Evening Purses

Evening functions – dinners, parties, awards nights – by convention require men and women to be at their bests. While gowns always get the spotlight, the outfit has since never been complete without the accessories that go with it, and the handbag that represents the woman behind the dress.

Evening purses trace their history back to the 13th and 14th centuries when women bring their coins through a pouch hanging from the girdle. Usually made of intricate embroideries, women use the purses to show the weight of their money and often their sewing skills, with the pouches coming out in different shapes and designs.

Eventually the pouches that usually contained gold coins took in handkerchiefs, fans and perfumes. Back then the bigger and more packed the bag would point to the material wealth of the woman. It was also at this time when evening purses, seen in social gatherings, represented the social and financial status of women – the better, the bigger and the more intricate the bag is, the higher the status of the women.

Vintage evening purses are often symbols of affluence, glamor and fashion all at the same time. Old purses that are more elaborate and meticulous in designs would mean the owner had more time to spend to beautify the bag. More time meant the woman was having a relaxed, prosperous life.

Handed Ingenuity

With men and women more involved in industries and business, purse-making was handed down to craftsmen and artists who soon revolutionized mass production of handbags for women. These makers introduced the trends and pioneered new materials and designs that led to what the present evening purse is – a staple part of the total persona of a woman.

This shift, however, also brought a new age for the evening purse. Instead of the bulky pouches of the old, the purses had soon shrunk in size – the smaller the size, the glamorous the woman is. Fashionable and trendy women show status by carrying only the basic necessity, a lipstick, credit card and car keys.

With designers and makers now competing for the taste and money of the affluent the explosion on art and design on purses also took the high gear. Purses no longer are useful companions to hold necessities, it has become a walking art form.

The fabric of evening purses has also diversified from the usual leather and cloth. Canvas, and expensive silk, satin as well as cheaper yet durable versions made of synthetic leather, suede, are now available.

A Choosy Choice

Just like other everyday bags, evening purses should be chosen based on a balance on budget, usability and fashion. Aside from making a great impact at parties, the bag must also be useful and durable that would last years.

A big decision that should be crossed is whether the evening purse is only used for special occasions or could be used in many other social gatherings in the future? A woman could only be crazy about the new design which could quickly go out of style and leave the bag out of trend and useless in the closet for most of its life.

Functionality must also be taken into consideration. Although evening purses are most often an accessory, it must have some use and space for necessities of women. Women who is up for a night of dancing must need space for napkins and for makeup. Women who are out for a long night must reserve space for a credit card and a mobile phone.

Evening purses are no longer much of a status symbol at present. It is now more of a work of art and a practical accessory – a woman's constant companion. The woman, must therefore, feel comfortable and confident with the purse.