Pattie’s Hot Handbags

Starting in the 14th century the first records of the handbag is recorded in Egyptian hieroglyphs which shows as a pouch around the waist.  The bags were fastened to the waist by what was called “girdles.” These early bags were adorned with embriodery and jewels to show off a person’s fiancial status. Wealthier people obviously owned more elaborate and ornate bags. Everyone hoped to outdo their friends and aquaintances by having the best money could buy.
 
Traveling a few centuries forward to the 1600’s an era of practicality took over, with craftspeople using everyday materials such as leather, and drawstring closures on bags they created. Cloth bags were made much larger to accomodate bigger loads, and were carried diagonally. Before you know it, the next century sweeps in ushering still another look in handbags. It was the 1700’s and now the rage was variety–for both men and women of fashion. The large bags from the earlier centruy were forsaken for elaborate smaller bags, sewn into complex shapes. If a young girl hoped to get married, she’d have to have embroidery as a necessary skill. This resulted in more uniquely crafted bags than ever, which now more resembeled works of art!