Why are Handbags so Fashionable?

Man's best friend might be a dog, but surely a woman's best friend is her handbag. One of the most personal and versatile of accessories, handbags are sought after by women of all social classes and incomes as a hot commodity to accent our wardrobes and personalities. The fashion purse came from humble beginnings but over the past century, it has become the real "it" item for the modern lady.

But just why are handbags so sought after and coveted an accessory? Surely something so simple as a leather handbag can't really command prices of upwards of £700 or more for designer brands, can they?

They can, and often do, and for some very simple reasons that may seem obvious but go much deeper than the surface once examined. Fashion purses are a unique statement about the woman herself, a statement that is both highly personal and conveys a social standard as well. For more than just reasons of style, these little accessories are a must for many ladies.

Purses and leather handbags started out simply enough; a century ago, they were nothing more than luggage pieces or quaint silk bags in which a lady might put such personal items as perfumes, handkerchiefs and smelling salts. Larger totes were used to carry clothing on trips, and when travelling abroad became easier at the turn of the century, these practical items began to take on new meaning and styles to reflect that meaning.

The handbag or purse today can still be used to carry personal items, all the while announcing via particular brand or style "this is who I am". Top designers command high prices for the fact that their products are often the best designed, most well made, and most sought after by famous peoples and celebrities. Fashionable women wish to identify with these celebs they might never meet personally; sharing the same style and tastes by carrying a similar handbag marks her as a woman on the cutting edge of fashion trends.

Leather handbags or totes can add the special finishing touches to coordinated outfits, and designer brands such as Gucci, Prada, Chanel and Louis are in stiff competition with one another to produce these accessories that have the most "function" and adaptability with outfits. Women are willing to pay hundreds of pounds for these designer brands not only for the beautiful designs, but because it is an investment in her social status.

The handbag as a fashion piece is here to stay. Beloved of many women with a wide variety of styles and price ranges to suit almost any fashion savvy lady, the purse will be one of the main attractions of shopping sprees for years to come.