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Model at New York Fashion Week showing a Louis Vuitton handbag.

A handbag, also purse or pouch in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes, contraceptives, mobile phone etc. In the UK however a 'purse' would not refer to a handbag, but that similar to a man's wallet, containing money, cards etc.

"Purse" or "Handbag"?[link]

The term "purse" originally referred to a small bag for holding coins. In British English, it is still used to refer to a small coin bag. A "handbag" is a larger accessory, that holds items beyond currency, such as a woman's personal items. American English typically uses the terms "purse" and "handbag" interchangeably. The term "handbag" began appearing in the early 1900s. Initially, it was most often used to refer to men's hand-luggage. Women's accessory bags grew larger and more complex during that period, and the term was attached to the women's accessory.^[1]

iPurse Purse Pouch

Modern origin[link]

Women's fashion from 1830, including a reticule handbag from France.

Early modern Europeans wore purses for one purpose, to carry coins. Purses were made of soft fabric or leather, and were worn by men as often as ladies; the Scottish sporran is a survival of this custom. By the late 18th century, fashions in Europe were moving towards a slender shape, inspired by the silhouettes of Ancient Greece and Rome. Women wanted purses that would not be bulky or untidy in appearance, so reticules were designed. Reticules were made of fine fabrics like silk and velvet, with wrist straps. Originally popular in France, they crossed over into Britain, where they became known as "indispensables".^[2] Men, however, did not adopt the trend. They used purses and pockets, which became popular in men's trousers.^[3]

The modern purse, pouch or handbag came about in England during the Industrial Revolution and the increase in travel by railway. In 1841 the Doncaster industrialist and confectionery entrepreneur Samuel Parkinson (of butterscotch fame) ordered a set of travelling cases and trunks, and insisted on a travelling case or bag for his wife's particulars. Parkinson had noticed his wife's purse was too small and made from material that would not withstand the journey. He stipulated that he wanted various hand bags for his wife, varying in size for different occasions, and asked that they be made from the same leather that was being used for his cases and trunks; this would distinguish them from the then-familiar carpetbag and other travelers' cloth bags used by members of other social classes. H. J. Cave (London) obliged and produced the first modern set of luxury handbags, as we would recognise them today, including a clutch and a tote (named as 'ladies travelling case'). These are now on display in the handbag museum in Amsterdam.^[4] H. J. Cave did continue to sell and advertise the handbags, but many critics said that women did not need them, and that bags of such size and heavy material would 'break the backs of ladies'. H. J. Cave ceased to promote the bags from 1865 on, and concentrated on trunks instead, although they still make the odd handbag for Royalty, celebrities or to celebrate special occasions, the Queens 2012 Diamond Jubilee being the most recent. However, Cave's design lives on, and the use of leather has not been found to break many ladies' backs.^{[citation needed]}

20th century[link]

This section requires expansion.

During the 1940s, the rationing of textiles for World War II led to the manufacturing of handbags made of materials like raffia,^[5] or crocheted from yarn. Some women crocheted their own small handbags from commercial patterns during the 1940s.

Men's bags[link]

A casual men's messenger bag.

Men once carried coin purses, and the oldest known purse dates back more than 5000 years, and was worn by a man, Ötzi the Iceman.^[6] In early Modern Europe, when women's fashions moved in the direction of using small ornamental purses -- which evolved into handbags -- men's fashions were moving in another direction. Men's trousers replaced men's breeches during the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, and pockets were incorporated in the loose, heavy material. This enabled men to continue carrying coins, and then paper currency, in small leather wallets. Men's pockets were plentiful in 19th century and 20th century trousers and coats, to carry an ever-increasing number of possessions, such as pipes, matches, pocketknives, and so on, and they were an item frequently mended by their wives.^[3] Women, on the other hand, have shown a strong demand for larger handbags that carry more items for everyday use.

