5 of the most iconic handbags of all time
Updated / Monday, 21 Dec 2020
12:25
These world-famous bags are as in-demand today as when they were launched
While countless clothing trends have come and gone, certain handbags have maintained remained desirable across the decades, as coveted now as when they first hit designer boutique shelves all those years ago.
But why do some styles endure while others fall out of fashion? The endurance of certain iconic handbag designs can be linked to the power of celebrity endorsement, says Dr Lucia Savi, curator of Bags: Inside Out, the exhibition which has just opened at the V&A in London.
Share
Whether toted by Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher or “Sex and the City” actress Sarah Jessica Parker, handbags pack a powerful punch, a British exhibition reveals. The Victoria and Albert Museum is showing some 300 items at the exhibition called “Bags: Inside and Out” that opens on Saturday.
They range from a 16th-century embroidered purse to a contemporary plastic rucksack by British designer Stella McCartney. The decorative arts and design museum has chosen to focus on the accessories for its first exhibition since England’s lockdown was lifted in early December.
It looks at the “It bag” craze that kicked off in the 1990s, with women flocking to buy a certain designer style, influenced by celebrity images. One such bag on show is a purple sequined Fendi baguette bag once carried by the Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw, played by Parker in the hit HBO show.
Carry On: British Exhibition Delves Into Handbags barrons.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from barrons.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.