50 years

HANDBAGS THEN & NOW
The Contents of a Woman’s Handbag...Revealed.

How much has it changed in 50 years. Click here for the 1945 Article

From the archives of National Fashion Accessories Association, Inc.we are pleased to re-print an article which first appeared in the New York Times Magazine on January 21, 1945. Today, this is an amuzing look back on how a woman’s handbag was perceived half a century ago. Many of the references remain true today, yet others have lost their meaning along with the innocence of that era. But the fundemental reasons handbags have remained so important are perfectly summed up in this article. How have the changes over the course of 50 years impacted what a woman carries with her today. Change in the world of style, technology and culture have greatly influenced what you might find residing in a handbag of the 90’s.

In 1945, President Roosevelt was in the White house as World War II raged on. Shortages in food and materials were the course of the day. Women were for the first time entering the work force in large numbers. World War II made ration stamps and V-mail a common part of a woman’s personal items, which she carried dearly wherever she went. Today, as E-mail replaces V-mail it becomes ever apparent how much society and the world around us has changed. As hair nets and embroidered handkerchiefs dissapeared from the handbag, credit cards and electronic devices have taken its place.

Not just a fashion statement any more, handbags must be large, sturdy and functional to support the many needs of todays lifestyles. Another revolutionary change, is that many women carry more than one bag. This has become a vital necessity for some of today’s women. One bag is not enough. The importance for a woman to have the right bag has also made the need for business cases, totebags, sportbags as well as the handbag, to be a basic part of a woman's everyday toting essentials. One of the things we have found that never really changed, is the secrets that lie beyond the closed handbag.

Click here for the 1945 Article