Handbags: A Lexicon of Style [Hardcover]

Valerie Steele (Author), Laird Borrelli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000

Does a woman go anywhere without her bag?

From the tiny hand-held jewel with just enough room for a lipstick to the trendy Prada backpack, handbags are our most essential accessory and the ultimate status symbol. As clothing becomes increasingly minimal, handbags have been embraced as the quintessential fashion statement. Handbags also make it possible to indulge in designer wares without spending thousands of dollars on a single outfit. These compact icons of style speak volumes of our personal approach to fashion.

Focusing on our fascination with bags, this book presents the best of contemporary design from the world's leading firms. From the status bags of Gucci and Hermès to the exquisite beaded purses of Jamin Puech and Nathalie Hambro, the book includes numerous design sketches and brilliant advertising photos that speak of each creation in its own language. An engaging text by Valerie Steele and Laird Borrelli reveals the trade secrets of the designers who created these signature looks.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Valerie Steele is Chief Curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and is editor of the journal Fashion Theory. Her previous books include Rizzoli's Shoes (1999) and Women of Fashion (1991).

Laird Borelli also works at The Museum at F.I.T. and is an avid fashion follower.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847822303
• ISBN-13: 978-0847822300
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,636,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Handbag - A lifelong Affair, April 13, 2000

By 

goh mei woon (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbags: A Lexicon of Style (Hardcover)

If you love handbags, can never have enough of them and you are constrained by lack of cash, you may want to consider getting this book instead as it is filled with lots of glossy pictures of the most delectable bags. I certainly enjoyed the book and finished reading it in a day! In it, Steele explores the humble beginnings of this most essential accessory and seeks to uncover the reason for our continuing fascination with it. It is this obsession that has led to the handbag gaining iconic status and becoming even an object of art. The range of bags featured include the humble tote, whimsical and exquisite evening bags, the most coveted of status, luxury bags and the latest must-have fashion bags. It is a pity though that Steele did not include a directory of the stores where the bags are available as readers would have found that to be most useful if they want to not only look at the bags but to own them. Nevertheless, the book is highly recommended for those of us who are always thinking of adding yet another bag to our collection.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its in the Bag, March 25, 2002

By 

style court (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbags: A Lexicon of Style (Hardcover)

This book is a must have for handbag connoisseurs and girlie-girls. Beginning with the super-chic, boldly colored hot pink cover featuring a Louis Vuitton Damier bag, the book is beautifully illustrated with examples of the full spectrum of 20th century handbags from vintage Hermes to Kate Spade canvas to exotic art pieces. The text is comprehensive and intelligent, highlighting the origins and evolution of the purse, yet it is entertaining as well and never too staid. The book has a sense of humor.

Readers will learn the history of Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Coach, and learn about memorable bags such as the Kelly bag named for Grace Kelly. It's a handbag lover's dream book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Handbag - A lifelong Affair, April 13, 2000

By 

goh mei woon (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbags: A Lexicon of Style (Hardcover)

If you love handbags, can never have enough of them and you are constrained by lack of cash, you may want to consider getting this book instead as it is filled with lots of glossy pictures of the most delectable bags. I certainly enjoyed the book and finished reading it in a day! In it, Steele explores the humble beginnings of this most essential accessory and seeks to uncover the reason for our continuing fascination with it. It is this obsession that has led to the handbag gaining iconic status and becoming even an object of art. The range of bags featured include the humble tote, whimsical and exquisite evening bags, the most coveted of status, luxury bags and the latest must-have fashion bags. It is a pity though that Steele did not include a directory of the stores where the bags are available as readers would have found that to be most useful if they want to not only look at the bags but to own them. Nevertheless, the book is highly recommended for those of us who are always thinking of adding yet another bag to our collection.