Like every garment, even handbags have their own story behind them. They are not just a simple accessory to be paired with our outfit of the day, bags are a psychological need, something essential we could not live without, an extension of our life!
But how was this incredible invention of vital importance born?
Believe it or not, handbags were not created as a women’s accessory. The origin of the term dates to 1900, when men used to carry pouches in the Ancient Egypt – as depicted in many hieroglyphics of that time.
The mysterious handbag in the Ancient Egypt
The oldest purse was found in Germany in 2020, and dated from 2,500 to 2,200 B.C.; it was studded with dog teeth, while the oldest handbag, instead, is a 700-year-old-clutch discovered in Northern Iraq; it is a unique piece, decorated with gold and silver court scenes – what an incredible treasure!
And did you know about the meaning held by such a unique accessory?
In the Middle Ages, purses had a great symbolic weight representing marriage and betrothal, thus usually conveying a romantic note.
Symbol of power, status and beauty, handbag has always had a very practical use as well.
That is why this indispensable element is so necessary for each woman, especially when spending the whole day out and having to deal with another hectic schedule.
But let’s have a deeper look at the evolution of the handbag from the Elizabethan Era to this day…
In the 1950s, while trends were proposing a new concept of fashion, with tea length swing dresses, pencil and circle skirts and tailored suites, the small girdle purses that women used to carry began to increase in size (we can notice this by seeing the humblest people of that time already wearing large satchel-type bags across their body).
Women In Fashion – Back To 1950’s
It was the introduction of pockets to men’s clothing in 1670, when men fully discarded bags, so that they began to be known purely as the domain of women’s fashion.
On top of that, handbags played an important role in the women’s equality movement, giving women a specific place where to keep their own money and possessions, thus stopping relying forever upon their husbands; this has also contributed to guarantee more privacy and control of women personal belongings, empowering them even more.
But, as you might imagine – while you are getting to know a little bit about myself, I am not fully satisfied if I do not add a hint of psychology to my blog articles, thus I would like you to focus your attention on the psychological aspect that is intrinsic in women’s handbags, not only as a fashion accessory, but as a pure reflection of our personality and lifestyle.
Because, whether you know it or not, you can learn a lot about people by simply observing the way they carry their bags and how they organise their own items in it.
The body expert, Patti Woods, has studied the meaning of women’s bag habits, and she talks about it in a Reader’s Digestfeature.
Let’s have a look at the different ways to carry handbags and what they show about our personality:
Holding a bag securely between arm and body
If you do that, then you tend to be cautious and practical, occasionally too much that you might need some time before opening up to people around you and giving your trust. You are also very attentive and selective, which is a good thing as it makes you the smartest person in the room. It can generate a wrong impression about yourself though, as you overthink before taking action and this can result to be a bit slow and looking insecure in people’s eyes.
Carrying a cross-body bag at the front
You are the busiest business woman! You like things to be easy and practical. You have no time to pair your accessories to the right outfit, wearing something fashion that is too uncomfortable for your standards. You need something that would make you feel secure, by giving you enough space to keep your belonging necessary for a long day full of meetings at work, without bothering you too much.
Wearing a small sling bag that hangs freely from one shoulder
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This tells a lot about you and your personality. You are a free spirit and your genuineness and spontaneity are what really make you stand out from the crowd. You like living your life to the fullest, bursting positive energy from every pore. You do not need too much; you are only carrying with you what is a real necessity (this explains the small size of your bag). Although you do not pay attention to brands, you like to have good quality stuff. Be careful to your personal items when you are outside though. Sometimes your chilled attitude could lead you to be a bit scatterbrain.
Holding a satchel from the crook of the elbow
Class and elegance make you a charismatic, charming woman that men look at with curiosity and desire. Prestige is your thing. Sometimes people that do not know you may think that you are a bit arrogant or that you have an attitude of superiority at first impression, but you simply know what you want and how to get it.
A recent study on women with dementiafound that they responded well with having handbags with them in their care homes, suggesting that after a time, we even begin to treat handbags as an extension of ourselves.
In fact, if you think about it, bags are not only a mirror of our personality. They contain part of our life; they make us feel safe and secure day and night, even at the very thought of wearing them.
It is like bringing your inner essence with you, your personal effects, the extra lipstick that will rejuvenate you on a last-minute meeting with the CEO of the company, the spare toothbrush that will save you before going on a random date.
And obviously, even how you organise your stuff into your purse will reveal a lot about you. You may be that free spirit that does not need a lot with her, as long as you have the essential needs for your daily schedule, or like myself, you may be that kind of woman who will bring along with her the entire flat (I know this may sound exaggerate, but sometimes I really do this).
Who knows better than you what feature represents you?
Your bag will speak for yourself. Now that you know that, make sure you will wear the right one on the most special occasion of your life!
