“Purse” or “handbag” or “pouch” The term “purse” originally referred to a small bag for holding coins. In British English, it is still used to refer to a small coin bag. A “handbag” is a larger accessory that holds objects beyond currency, such as a woman’s personal items. American English typically uses the terms purse […]

When the Roman city of Pompeii was discovered in the 18th century, all things ancient Greek and Roman became immensely popular. This movement, Classicism, also had a profound impact on women’s fashion: dresses became straight and the waistline moved upwards. Underneath these delicate dresses was no room for thigh bags. Their content moved into the […]

In the 1920s, Coco Chanel became tired of having to carry her handbags in her arms and decided to design a handbag that freed up her hands. Inspired by the straps found on soldiers’ bags she added thin straps and introduced the resulting design to the market in 1929. After her successful comeback to the […]

The Prada label was begun in 1913 by Mario Prada when he began selling shoes, leather handbags and trunks. He opened two boutiques in Milan after experience in Europe and U.S.A. The classic Prada suitcase was made of heavy walrus skin but as plane travel made heavy suitcases impractical, the company started to make lighter […]