Feb 26

The Top Handle Bag, a versatile and elegant purse statement.

Characterized by its structured design, top handle bags are versatile and elegant and classified as featuring a single, upright handle attached to the top of the bag, thus allowing it to be carried by hand, typically giving a more elegant and sophisticated look compared to other bag styles.

Timeless history

Once Upon a time… Top Handle bag origins can be traced back to ancient and primitive times, however the evolution of the fashionable yet practical purse is fascinating and the modernization of begins in the early 1900s. The Top Handle Bag has been a, “staple” for handbags ‍for decades, “evolving in style and design while remaining a symbol of elegance and sophistication” (KoKo Royale).

Starting with the top handle bag’s origins, the term “handbag” was coined in the early 1900s, for the 20th Century, “emancipated woman,” who used the bag to store money, make-up and other essentials (Malik, S.). The 1920s Art deco era, developed more of a personalized style for the purse leading into the 1940s war time era, which “emphasized practicality once more,” (Malik, S.). The 1950s, is when the handbag, dove more into luxury aesthetics to symbolize “status and wealth”. This is when more luxury brands such as Chanel created the, “2.55 handbag of 1955,” becoming the accessory of the time featuring a, “quilted design, and “chain strap”* (Malik, S.).

The Hermès Kelly bag*, is another timeless handbag of the time, that was first released in the 1930s when Robert Dumas created a bag with straps and also when Hermès entered the, “era of boldness and modernism” (Hermès). The history of how this handbag, also known as a ‘top handle bag’, got its name was when the Hollywood movie star Grace Kelly was photographed holding the bag over her stomach to, “conceal the signs of her pregnancy,” and the Kelly was also born (Hermès).

Earlier, “handbag styles were also being offered but most people preferred polished styles like the Kelly bag that were crafted from premium materials, like crocodile leather and featured gold metal accents, solidifying their place in handbag history.” (Malik, S.).

To conclude, the top handle bag, started with more primitive beginnings, however transitioned over time to one of the most luxurious and elegant fashion pieces of our modern era.

If you want to feel timeless at an affordable price here are some elegant quality options:

*Link for a Chanel inspired, 2.55 handle bag, quilted design and chain strap purse: https://amzn.to/3QF1dfK