Vogue Essentials: Handbags

by Carolyn Asome

Since its inception more than a century ago, British Vogue has been fascinated by the infinite incarnations of the handbag. From the myriad surrealist creations of Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel to Prada's democratic nylon backpack, from the exclusive Hermés Birkin bag to individual vintage gems, the handbag is fashion's most inventive accessory.

No shock, then, that the handbag market today is worth more than a hundred billion dollars. From each season's must-have to five-figure rarities, the handbag symbolizes the inexplicable power of fashion desire. Vogue Handbags explores all the greatest hits in a collection that any fashion devotee will covet.

'Any woman can wear shoes and it's not a question of how tall you are, how skinny you are, how blonde or blue-eyed or tanned or whatever.' Marc Jacobs

Genres: Fashion

160 pages, Hardcover

Published April 3, 2018

Reviews

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Handbag was not used before recent time because women would store their stuff inside of their rather large clothing

- As women's clothing became more minimalistic, handbag became a more necessity - especially when women stay away from home for longer

- Style swings from one from other: just like all things, change is the only constant. There's no "timeless" style - the term itself is an oxymoron. Style is always lead by authority figures who are unafraid of expressing oneself, while the public tries to minimic as a way to attempt to recreate the insecurities of image of oneself

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very limited and somewhat disappointing. What is a book about handbags that ignores the creations of Judith Leiber, for example?

I leafed through and read the rather boring commentary in about half an hour. Back it went to the library...

[Auggie Swanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was very well written, broke the many handbag types down well, and had beautiful images.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little book filled to the brim with pictures of very nice and very expensive bags, explaining the history of bags and how they have become more important in fashion.