Men's purses were revived by designers in the 1970s in Europe.^[7] Since the 1990s, designers have marketed a more diverse range of accessory bags for men. The designs are typically variations on backpacks or messenger bags, and have either a masculine or a more unisex appearance, although they are often more streamlined than a backpack and less bulky than a briefcase. These bags are often called messenger bags or organizer bags. Demand is strong after several years of popularity, possibly supported by the growing range of modern electronic devices men carry with them. Men's designer bags are produced by well-known companies such as Prada and Bottega Veneta in a variety of shapes and sizes. The global men's bag and small leather goods trade is a $4 billion a year industry.^[8] Sales of men's accessories including "holdall" bags are increasing in North America.^[9]

Luxury handbags[link]

Early 20th century evening bag in meshed green gold with diamonds and sapphires (Walters Art Museum)

A number of European manufacturers have long histories of producing leather goods. Some were made by famous jewellery companies such such as Tiffany & Co.. For some companies, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, handbags were introduced to their product range relatively recently in their history but for others like H.J. Cave & Sons, they have been around almost as long as the company. Nonetheless, handbags are among their best-known products, and their logos are recognized in many countries today. The most expensive of the luxury handbags are made by Hermès. Prices start at $6000; handbags are made to order, and the waiting lists are years long.^[10] Hermès handbag designs carry the names of actresses, socialites, and other celebrities who were frequently photographed with a particular handbag, most notably the "Birkin" bag named after Jane Birkin, and the "Kelly" bag named after Grace Kelly.

Other designers have adopted the practise of naming their handbag designs after celebrities, for example Marc Jacobs, who created the "Stam" purse, named after model Jessica Stam.^[11]

Purse Pouch

Types of handbags[link]

An 1875 Chatelaine bag, with a buckram frame and velvet body. It would have been "hooked" into the waist of the skirt.

Crocodile skin handbags in a conservation exhibit at Bristol Zoo, England

As a fashion accessory, handbags can be categorized according to the silhouette of the bag, as well as the type of handle. The current popular handbag silhouettes are (as of 2011):

• Baguette: a small, narrow, rectangular shape purse, resembling a French loaf of bread (baguette)
• Barrel: shaped like a barrel or closed tube, usually with shoulder-length straps
• Bowling bag purse: a popular 1990s "retro" style for younger women, modelled after American bags used to carry bowling balls
• Bucket bag: shaped like a bucket, medium-size or large, with shoulder straps and a drawstring closure
• Clutch: a handbag without handles, rectangular in shape, often an evening bag but used during the day as well
• Doctor's bag: modelled after a Victorian era doctor's bag for making housecalls
• Drawstring: a purse that closes with a drawstring at the top, may have wrist- or shoulder-length straps, popular as an evening bag style
• Half-moon: shaped as a half-moon
• Hobo: medium-size crescent-shaped bag with a top zipper and often a slouch or dip in the centre; a modern, casual silhouette
• Lighted: a handbag with a lighting system which has been attempted since the 1950s without success until recently when in 2011 the first successful lighted handbag was brought to market.
• Messenger bag: one long strap worn across the body, inspired by bags worn by urban messengers to deliver business mail, a modern silhouette
• Minaudière: a small rectangular evening bag, usually hard-bodied, sometimes held inside a soft fabric bag that serves as a sleeve
• Muff: a winter bag made of real or faux fur, wool or velvet that has zippered compartments and a slip opening for hands
• Pocketbook: small purse, rectangular shape
• Pouch: small bag such as a pocket, teabag, money bag, sporran, etc
• Saddle purse: shaped like a horse saddle, may have equestrian motifs and hardware to emphasize the design
• Satchel: a soft-sided case usually of leather
• Tote: medium to large bag with two straps and an open top
• Trapezoid: shaped as a trapezoid, usually made of stiff material

Gallery of fashion handbag silhouettes[link]

• 

  A "saddle" shape, with equestrian hardware detail.

• 

  A tote, in this example the "Birkin" bag by Hermès.

• 

  A bucket bag with a drawstring closure.

• 

  A hobo bag with a top zipper, shoulder strap, and characteristic slouch in the middle.

• 

  A satchel, with a flat bottom on which the handbag can sit.

