Designer Handbags Featured Article

How the Handbag Evolved into a Statement of Fashion

The origin of the handbag, or purse, is buried deeply in the onset of high fashion history and within the increase of global commerce. While it is now a standard item in most women’s and in some men wardrobe, it was originally designed for convenience rather than style.

The Origin of the Handbag

An early form of a purse or wallet was actually a small circular cut piece of fabric with a leather strap sew around its circumference. The drawstring was then pulled tight to form a small leather pouch. Men used this pouch to hold coins and other very small valuables.

The pouch could be tied to a belt for safekeeping, usually near the man’s sword so that he was able to properly protect his valuables. During this time, it was generally considered a man’s item and few women had need or cause to carry one.

Evolution of the Handbag into the Fashion World

The 16th century brought with it larger bags that hung diagonally across the body. Both male and female travelers used these to keep valuable articles nearby during traveling expeditions.

In the 17th century, the bags began to have more variety and very fashionable with men and women. These bags were generally smaller and often made in very complex shapes. As the talent of embroidery became more widespread, bags became more ornate with intricately woven artwork.

It was during the 18th century that the use of a purse, which attached round the body, became unfashionable; women began to carry their handbags, which at that time were called reticules. Suddenly, the reticules became a fashion statement rather than an important accessory. This era recognized the need for a different bag for different occasions, and fashion magazines began to comment on the proper handbag for a specific location or event.

The handbag was elevated to a fashion statement rather than a simple handheld suitcase. The smaller, more fashionable handbags of this era generally held a fan, scent bottle, smelling salts, rouge and face powder.

The Handbag Inspires Important Designer Houses

The actual term “handbag” did not become widespread until the 1900’s and this term was generally used to refer to the traveling bags that men carried. However, this term and the bags that earned the title became inspirational to women’s bags and the term handbag began to refer to a larger bag that became popular for women at the same time.

With the 1920’s can lighter clothing and hemlines that varied in lengths. It was no longer a necessity in fashion for the purse to match the outfit perfectly. The 1940’s brought with it a “war minded fashion phase”, many items used for creating purses were in short supply, such as metal (for the framing of the handbag). Leather, zips, mirrors and other such items.

It was during this time that handbags began to be made out of plastic and wood. The mid-1900’s saw the rise of many important designer houses and the handbag would reach its pinnacle of fashion with these designers.

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March 3, 2008

Simple Steps For You Follow In Selecting The Right Diamond Watch As A Gift

Selecting the ideal type of gifts for the holiday season can be a little difficult, particularly if you are attempting to discover a gift for somebody who is really special to you. You just cannot merely present an common gift to a really extraordinary person in your life, so you wind up tying your brain into knots for various gift ideas that might genuinely excite the individual whom you will present your unique gift to.

One of the most discriminating gift ideas in regards to individuals with an impeccable sense of taste is a diamond watch. Anyone can value a diamond watch, even in the event that the individual is already really wealthy and has the ability to afford to purchase whatever his or her heart desires.

The good thing about giving a diamond watch to someone who is really special is that the individual will truly realize how much he or she means to you. Diamonds are so treasured that anyone who get them as a gift will surely realize that he or she very cherished to the person who is giving him or her the present.

Selecting the Best Diamond Watch

Selecting the appropriate diamond watch may be thought-provoking, particularly if the individual to whom you will present it to has really distinguishing taste. If you are not certain which diamond watch is suited for that person, it would be a helpful idea to take note of the designs of the jewelry that he or she puts on each day and on particular social occasions.

Let his or her taste of fashion guide you in arriving at your selections. If you notice that he or she prefers a conservative fashion, then you get him or her a diamond watch that is uncomplicated, yet highly refined.

Purchasing a Diamond Watch for the Woman You Love

If you are purchasing a diamond watch for a woman you love, you may wish to have a look at those lovely diamond watches in polished steel and sophisticated gold bracelets. These give the overall representation of beauty and elegance. Diamond stones are commonly applied as hour markers in these endearing designs, making the watch bracelet appear exceptionally beautiful on the wrist of a woman. Make sure you take these watches to a certified dealer for watch repair.

There are a number of brands that are available for these refined and elegant designs. Nevertheless, each watch brand ordinarily adds a few twists here and there on this design, but the overall affect is constantly astonishing. No wonder women at all times feel so exceptional when someone gives them a diamond watch such as this.

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A Glance Into the Fascinating World of Jewelry Watches

The common wristwatch has become so much more than simply information time devices, as they are carried around with us practically everywhere that we go and at times run our lives as well. The majority of us own at a minimum two watches, first since they’re affordable (some start with a price as low as $10) and second due to the fact that there are so many various occasions which demand a suitable watch a match.

Why Invest in a Jewelry Watch?

For men the only consistent piece of jewelry that they own is a watch, and it is very reasonable that they would invest in various types to be prepared for the  different occasions that come up. This is kind of similar to what women do with their jewelry.

There are numerous occasions that call for a jewelry watch, such as an anniversary, a wedding, or perhaps a formal dinner. A jewelry watch doesn’t have to be made out of a pure precious gem, though it is fairly safe to say that the majority of women would not object to that. In the majority of cases the jewelry is very elegant and subtle. For instance, there are designer jewelry watches made for men such as Rolex, that utilize full cut, high-grade diamonds on the dial instead of numerals.

Of course there are numerous jewelry watches that are available that are fully covered with gemstones. Even the strap can be made of precious metals such as platinum or gold. The primary purpose of jewelry such as these is hardly for keeping track of time. Most of the time these are used simply as an additional piece of jewelry in itself.

One of the primary reasons you should invest in a jewelry watch is that it is a piece of jewelry first and foremost. Hence, the majority of the time it doesn’t lose its value on the market. If anything it tends to become more valuable as time goes by.

Maintaining a Jewelry Watch

It is a critical step for you to insure your jewelry watch when you buy it for any eventuality that may happen. Depending on the designer brand of the watch that you purchase, you will need to follow strict service directions that are provided with it. You’ll only be able to take it for servicing to an authorized dealer of the brand or back to the same store if at all possible.

Extra care will be required if your watch has actual gemstones on or inside of it, particularly if they are located on the outside of the watch. You will need to take into consideration the information that is given to you on how resistant to gemstones are (their hardness factor), as this information will likely restrict your activity in a considerable way with the watch you bought.

For instance, a diamond has the highest hardness on the Moh’s scale (a total 10 out of 10) and only the use of another diamond has the ability to scratch it. Nevertheless, an emerald on the other hand is very brittle, and if it gets hit you may cause internal fractures of the stone itself.

Cleaning of these gemstones is yet another maintenance that has to be done on a regular basis to keep your watch a sparkling as it is meant to be. After all in the end it is a jewelry watch and it should show its beauty with every change.

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