Ah the trusty old handbag. Carrier of all necessities, emergency supplies, beauty secrets and all sorts of magical powers. Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but anyone who likes carrying handbags knows how important they are, both in terms of logistics and aesthetics. Not only do they increase the carrying capacity of the wearer by a lot, they also help tie the outfit together and make it look complete. Vogue recently did a rundown of what the most popular handbag styles were in each decade leading up to the present day. Here’s what we know:
- 1950s
The 1950s were a period of post-war economic prosperity, and women’s handbag collections reflected that. With clothing silhouettes that were bigger, with fuller, longer skirts, handbags needed to be smaller to balance that out. Some examples include Gucci’s Jackie O bag, named after the fashionable Jackie Onassis, as well as the iconic Chanel 2.55 bag.
- 1960s
A more progressive decade, women were experiencing more freedom when it came to fashion, and so, many began to forego handbags entirely in favor of dresses with pockets stitched into them. Those who were still carrying handbags opted for even smaller bags, such as the Paco Rabanne chainmail bags. Louis Vuitton even came out with a smaller version of its Speedy bag, at the request of loyal fan Audrey Hepburn.
- 1970s
The 1970s were all about the bohemian vibes. Bags became looser and softer, often made out of soft suede or supple leather, and came with thin straps meant to be slung around the shoulder. Mulberry came out with its soft suede embroidered bags, and Chloé had Karl Lagerfeld designing it’s signature boho look.
- 1980s
The 80s were all about extravagant exuberance and extravagance, and what better way to show that than through monograms and metallic silver golden hardware hanging from your statement handbag? Karl Lagerfeld upgraded the Chanel Classic Flap bag by switching out the mademoiselle lock for the iconic interlocked CC logo. Dior’s handbags also got a hanging logo charm, and the Fendi FF logo also made a resurgence. - 1990s
The 90s were almost entirely dominated by the popularity of the Fendi Baguette. A small petite bag meant to be tucked under your arm much like the French bread it was named after, the Baguette was an instant hit. Popularized by Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and The City, this bag became the first It Bag, with stock frequently running out, leading to long waiting lists.
- 2000s
Perhaps this was the era of many It-bags, as each subsequent highly anticipated bag launch amassed hefty waiting lists. Again, the purpose of the It-bag was not so much practicality, but more so statements, as demonstrated by the Chloé Paddington handbag which weighed over 1kg when empty. But when it comes to fashion, no pain no gain, right?
- 2010s
The 2010s saw the rise in popularity of the tote bag shape, spearheaded by Céline’s Luggage Tote. Then Mulberry created its Alexa bag, inspired by It-girl Alexa Chung after she was seen carrying a men’s bag from the same brand. Givenchy’s Antigona also remained a popular choice during this era.
- 2020s
Coming out of a pandemic, soft pillowy bags are all the rage according to Vogue. Daniel Lee’s Bottega Pouch has been a favorite, as well as other brands like Coach and Marc Jacobs, who literally has a bag called the ‘Pillow Bag’. While black will always remain a classic color for a handbag, the 2020s have seen more vibrant hues like pastel yellows and mint greens. Everyone is looking for that pop of color after being locked up indoors all day.
