Bring a new lease of life to an old bag

With the recent credit crunch people have been looking at ways of saving money by repairing and updating their wardrobe rather than buying new pieces and this includes clutch bags and handbags.

One way of giving an old bag a new lease of life is by adding a decorative feature. For example, an iron on transfer can add interest to a plain tote bag and sequins or beads provide a touch of glamour on clutch and evening bags.

If you’re not confident with a needle and thread, think about adding a brooch, bag charm or lightweight neckerchief. Using these decorative items means you can easily change the look of a bag in order to co-ordinate with any outfit.

Make your own clutch bag

If you’re struggling to find the perfect bag for that special outfit or you’d like to get your creativity flowing, there are websites available to help! Making a clutch bag can be surprisingly easy and a kit can make the perfect gift for craft enthusiasts.

A good website which supplies all the necessary bits and pieces for making clutch bags is http://www.u-handbag.com/. This handy website includes bag making kits, patterns and frames amongst other things plus there are free instructions for easy bag making projects.

So why not make your own unique clutch bag and set yourself apart from the crowd?

How to Buy a Clutch Bag

Clutches come in countless colors, styles and materials, but they all have one thing in common--they're small. A clutch is the fashion accessory women always reach for when dressing for a special occasion. Here's how to select a clutch.

Choose a clutch that can give you good service for years if you're trying to budget. A metallic pink purse shaped like a kitten might be the hot item of the season, but a classic black, silk clutch will look great for decades. Buy an outrageous clutch if you want to be ultra trendy. Just look for something inexpensive.
Practice using the clutch. It has to be large enough to carry keys, some cash and a cell phone, but small enough to fit comfortably in your hand.
Consider a clutch with a removable shoulder strap. Unless you're too trusting, you're not going to leave your purse at the table when you dance or wait in the buffet line. A shoulder clutch will go anywhere you go. Make sure it feels comfortable and doesn't constantly slip off your shoulder.
Dye the fabric if you can't find the colour you want. Get a bag in the perennial bride's fabric, peau de soie, and dye it a hot orange or tennis ball green. You can find these ready to be dyed bags at wedding shops.

Source: http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_2190396_buy-clutch-bag.html

History of the Handbag

The handbag is a part of our lives. Have we ever really thought about it though? Of course fashion tends dictate hand bags styles but have we ever wondered how the hand bag came into being? Can any woman today dare to leave the house without her handbag? A handbag to a woman is like water to a fish. It is as important as air, food, and water to our survival. Hand bags have taken over our lives. But where did it come from that it has become just so integrated into every culture?

The first hand bags were seen in Egypt. Those studying ancient history have noticed pictures of people with pouches worn at the waist. That is hieroglyphics are so important. Around the 14th century, handbags gained social status in Europe. A bag was looked upon by judging the quality of the bag and the degree of design and embroidery on it. Purses then were meant especially for women and were worn attached to the girdle. But by the 15th century, men started to carry purses too. The purses were usually ornamented heavily with gold. Men would give their newly wed bride a purse with an illustration or a picture signifying love on it. It was usually a love story that would be embroidered onto the purse.

Later, as dresses got fancier, women did not want to display their purses. They thought that it would clash with their dress and so started to tie the purse underneath the dress. It was only in the 16th century that the bags were started to be made with materials that were a little more common like leather and were usually fastened with a drawstring on the top. Then came the sacks. Travelers started carrying large bags made out of ordinary cloth. They were not exactly fancy but really helped people carry lots of stuff with them while traveling. Elaborate and more complex bags made their way through in the 17th century. Women were trained in embroidery at a very young age and so the bags became more artistic with women all over the world unleashing their creativity on their purses. Pockets were then introduced in male britches thus doing away with the need for carrying purses. Nevertheless men continued to carry net purses in the pockets for safely carrying money.

Matching bags with clothes became the new mission for women at the turn of the 18th century. Women had a purse to go with every dress they owned. It was only in the 1900s that the term ‘handbag’ came into being. It was usually reserved for the stuff men carried their luggage in. This lead to the inspiration of a bag with many compartments and complex fasteners and even locks. The trend of matching handbags disappeared in the 20s and bags were then made with plastic and wood in the 40s to save on supplies because of the Second World War.

Bags are now a fashion statement and are no longer known as bags but as Chanel, Hermes, and Louis Vuittons, signifying the designer the bag was made by.

Source: http://www.catwalkfashion.co.uk/history-of-the-handbag/