• 

  A vintage evening bag, made of ivory satin encrusted with faux pearls and glass bugle beads.

• 

  A vintage clutch with a fold-over closure, made of red snakeskin.

According to type of handle, handbags are often categorized as:

• Tote: a medium to large bag with two straps and an open top
• Cross-body: one long strap that crosses over the body, with the bag resting at the front by the waist
• Sling bag: one long, wide strap that crosses over the body, with the bag resting on the back
• Shoulder bag: any bag with shoulder-length straps
• Clutch: handleless

Handbags that are designed for specific utilitarian needs include:

• Laptop purse: a medium to large bag that contains a padded interior compartment or sleeve for protecting a laptop computer
• Camera bag: for carrying photography equipment
• Cosmetic bags: small bags for holding cosmetics, often made of synthetic protective material
• Duffle bag: a large bag usually used for travel or sports gear, sometimes called a "weekend bag"
• Security bag: protects the carrier from travel theft and includes an invisible stainless steel strap sewn into the fabric and a protectant on the main zipper.

Hardware[link]

A distinction can also be made between soft-body handbags or frame handbags, where a metal frame supports the textile or leather of the bag. Frame bags often use a kissing lock closure, with two interlocking metal beads set on the top of the frame. Kissing locks were popular on handbags during the early- to mid-20th century, and remain popular with vintage collectors and in "retro" designs.

Diamanté clasps were in use by the 1930s.^[5] In later decades, designers found popular success with zipper enclosures, flaps, and even magnetic clasps hidden in the fabric of handbags.

History worldwide[link]

This section requires expansion.

Gallery of traditional handbag types[link]

• 

  A bilum bag, used in Papua New Guinea. Bilums are made of "bush rope", cuscus fur or wool, and expand in size.

• 

  A shoulder bag made of baobab tree fibres, bought in Zimbabwe in 1995.

• 

  Ojibwa bag with decorative beadwork; this particular bag was probably made for a child.

• 

  Early 20th century Yoruba Diviner's bag, from the Oyo region, Nigeria.

• 

  A Burmese Kachin bag or wallet. A Figure from the booklet Burmese Textiles, published in 1917 by Laura E. Start.

• 

  A Scandinavian Sámi purse (handbag) with shoulder strap.

• 

  A Betel bag from West Timor, made around 1921. Called an aluk, such bags are still made.

• 

  A modern handbag in a traditional Hakka Chinese-style floral fabric design.

• 

  North African bag with lizard head and paws.

• 

  19th century bags and pouches of the Sioux.

• 

  Bags exhibited in the Yunnan Nationalities Museum, Kunming, Yunnan, China.

Gallery of contemporary handbag types[link]

• 

  Ladies' Burberry handbag (2005).

• 

  Tanner Krolle Eva bag (2006).

• 

  Longchamp tote bag (2010).

• 

  Louis Vuitton bag (2010).

• 

  Ted Noten bag (2009).

• 

  Adriana Allen handbag (2009)

• 

  Handbag shaped like vintage Volkswagen bus (2007).

• 

  Handbags at the 2010 FONART exhibition in Mexico City.

• 

  JulieApple's Yoga-a-GoGo bag made by AirDye technology that dyes fabric without the use of water.

• 

  Messenger bag from old truck tarp with seat belt as strap, made by Freitag, Switzerland (2008).

• 

  Colorful handbag made from recycled materials (2012).

• 

  Bag made of recycled water sachets by Trashy Bags, Accra, Ghana (2012)

• 

  Handmade Pouch from iPurse

See also[link]

fashion portal

• Purse hook
• Purse organizer
• Purse party

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Pedersen, Stephanie (2006). Handbags: What Every Woman Should Know. Cincinnati: David & Charles. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/978071532950|978071532950]]. 

