Handbags and the gladrags...
These world-famous bags are as in-demand today as when they were launched, says KATIE WRIGHT
WHILE countless clothing trends have come and gone, certain handbags have remained desirable across the decades, as coveted now as when they first hit designer boutique shelves all those years ago.
But why do some styles endure while others fall out of fashion?
“The endurance of certain iconic handbag designs can be linked to the power of celebrity endorsement,” says Dr Lucia
Savi, curator of Bags: Inside Out, the exhibition at the V&A in London.
“In the 1950s and 60s, trendsetters such as Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis saw their favourite handbags renamed in their honour.
“Then came the ‘It’ bag phenomenon of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when certain handbags became the ultimate symbols of conspicuous consumption.”
As well as being carried by a stylish celeb, to reach iconic arm candy status a bag must possess certain characteristics, Dr Savi says.
“The ingredients needed to create a classic bag include a recognisable shape and exceptional attention to details.
“Bamboo handles, quilted leather, innovative materials and distinctive hardware, together with strategic marketing have all been used to transform an otherwise anonymous design into a popular yet enduring classic.”
Here, Dr Savi talks us through five historic handbags that have stood the test of time...
Bags: Inside Out, sponsored by Mulberry, is at the V&A until September 12, 2021. Tickets, from £12, available at vam.ac.uk