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In American English, a purse is a small bag, also called a handbag or a pocketbook.

In British English, a purse is a small money container similar to a wallet, but typically used by women and including a compartment for coins, with a handbag being considerably larger.

A purse or handbag is often fashionably designed, and is used to hold a number of items such as a wallet, keys, tissues, makeup, a hairbrush, cellular device or personal digital assistant, feminine products, or other items.

Contents 1 History 2 Variations 3 Types of handbags 4 Trivia 5 See also 6 References

Purses, handbags, and pouches have taken on many looks over the years. The documentation of them date back to Egyptian hieroglyphics of pouches worn around the waist. The next documentation dates back to 14th century Europe. In Europe they often showed social status based on the embroidery and quality of the bag. At this time the purses were for women mainly and were therefore attached to their girdle. In the 15th century, both men and women wore purses. They were often finely embroidered or ornamented with gold. It was also customary for men to give their new brides purses embroidered with an illustration of a love story. Later in the century, women, now wearing finer dresses, preferred to wear their pouches under their skirts. In Africa, priests carried beaded bags and wizards also carried unadorned bags. A wizard bag was said to carry powder to interact with the supernaturals. Therefore, African men did not open these bags, much like nowadays when normal men don't open women's bags, in fear of what it will unleash. In the 16th century, handbags were made out of common everyday materials. They were leather and fastened with drawstring on top. Also, large cloth bags were introduced and and worn by travelers diagonally across the body. In the 17th century, bags became more complex and elaborate. At a young age, girls were taught necessary skills such as embroidery, that would make them marriageable. This caused the rise of lovely and unique stitched artwork on purses. Also at this time in 1670, men's breeches were made with built-in pockets which caused them to stop carrying purses. They did however carry little netted purses in their pocket to carry money. In the 18th century, as neo-classical clothing came into fashion, women started carrying their handbags as not to ruin their outfits. They renamed these bags reticules. Women also had more of them and certain ones for each occasion. In these new, better bags, you would commonly find rouge, face powder, a fan, a scent bottle, visiting cards, a card case, and smelling salts. In the early 1900's, people then began calling their bags, handbags. This term referred to luggage that men carried. They then inspired women ,who began carrying bags with complicated fasteners, internal compartments, and locks. In the 1920's, it became popular that bags no longer had to match your outfit. The new fashion for upper class women then changed. It was then common for them to carry a doll dressed exactly like them that carried a matching bag, which was a smaller version of the doll. In the 40's, with WWII, women's purses were made out of wood or plastic since metal was being saved for supplies. In the 50's, popular designers rose to the top. They included Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes.

The word purse is originally derived from the Latin bursa, from the Greek βυρσα, meaning oxhide.^[1]

Purses are usually carried by women, though men sometimes carry one as a smaller alternative to a backpack; such a purse is sometimes self-consciously termed a murse or manbag (portmanteaus "man" with "purse" and "handbag" respectively). It can also be called a man-purse. Such bags are often similar or identical to messenger bags.

Coin purses are small purses, just large enough to hold money and cards.

A medium-to-small-sized purse with a short handle, designed to be carried (clutched) in one's hand is often called a clutch.

A larger purse with two handles is often called a tote.

A pocketbook is similar to a purse (in the British English sense), but allows the carrying of sheets of paper as well.

A security bag protects the carrier from travel theft. The purse includes an invisible stainless steel strap sewn into the fabric and a protectant on the main zipper.

• Clutch: Small, usually evening bag without a handle.

• Satchel: large bag with small handle that is carried on the arm rather than on the shoulder

• Duffle: A large bag usually used for travel or sports

• Tote: A medium to large bag with two straps

• Messenger bag : A bag with a long strap to be worn across the body.

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• In the Oscar Wilde play, The Importance of Being Earnest, as a baby the protagonist, Jack Worthing, was found in a handbag in the cloakroom at Victoria Station, prompting Lady Bracknell's famous exclamation "A handbag?"
• A survey of shoppers at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex found that the average 30-year-old woman owns 21 handbags and buys a new one every three months, adding up to 111 over the course of a lifetime.^[2]

• Birkin Bag
• It Bag
• Louis Vuitton
• Coach (company)
• Vera Bradley
• RUEHL No.925 - an upscale brand from lifestyle brand and company Abercrombie & Fitch

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2007)

Critchell, Samantha. "The history of the purse." Nashuatelegraph. May 2005. 27 Nov. 2007. <http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050510/STYLE/105100057/-1/ARTSANDLIVING>. Daniel, Anita. "Inside Story of a Handbag." Archive 45. 21 Jan. 1945. NFAA. 27 Nov. 2007 <http://www.accessoryweb.com/archive45.html>. "How much has it changed in 50 years." HANDBAGS THEN & NOW. 1998. 27 Nov. 2007 <http://www.accessoryweb.com/history2.html>. "A brief overview of the History of Handbags." Henriettas Purses & Purse Patterns. 27 Nov. 2007 <http://henriettashandbags.com/a_history_of_handbags.html>. "History of the Handbag." 1997. 27 Nov. 2007 <http://www.accessoryweb.com/history.html>.