Designer Handbags: Cultural Icons

Handbags have been used to carry belongings during everyday life.  As handbags evolved over the centuries, they were used to carry different things by both men and women.  Today, regardless of what is carried in them, handbags can be designer showpieces as designers create newer and more stylish designer handbags.

Major designers began to pay attention to handbags in the 1950s. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, and Hermes began to produce designer handbags.  Through this development, the designer handbag has been elevated to fashion icon status as designer handbags continue to be an integral part of the fashion industry.  This designer handbag movement was especially fueled during the 1980s and early 1990s as more designers such as Prada and Fendi began offering designer handbags.

An example of a designer handbag that has become a pop icon is the Birkin designed by Hermes.  It was featured in an episode of the popular comedy, “Sex and the City,” when a character played by Kim Cattrall tried to use her status to circumvent a five-year waiting list for the designer handbag.  The show, while being fashion-oriented, is an example of how designer handbags and other designer wear have become cultural icons of our society.

Along with the production of designer handbags comes the production of designer handbag knock-offs or replicas.  Some designers have taken steps to be sure that the original designer handbag can be distinguished from its replica.  For example, Louis Vuitton began painting his logo on his designer handbags.  Other designers have followed suit and created distinctive logos and markings in order to tell the original designer handbags from the replicas.

There are many different styles of designer handbags.  Clutch style handbags, for example, are slim envelope-shaped bags that are meant to be carried by hand or under the arm.  Clutch style designer handbags eliminate the need for handles or straps and are the perfect accompaniment to evening wear.  Another style of designer handbags is the bucket bag.  These bags have large openings and are designed to hold many items.  These designer handbags are more suited for use during the day or for casual wear.  Other styles of designer handbags include backpacks and embroidered handbags.

Handbags began as modest cloth satchels which allowed people to carry their possessions with them.  Today, the handbag has evolved into a piece of the fashion wardrobe, and the designer handbag is a much desired and much emulated fashion icon.