Many of you may be wondering if it is possible to create a unique, first-class style with a low budget. My answer to your question is simple: anything you want is possible!
In the last few days, I have been reading many articles about similar topics, just to be aware of different points of view and to indulge my curiosity with this common issue, which is a proper dilemma to me: I want to be classy, but my budget does not allow me to.
First of all, clear your mind of any negative language that you might subconsciously use within yourself. It is vital that, from now on, you are going to believe that you can do anything you want, as you have an incredible power: you are responsible for your own choices and for your life, and you are in control of it.
Now, let’s move on to our list of useful tips!
The first suggestion I am going to share with you, which is the most important to me is:
Have an objective and a role model, someone you are fascinated by
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
What is your goal? You want luxury and a wealthy lifestyle but you work in a hotel and all you can do is just dream when you are assisting your guests at the check-in. Buls**t!
If you have a clear target and a picture of who you want to be, find a role model who you can be inspired by, and you will have that image stuck in your head that will help you to gain more confidence along your path.
I have always been fascinated by women in business with character and strong personalities, wearing their monochromatic and minimal suits that I find incredibly sexy and charming. I honestly do not focus on only one model, as there are so many examples of great women in history and contemporary figures, that I have at least one mentor in each environment.
Regardless, to avoid dwelling too much on the details, this is just for you to understand the importance of setting goals, having a vision and be surrounded by inspiring people, not only in this specific circumstance but also in every part of everyday life.
Once you know what you want to achieve and you keep the end goal in mind, the rest will just kind of fall into place in a natural way.
Now, what you should do before venturing into the beauty of fashion is:
2. Embark on a deep digital journey into the top trends and the latest designs
Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava from Pexels
You must always be on top of the trends, being fully aware of what is in the market and what are the new proposals, colours of the upcoming season, fabrics etc.
I would suggest you to spend some time reading fashion magazines or simply having a deeper look at their websites. For instance, I am a great fan of Vogue and Conde Nast (it is no coincidence that two of the strongest women in business of which I am inspired by are Franca Sozzaniand Anna Wintour. Both journalists and editor-in-chief of Vogue).
Educate yourself, so that you will become familiar with the world of fashion and its incredible history. This will also help you to increase your ideas and creativity.
Once you know what to look for, you are going to focus on the financial aspect of the whole shopping adventure.
To do this:
3. Set up a separate Saving Pot in your current Bank Account
Photo by Kristina Paukshtite
You have absolutely no intention of spending more than how much you set out to previously, so ease up on your self-judgement and do as you promised yourself!
I know it is not always easy to resist the temptation of buying that stunning dress in the window that you are already dreaming of wearing on your next date, but this is also a great opportunity to prove yourself that you know how to control your impulses!
Thus, make a financial plan, set a budget and stick to it! It is not difficult to do it, and I am sure most of you have an online mobile banking app within your Bank Account. I have multiple pots that I use on several occasions. It takes literally a few seconds to create a new savings pot, so that you will be always aware of your expenses.
4. Buy clearance clothing or second hands accessories
Photo by collis from Pexels
I believe most of you may be thinking right now: how can I be on top of the latest trends if I purchase the inventories of the previous season? Well, you can if you follow my previous advice, but first of all, you must have good taste in fashion, and I am sure you do!
In my 28 years, I do not remember even once where I purchased an item belonging to the new arrivals. Or if I did, it was very rare.
I have always been limited on budget and I could not afford the luxury brands, therefore my only chance was to wait for the sales to start!
In my opinion, it is much better to buy good quality fabrics from the clearance clothing sections, rather than spending less in cheaper brands like Primark, Boohoo, Missguided, etc.
You could also have a look at TK Maxx (you can find plenty of good deals there), or explore websites like Wardow and Zalando (I have purchased some trendy handbags there too, and I was quite happy with their service) or buy second-hand garments (be careful though before trusting a seller, it is important that you will go through their history and reviews first, paying full attention to every single detail of each item).
I personally do not like online shopping when it is relating to clothes that I have not tried yet, as my body shape is uncommon (and I am sure most of you, like me, might have different sizes from your waist to your bust), therefore I prefer to try each garment in the shop first, and then completing the whole shopping process though the official websites or, occasionally, on e-Bay for a cheaper price.
It is the same when it is relating shoes, as patterns might not always fit properly.
But as for the rest, you can give free rein to your creativity with the accessories, buying what you like the most online.
Another very important bit of advice that I would like you to consider is:
5. Make a list of 4 – 6 outfits that you are planning to create
Photo by Lum3n from Pexels
This will also include a basic idea of the main colours of your clothes. Put as much detail as possible; it will help you to avoid wasting time with a vague destination or vision of what you are going to wear and who you are going to be on that particular scenario.
Fashion is an incredible world, as it gives you the freedom to be yourself, expressing your personality in a thousand different ways.
