Evening bags: then and now
Evening bags – A brief history in time…
Bags in general have a surprisingly long history dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries and basically consisted of a bag called a coin or flint belt worn by men. By the 15th century, women had joined men who now used bags to carry their wealth and furthermore jewellery, and now fastened their outfits with more elaborate means such as tassels.
During the 18th century, the evening bag began to take shape in a more recognized form. Initially as small decorated bags hung from the waist or wrist large enough to carry essential toiletries such as smelling salts, fans and business cards, either beaded, embroidered or tasseled, usually highly decorative. Fashion dictated whether this bag should match or classify the wearer’s outfit.
In the 19th century, the evening bag had evolved and grown larger to accommodate makeup, gloves, and opera glasses. The bags were mostly made by hand at home, and as such, the more ornate the bag, the wealthier the woman, as she had the time, skills, and money to spend creating it. The small beads were popular and used to create beautiful outdoor and romantic scenes.
During the industrialization of the 20th century, evening bags were mass-produced and the different styles we see today emerged. The 1930s and 1940s saw the development of the tote bag, which remains popular today.
bag styles
Your evening bag should not only look fantastic, but it should also provide enough space for your essentials without bursting at the seams. Over the years, evening bags have generally gotten smaller, so if you’re not a woman who uses purses and credit cards, make sure you can fit those extra pieces.
From all those years of history, several popular types of evening bags have emerged and they include the bag with a clasp, usually small. This category could also include the handbag that will have a clasp or flap. Most clutch bags don’t typically have extra room vents, so again they fit into the small category, but will work well with all evening wear. Drawstring bags would fall into the medium category with additional hidden storage and overall very pretty. Evening bags, shoulder bags, or crossbody bags look good with form-fitting evening wear, but are generally more forgiving with space.
Lastly, Colors…
Evening clothes and bags are an opportunity to shine at night. If you’re wearing that classic little black dress, why not contrast it with a striking evening bag and crossbody in red, gold or copper? Silver evening accessories look great with mauve, pink, or purple, and black or white evening accessories work well with black, silver, or white.