External links[link]

Look up purse in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Purses

Marc Jacobs
Born	(1963-04-09) April 9, 1963 (age 49) New York City, New York, U.S.
Residence	Paris, France
Nationality	American
Education	High School of Art and Design Parsons The New School for Design
Occupation	Fashion designer
Awards	Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Labels	Marc Jacobs Marc by Marc Jacobs Louis Vuitton

Marc Jacobs (born April 9, 1963) is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs,^[1] a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 80 countries.^[2] He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997. Jacobs is on Time Magazine's "2010 Time 100" list of the 100 most influential people in the world,^[3] and ranked 12th on Out Magazine's 2011 list of "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America".^[4]

Early life and education[link]

Marc Jacobs was born to a non-observant Jewish family in New York City. When he was seven, his father, an agent at the William Morris agency, died. His mother, who remarried three times, , was “mentally ill” and “didn’t really take care of her kids”, according to Jacobs.^[5] As a teenager, he went to live with his paternal grandmother on the Upper West Side, in an apartment in the Majestic on Central Park West.^[6]

He graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1981 and studied at the Parsons School of Design in New York. During his time at Parsons, Jacobs won the Perry Ellis Gold Thimble Award in 1984, and in the same year was also awarded the Chester Weinberg Gold Thimble Award and the Design Student of the Year Award.^[7]

Career[link]

At age fifteen, Jacobs worked as a stockboy at Charivari, a now-defunct avant-garde clothing boutique in New York City.^[8] While still at Parsons, Jacobs designed and sold his first line of hand-knit sweaters. He also designed his first collection for Reuben Thomas, Inc., under the Sketchbook label.

With Robert Duffy, Jacobs' creative collaborator, and business partner since the mid-1980s, he formed Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc., which continues to this day. In a 2008 interview for 032c, Duffy indicated that he remains Jacobs's best friend and confidant.^[9]

In 1986, backed by Onward Kashiyama USA, Inc., Jacobs designed his first collection bearing the Marc Jacobs label. In 1987, Jacobs was the youngest designer to have ever been awarded the fashion industry's highest tribute, the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Perry Ellis Award for "New Fashion Talent".^[10]

In 1988, Jacobs and Duffy joined the women's design unit of Perry Ellis after its founder, Perry Ellis, had died as vice president and president, respectively. In addition, Jacobs oversaw the design of the various women's licensees. In 1992, the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Jacobs with The Women's Designer of the Year Award. In the same year, he designed a "grunge" collection for Perry Ellis, leading to his dismissal.^[11]

In the fall of 1993, Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc. launched their own licensing and design company: Marc Jacobs International Company, L.P.^[10]

In 1994, Jacobs produced his first full collection of menswear.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Jacobs was appointed Louis Vuitton's creative director, where he created the company's first ready-to-wear clothing line.^[11] Jacobs has collaborated with many popular artists for his Louis Vuitton collections, including Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami and most recently American artist Richard Prince and rapper Kanye West,^[12]

In the spring of 2001, Jacobs introduced his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs.^[8] In 2006, Jacobs started a new line of body-splash fragrances in affordable huge ten-ounce bottles which are distributed by Coty. First only being sold in perfume boutiques, they have become more and more popular during the recent years.

In 2007 filmmaker Loïc Prigent released a documentary film about Jacobs entitled Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.^[13]

In February 2008, Jacobs was accused of plagiarizing a scarf design created in the 1950s by Swedish designer Gösta Olofsson.^[14] Jacobs settled the matter by offering monetary compensation to Olofsson’s son.^[15]

In 2009, Jacobs launched a shirt, sold at his stores,^[16] demanding the legalization of gay marriage.

In May 2009, Jacobs co-hosted, with fashion model Kate Moss, a "model and muse"-themed gala for the New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

In February 2010, Jacobs sued Ed Hardy for infringing on the designs of one of his embroidered handbags.^[17]

In the course of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin in July 2011 Jacobs was the patron of the young talent award “Designer for Tomorrow by Peek & Cloppenburg”. The five finalists were selected by Jacob and the juryboard and received a personal coaching by Jacobs. The juryboard and Jacobs appointed the winner of 2011 during the DfT award show.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2011, it was reported that Jacobs may succeed John Galliano as creative director of Christian Dior.^[18]

