Saturday, February 14, 2009

A Guide to the Designer Handbag

By Keira Adams

Who came up with the great idea for a purse? The earliest known instance of a purse seems to be from the fourteenth century. It all began as a tiny pouch that was made out of leather. Its main purpose was to enable the wearer to carry his or her coins conveniently and safely.

This early purse was simple in its construction. Usually, it was just a round piece of fabric folded in half and sewn together. A leather cord was used to tie the purse closed.

Purses progressed over the next few centuries, but it wasn't until the 1950s that there was any sort of dramatic change. During this time, designer purses emerged on the scene. High end accessories started appearing from well known designers such as Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

These days, there are many more big names involved in producing designer handbags. Kate Spade, Prada, and Coach are among the most well known manufacturers of high quality designer purses.

It's not difficult to understand their popularity, when every celebrity and star has one slung over her shoulder. They make a bold fashion statement, and women tend to feel more confident when they're sporting a designer label on their purse.

Designer purses are always made from the finest materials with the highest quality craftsmanship. Since there is so much that goes into making a designer handbag, it's hardly surprising to learn that they cost so much that an average person couldn't hope to afford one.

If you've decided to take the plunge and purchase a designer handbag, be a careful consumer. There are a lot of unscrupulous vendors out there who will try and pass off a knock off as the real thing. Before you put down a thousand dollars or more on a purse, you need to know for sure that it's authentic. Your best insurance is to shop only at a well known store or the designer outlet itself.

If you can't afford an original, you might want to consider purchasing a knock off. These are more affordable accessories that look very much like the original. Of course, they don't have the attention to detail and careful construction of the original. However, it's really difficult to tell them apart unless you have a trained eye.

As women's purses have evolved over the years, one thing has remained the same. They're still mostly used to carry your cash and other small items like tissues, hairbrushes and makeup. But these days, it's not what you carry; it's how you carry it. And that's what makes the designer purse a must-have item on many women's lists. - 16651

About the Author: