbag and developed an extensive range of designs for purses and bags.

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Today, a woman cannot have just one bag. The modern woman now chooses from a collection of bags to be able to mix and match one to every kind of outfit.

For handbags, purses, and wallets that offer both style and function, turn to Tuci Italia. Learn more about its statement pieces for every look on this Facebook page.

REPOST: Let’s All Remember That Time Monica Lewinsky Was a Handbag Designer

Monica Lewinsky might have urged the press “to burn the beret and bury the blue dress,” but people cannot erase the fact that she was once a handbag designer who ventured into sewing and knitting “as the only way to stay sane” at the height of her scandal with Bill Clinton.  Read the full article below.

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While we’re on the subject of Monica Lewinsky, let’s reflect on her post-White House stint as a handbag designer. Her bag collection called The Real Monica, Inc sold out online as well as in stores at the height of their it-factor popularity like Henri Bendel (NYC), Fred Segal (LA), and The Cross (London) in 1999.

“What really excites me is that this has nothing to do with the President,” she told Marie Claire for a story that appeared in their October issue. (They had nothing to do with the president except that the popularity of these totes relied solely on the White House intern being at the center of the world’s biggest news story at the time.) She sold eight different designs, ranging from $70 to $130, and she told the magazine that she learned to sew and knit “as the only way to stay sane.” (She was stuck on lockdown in her Washington apartment forbidden to communicate with anyone for legal reasons.) That’s when the kind of magic genius that only house arrest can create struck.

The earthy-looking collection has performed well on eBay recently. A set of five pre-owned totes sold for $200. We believe they’re ideal for the person who thinks that the shag carpet of a bang bus is a wardrobe essential. Each one resembles a unique drab sofa that people cover with plastic and Windex when guests are about to arrive. Can’t knock her for riding that moment though.

Tuci Italia kicks style into high gear with its line of handbags and purses carefully designed for today’s vibrant and multifaceted women. Get inside the handbag war by liking this Facebook page on the latest fashion news, celebrity styles, and more.