In the 16th century, handbags were made out of common materials such as animal skin and leather. The design that show in the picture has made by drawstring. At that time people concentrate on large cloth bags and this kind of bags are popular among travelers. They would use the bag cross diagonally with their the body.
Women in that century mostly used a purses that include the coin compartment. Later on, a purse then become a larger handbag in order to carry more belonging. The coin compartment become more like today's wallet.
The picture has shown the example of handbags in 16 century. They were leather bags, leather purses and leather caps.
In the 17th century, bags became more complex and more detail. There were added skills work such as embroidery and needlework. The workers mostly girls and they have been tough about those skills in order to find the husband. These skills gave rise to stitched artwork on purses compare to previous example. Around the year 1670, men stop carrying purse due to the girls' creation, built-in pockets for men’s breeches. They did however carry little netted purses in their pocket to carry money.
In the picture shown the 17 century bag. It contain more details, needle works and embroidery. It has developed from normal leather bag to the style above.
In the 18th century, as neo-classical clothing came into fashion, women started carrying their handbags as to support their garments. The bag named reticules. Women carried a "reticule", or small drawstring bag, by hand or wrist. They mostly use these kind of bag because high and thigh waist dresses were fashionable and the bags could not be hidden under outer clothing. Most women had this kind of bag more than one, so that they could use each one for different occasion. In the women's purse could be face powder, a fan or a perfume.
In the picture shown the “Reticule” bag. It still has the sense of 17 century style which are needles work with more complicated embroidery.
In late 18th and early 19th centuries, people typically carried the small bag. Because they believe that “the smaller the bag, the richer the owner was likely to be”, says Glynis Jones, curator, fashion and dress, at the Powerhouse Museum.
At that time, people were interesting in metal work bag rather than needle work as previous.
From the first half of the 20th century, leather became popular again. Hermes Sac Mallette bags was one of the example. It was made out of snake skin. The snake skin was transfer into a box bag as the picture above has shown.
In this picture is the Hermes Vintage Crocodile Kelly Handbag. This bag is one of the symbol of the wealthy and sophistication of the carrier. The Kelly Handbag itself is named for Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco because she is the one who make this bag popular in 1956. She carried this bag because she wants to hind her pregnant belly behind oversized Kelly.
The word vintage can not justice to Hermes Vintage Crocodile Kelly Handbag. The Kelly bag is very rare and this style of bag already goes beyond trend and fashion. We can’t denied that Hermes Kelly is one of today’s women dream bag.
It's elegance, complicate, and delightful. These personality of Kelly make handbag itself last more than one hundred year. It also one of the most famous, desirable and exclusive bag for high-end market. Hermes is now the symbol of wealthy, fashionable working women of the century.
