The Handbag: An Illustrated History (Hardcover)

by Caroline Cox (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The handbag has never been more important in fashion than it is today. Whether Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, or Chanel, the It bag of the season is a much-coveted designer item that indicates supreme style cachet—and for which the fashion-minded do not hesitate to spend.

In this lush volume, filled with a range of rich historical and contemporary images, fashion authority Caroline Cox explores the history of this must-have accessory, beginning with its development in the nineteenth century with the reticule—essentially a pocket with a handle—to the slouchy, greatly oversized bags popular today. In six chapters, each devoted to a decade, Cox not only highlights the most noteworthy bags in fashion design, but looks at their evolution within the social context of the day. Featured bags include Vuitton's revolutionary Noe bag for the female traveler, Art Deco clutch bags molded in Bakelite, the Hermès Kelly bag endorsed by Princess Grace of Monaco in the 1950s, and the It bag of the moment, the Marc Jacobs Stam. This book is a fascinating history of handbag design examined within the context of changing society and women's roles in it.

Filled with a collection of important handbags, diverse imagery, and a fun, informative text, this beautifully designed volume is a must-have for handbag aficionados and lovers of fashion alike.

About the Author

Caroline Cox is an international authority on fashion history. A lecturer at Vidal Sassoon's Advanced Academy and a Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts, London, she also appears regularly on radio and television in the United Kingdom. Her previous books include Stiletto and Seduction.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Collins Design (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061227382
• ISBN-13: 978-0061227387
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,016 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!!!!, December 6, 2007

By	Valerie Cole "Real book lover" (Bristol) - See all my reviews

This is a brilliantly written, well researched book with loads of lovely photos and fashion plates from the 18th century to the present day - Kate Moss with her Muse, Victoria Beckham with her Kelly - and analyses woman's relationship with her bag and the handbags place in culture. Highly recommended for anyone who loves bags - best history of bags book out there.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Handbag, November 1, 2007

By	Paula Higgins "Paula Higgins" (Marietta, Ga.) - See all my reviews

This is a good quality book that 20th century handbag collectors will enjoy. It is well laid out and nicely photogrpahed, with plenty of text to accompany the pictures. However, I was hoping for more pictures of antique purses, especially 18th and 19th century examples. Having said that, there are several wonderful prints showing early reticules, which have not been seen before. The emphasis is placed on mid-late 20th century purses, which will appeal to vintage purse collectors. Celebrities are pictured with their own purses, which adds an interesting highlight. The Amazon.com price is very reasonable for this nicely produced book.

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book~Tacky Cover, November 10, 2007

By	nana27 "wordwoman" (FL) - See all my reviews

The model on the cover needs a good manicure. How can photographers, editors, and the author miss that?