By Kathy A. Megyeri
“More than any other accessory or item of clothing, the handbag reveals the secret story of its owner and her life.”
Meredith Etherington-Smith, author, The Secret History of the Handbag
Last year, Taylor Swift was gifted a Judith Leiber shimmering crystal clutch bag in the shape of a microphone with a chain strap (cost: $4,994). Shaquille O’Neal gave Swift a dazzling football bag at the Super Bowl 2024 with the number 87 emblazoned on it. And at the same event, Swift presented Travis Kelce and his teammate Patrick Mahomes with luxury Louis Vuitton bags in the colors of the Kansas City Chiefs. All this focus on handbags brought many fans to the glorious coffee table book “The Secret History of the Handbag” by Meredith Etherington-Smith.
Etherington-Smith attended the Royal College of Art and was a British fashion and art journalist, so in this book, she pays tribute to this most fascinating, essential and collectible accessory, our handbags. The book discusses secret pockets in pre-Renaissance period travel bags that carried papers, jewelry and money up to the explosive creativity in the 20th and 21st centuries. In the early 1920’s, every major couture house made handbags to match its outfits, and this book showcases these creations with vintage fashion photographs.
Related: Book Review: The Power of the Hat
The author believes that examining the history of the handbag is also exploring the social history of the times. From the reticules of the 18th century, the mesh bags and chatelaines of the 19th century, the Japanese “inro” of the 20th century, she highlights every major couturier from Chanel to Lanvin, Paul Poieret, Vionnet and Schiaparelli. There are handbags inspired by real women like Grace Kelly (the Kelly bag) and by events in the world such as Schiaparelli’s gas mask bag.
Now, a handbag is the foundation of fashion fortunes and certain models, like the Hermes Birkin, Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags, are famous around the world. Even Judith Leiber’s glittery creations include the most expensive bag ever made, the one-of-a-kind “Precious Rose” bag shaped like a rose and consisting of 1,016 diamonds, 1,169 sapphires and 800 tourmalines. Truly a must-read for the woman who loves fashion!