And if you have a proper plan, setting a list will help you a lot with developing organisational skills that you did not even think you could have, which you will find extremely useful on many different occasions in the future.
You will become faster in making decisions, very selective, and I would say, extraordinarily exclusive, which are also a few essential qualities that you should have when it is relating to fashion.
Once you have a proper scheme, you will be ready for the following step:
6. Start by shopping for the main items of clothing first, then the accessories
Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels
Focus on your first outfit by selecting the main garments first. The rest will come later on.
Let’s just say that you are going to purchase an egyptian blue dress. You may want to combine an ivory or a cream jacket with it, and then a gold Swarovski belt, same as your gold pouch and your glamour 10cm court heels that will leave everyone breathless.
You will realise how naturally the whole process of styling will come to you, accessory by accessory, detail by detail.
By contrast, if you will start buying the jewellery, then the bag, then the hat, you will end up in a sea of confusion, losing your direction completely.
7. Maintain a natural taste when selecting the fabrics
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels
Monochromatic colours are always the best way to start creating a unique outfit, because of their single base hue with their elegant shades and tones, achieved by the use of a white tint.
Not only they are very easy to be combined with different fabrics and colours, but they also offer you the chance to play with only a few quality garments, exchanging them multiple times, without having to invest a huge amount of money on clothing.
This is what really defines you as a creative and brilliant stylist, making you stand out from your competitors.
Keeping a neutral style will also give a positive image of you as a classy and elegant woman, who does not need to show off to be attractive, falling into vulgarity.
8. Dress for your body shape, be aware of your proportions
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Let’s now have a deeper look at the morphological aspect.
We all know we have a unique body shape and proportions. We can only dream of wearing a pair of flared jeans like the perfect Charlie’s Angels if, in real life, we are short and tiny like Kylie Minogue. Let’s be honest!
However, this is not the end of the world as, luckily, we always keep a varied quantity of high heels in our walk-in closet.
The only detail that makes the difference is how you wear what you love, and obviously, your posture.
Do not go for a long trench coat if it reaches your ankles and you are only 5’2 (I made this mistakes several times, as I was not perfectly aware of how proportions work; I thought I was looking cool, when instead I was far from it!).
You should look at yourself as cut into thirds from your shoulders to your feet. You want either one third on top and two thirds on the bottom (let’s suppose you are wearing a shirt and a trouser) or two thirds on top and one third on bottom. Dividing yourself in half would be just wrong!
And in regards to fitting, never wear a garment which is too big or too small! That would not make you look more stylish. The more volume your clothes have, the skinnier you will appear if you are underweight. And the tighter you will dress, the more you will show your extra pounds, looking like a sausage that is going to explode!
9. Do not mix many different designs and prints or silver with gold
Your goalis to look as neutral as possible. You are a professional,you cannot afford to give a wrong impression of yourself, turning into trash.
More than two fabrics or textures in an outfit would just be too much, not to mention the offensive habit of combining different designs together – do not mix a floral shirt with striped trousers…It would just be like a poke in the eyes! All you want is to be unique by creating an authentic style that will represent your personality with class and elegance…and gold with silver would simply destroy this concept!
Although accessories are the final touch to make you look perfect and impeccable, this does not mean they are the least important, and you want to make sure they are paired correctly.
Remember, little details can make a huge difference; it is very easy to ruin your reputation because of an insignificant mistake.
And now that we are coming to the end of this long, but hopefully helpful article, I would like to dedicate the final session to women’s unconditional love for shoes and heels: the higher they are, the less comfortable they will be!
10: Hence, forget about high heels if you cannot walk naturally with them
Photo by Rodolfo Clix from Pexels
Confident women show their ease in every occasion, especially when walking.
You want to be comfortable and sexy, thus make sure not to be a wader in trouble while trying to keep the balance!
It is much better to wear a shorter heel, rather than looking ridiculous or clumsy.
In my opinion, the ideal height should be 6 cm, maximum 10, without a plateau.
Leave your ballerina pumps and loafers on the back burner, lock it and throw the key away! Flat shoes are not as beneficial as you think. They are likely to cause back pain and vertebral column problems.
You should always be loyal to your 2 cm walking shoes, if you want to carry them with you while on public transports or after a long night out dancing.
Remember: fashion is an art but your health should always come first, no matter what.
Before you leave…
Do not wear something because it is trendy. Never run with the crowd trying to be like anybody else. Seek inspiration by identifying your role models, educate yourself through continuous research of fashion, but do not let it own you!
I assume you already know who you are and what you want to achieve in the future. And if you are still not sure about it, just the fact that you are here right now, reading this article, looking for support and advice is the proof that you have already made an important choice in your life: you want to stand out from the pack!
Photo by Moose Photos from Pexels
You are a great woman, you are ambitious, you have character.
Bring that grit out with class and determination, dress chic but authentically.
Now, wear that confidence and get ready to take on the world!
