The handbag a woman carries often says more about her than the fact that she needs a vessel to contain her belongings. It may show her sense of taste, style, place in society and economic status. Some women don't consider the social implications of their handbags, and they're likely to find one that goes with everything. Still, others want a different bag for every mood, and they're willing go to expensive boutiques and pay top dollar for their favorite designer names. This isn't a recent phenomenon. Designer handbags have been around for many years.

Handbag Origin
Originally, people carried bags that were made out of leaves and wood. Men were the first handbag carriers, not women.

Handbags During the Medieval Times
Both men and women slung handbags over their shoulders or wore them hanging from their waists. Women often carried fragrance in their bags to disguise horrible smells permeating the air around them.

18th Century to 19th Century
During this era, women wore pouches attached beneath their dresses to tote their belongings, but men carried separate bags. The reticule was a small purse used through the Regency period. Some of these reticules were made of expensive fabrics such as velvet or silk, and others were made from less expensive yarns that were crocheted. During this period, women started judging each other based on the value of their reticule. They often tried to outdo each other by designing and sewing the finest bag.

20th Century
Louis Vuitton began with luggage then moved on to designing handbags in the early 20th century. Soon after, Chanel introduced its own version of the designer handbag, a quilted clutch that had a chain strap. After small dogs made their mark among the elite, many of the designers came out with a line of dog carrier handbags.

Today's Designer Handbags
Designers currently make their handbags from every imaginable material, including leather, reptile skins, fabrics and plastics. Popular designers include Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Ferragamo, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, Armani, Falchi, Dolce and Gabbana, and Versace. Although many of the original designers have passed away, their lines live on through the companies they left behind. Each one has its own distinctive style with details that define the brand. The styles vary from simple, sophisticated and classic to exotic or quirky. Some of these handbags carry prices in the low hundreds, while others cost thousands of dollars.