Believe it or not, but the idea of men becoming “metro” started in the early 1900’s; in fact, the original handbags were designed specifically for men! However, this didn’t last long. As soon as women caught onto the functionality of these handbags, the term “handbag” skyrocketed and became a staple in women’s fashion. The tote bag quickly became a staple fashion accessory that fit in alongside the trendy fans, opera glasses, and cosmetics popular during the early 1900’s. Yet as the 1920’s rolled in and jazzy, shorter-skirts took over the fashion scene, tote bags began to diverge from their traditional, outfit-matching roots. During this decade handbags were crafted from thinner, lighter material that matched the cheeky flapper girl style of this era.
The 1940’s issued in a unique era for the handbag. As the war intensified and materials became more sparse, designers turned to unique mediums to craft their tote bags. Metal, leather, and even mirrors became popular elements for the handbag; yet as the 40’s moved into the 50’s, high-end fashion made its comeback, establishing fashion moguls that would go on to rule the fashion industry for another 50 years. It was during this decade that the original tote bag was created. This bag was called the “Boat Bag” and was purposely created extra large for the purpose of holding day trip and boating items. Yet as the free-love and free-thinking counterculture of the 60’s exploded, fashion took a backseat to flower power, homemade tote bags, and unshaven beards.
Today, it’s impossible to ignore the influence of designer handbags and tote bags in both the media and everyday society. The tote bag is both a household item and the must-have item for women around the world. With the endorsement of high profile celebrities, the oversized bag has established its niche in the fashion market. The large Miche Bag, with multiple interior pockets and interchangeable shells, has is the epitome of functionality and style. In addition to being the perfect tote bag size, the large Miche Bag goes above and beyond the normal oversize bag; the large Miche Bag allows women to change the look of their purse in a matter of seconds. Women’s lives are busy; so why spend extra time switching out the contents of a purse? The large Miche Bag is the next step in the evolution of the tote bag. And with so many chic styles to select from, it’s hard to pass up the Miche Bag in terms of both style and functionality.
I am absolutely addicted to this concept and have found that I want multiples of all sizes of the bags now! The problem is that I would really love to coordinate minis with the big bags so I could use them together. It would be great to see more that work together rather than just the select few that do right now.