A Guide to the Designer Handbag

Who came up with the great idea for a purse? The earliest known instance of a purse seems to be from the fourteenth century. It started with a small pouch made from leather. Their purpose was simple: to allow people to carry around their money safely and easily.

This original bag was constructed quite simply. It was typically cut from a round piece of cloth which was then sewn together. A thin leather strap was attached which could wrap around the purse to hold it closed.

There were some improvements in purses during the next few hundred years or so, but it was in the 1950s that a real shakeup occurred. This was when designer purses started to make its presence known. Big names such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Chanel all introduced their own lines of very exclusive accessories.

These days, there are many more big names involved in producing designer handbags. Some of the renowned designers of these high end purses include Prada, Coach and Kate Spade.

It’s not difficult to understand their popularity, when every celebrity and star has one slung over her shoulder. They make a bold fashion statement, and women tend to feel more confident when they’re sporting a designer label on their purse.

Designer purses are always made from the finest materials with the highest quality craftsmanship. Since there is so much that goes into making a designer handbag, it’s hardly surprising to learn that they cost so much that an average person couldn’t hope to afford one.

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and purchase a designer handbag, be a careful consumer. There are a lot of unscrupulous vendors out there who will try and pass off a knock off as the real thing. Before you put down a thousand dollars or more on a purse, you need to know for sure that it’s authentic. The best way to be sure is to purchase only from reputable stores, including the fashion designer’s own outlets.

If your paycheck won’t stretch far enough to buy an original, then your best bet would be to look for a replica designer handbag. Not only can they pass as an original, they’re also considerably less expensive. Of course, they don’t have the attention to detail and careful construction of the original. However, it’s really difficult to tell them apart unless you have a trained eye.

One thing hasn’t changed much in the history of women’s purses. They’re still mostly used to carry your cash and other small items like tissues, hairbrushes and makeup. Today, however, it’s not what’s in the purse, it’s what’s on the purse (the logo, that is). That’s why the purse of choice these days is the designer handbag.