Jacobs is a prominent fixture in the New York City celebrity scene, having become something of a celebrity himself. The audience for his fashion shows typically includes celebrities like Kim Gordon and Vincent Gallo.^[19] Most of his collections make references to the fashions of past decades from the 1940s to the 1980s. Disputing the claim by the designer Oscar de la Renta that Jacobs is a mere copyist, Guy Trebay, a critic for The New York Times, has written "unlike the many brand-name designers who promote the illusion that their output results from a single prodigious creativity, Mr. Jacobs makes no pretense that fashion emerges full blown from the head of one solitary genius".^[20] Explaining his clothes, Jacobs has said "what I prefer is that even if someone feels hedonistic, they don't look it. Curiosity about sex is much more interesting to me than domination. ... My clothes are not hot. Never. Never."^[6]

Awards[link]

Council of Fashion Designers:

• Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, 2011
• Womenswear Designer of the Year, 2010
• Accessory Designer of the Year, 2005
• Accessory Designer of the Year, 2003
• Menswear Designer of the Year, 2002
• Accessory Designer of the Year, 1999
• Accessory Designer of the Year, 1998
• Womenswear Designer of the Year, 1997
• Womenswear Designer of the Year, 1992

Eponymous company[link]

In summer 2011, there were 239 Marc Jacobs retail stores in 60 countries.^[21] Some of them present only a certain portion of the company's several brands (The Marc Jacobs Collection, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Little Marc, a children's line). The various ready-to-wear and accessory collections are also widely available at department stores around the globe.

As of May 2008, Marc Jacobs boutiques were located in dozens of cities throughout the world.

Personal life[link]

Jacobs, who is openly gay was in a four-year relationship with salesman Jason Preston and was in a relationship with advertising executive Lorenzo Martone. In March 2009, Women's Wear Daily reported that the pair was engaged after a year of dating.^[22] Several reports that they got married were later denied.^[23] On July 24, 2010, Martone announced via Twitter that he and Jacobs had not been together for two months.^[24]

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	Fashion portal

• List of fashion designers
• List of people from New York City

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Grigoriadis, Vanessa (November 27, 2008). "The Deep Shallowness of Marc Jacobs". Rolling Stone. http://www.vanessagrigoriadis.com/jacobs.html. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Marc Jacobs

• marcjacobs.com, company's official website
• Marc Jacobs on Fashion Net
• Marc Jacobs - designer profile at ChoosyStyle
• Marc Jacobs launches E-commerce Playhouse
• DfT hosted by Marc Jacobs

This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (March 2012)

Cara Delevingne (born 22 August 1992) is a British model and socialite.^[2]

Career[link]

Delevingne is currently the face of Burberry's Spring Summer 2012 campaign alongside actor Eddie Redmayne, shot by Mario Testino.^[3] Delevingne was also featured in the brand's Spring Summer 2011 and Burberry Beauty campaigns.^[4]

She was recently described by British Vogue as the "star face" of the autumn/winter 2012-2013 show season, having walked the runway for brands such as Shiatzy Chen, Jason Wu, Oscar de la Renta, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Stella McCartney and Chanel.^[5]

Sarah Doukas, founder of Storm Model Management, said of Delevingne:

In addition to her modelling, Delevingne is set to appear in the new film version of Anna Karenina alongside Keira Knightley.^[7]

Delevingne was named by the Evening Standard as one of London's 1,000 Most Influential of 2011, in the category of "Most Invited".^[8]

Personal life[link]

Delevingne is the granddaughter of former English Heritage boss Sir Jocelyn Stevens. Her mother Pandora is a personal shopper, and her father Charles is a property developer. Delevingne grew up in a Belgravia mansion, and attended the independent Bedales School. Her older sister is the model Poppy Delevingne.^[9][10]

Delevingne plays the drums, sings and writes acoustic songs.

Delevingne's friends include Georgia May Jagger, Coco Sumner, Sky Ferreira and Azealia Banks

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Cara Delevingne

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cara Delevingne

• Cara Delevingne Profile at Supermodels.nl
• Cara Delevingne Profile at models.com