A Brief History of Handbags
A Brief History of HandbagsHave you ever wondered about the origin of handbags and purses? Handbags have been essential to daily life ever since people have had something precious to carry around with them and only the items have changed over time. The very first mention in written literature comes from the 14th century, even though Egyptian hieroglyphs show pouches carried around the waist. Bags were attached to what were called "girdles" which were fastened to the waist. Embroidery and jewels adorned these articles and were used to show status - the richer the person, the more elaborate the bag. More information on medieval clothing
In the 16th century, handbags took on more of an air of practicality with the use of everyday materials such as leather with a drawstring fastener on top.
During this period, cloth bags were used that were made larger and used by travelers and carried diagonally across the body. The 17th century saw more variety and both fasionable men and women carried small purses with more complex shapes. Young girls were taught embroidery as a very necessary skill to make them marriagable and we see the rise of beautiful and unique stitched artwork in handbags. Neo-classical clothing became popular in the 18th century with a reduction in the amount of underclothing worn by women. Wearing a purse would ruin the look of this clothing so fasionable ladies started carrying their handbags which were called reticules.
Women had a different bag for every occasion and every fashion magazine had arguments on the proper carrying of these purses. In the reticules one would find rouge, face powder, a fan, a scent bottle, visiting cards a card case, and smelling salts. The term "handbag" first came into use in the early 1900's and generally referred to hand-held luggage bags usually carried by men. These were an inspiration for new bags that became popularized for women, including complicated fasteners, internal compartments, and locks. With this new fashion, jewelers got into the act with special compartments for opera glasses, cosmetics, and fans.
The 1920's saw a revolution in fashion with varying hemlines and lighter clothing. Bags no longer needed to match the outfit perfectly and the rage was for the stylish lady to carry a doll dressed exactly like herself, complete with matching bag for her minature companion! The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb inspired Egyptian art on purses. The 1940's saw new austerity in clothing, including handbags with the war effort in mind. Metal frames, zips, leather, and mirrors were in short supply so manufacters used plastic and wood. The 50's saw the rise of important designer houses including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes and the 60's saw the breakdown of old notions of the classical and the rise of youth culture.
Copy is the most sincere form of flattery and, if so, Kate Spade, Gucci, Coach and Dior must be very flattered! There are many replica handbags flooding the market (just visit Canal Street in New York City!). Some of these "designer fakes" even carry the label of the Company they are imitating while others just have the signature "C" or "G" without the label. What's in the future of handbags? My personal prediction is more individualized bags and interesting fabrics. What do you think? Send me an e-mail with your own personal prediction for the future..
Psoriasis and Eczema Patients Find Natural Relief with Dead Sea Mineral Skin Care
(ContentDesk) January 6, 2006 -- Skin ailments such as Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne and are a big concern for many people.
Having healthy and attractive skin is becoming very important as more people are realizing that skin care is an important part of staying younger and looking attractive.
At the same time those who are suffering from Psoriasis, Eczema or other ailments are discovering that often the only remedies their dermatologists recommend are steroid creams and other treatments which can have some negative side effects on the body.
Many people have started turning to Dead Sea products as a natural way to help relieve these skin ailments and to keep their skin looking and feeling healthy and smooth. Recently, Psoriasis and Eczema Patients Find Natural Relief with Dead Sea Mineral Skin Care 
Cosmetics > Psoriasis and Eczema Patients Find Natural Relief with Dead Sea Mineral Skin Care
Alarming Water News: Drugs…Coming to a Faucet Near You
Denver, CO (ContentDesk) July 5, 2006 As early as 1985 E.P.A. scientists have known that many of the drugs we consume and then excrete in urine and feces are showing up in sewage treatment plants across America.
Herman Bouwer of the U.S. Agricultural Research Service in Phoenix recalls noting that the cholesterol-lowering drug, clofibric acid, turned up in treated sewer water that was replenishing a reservoir supplying water to Phoenix residents.
If clofibric acid can pass through our modern sewage treatment plants, what is to stop the more than 2000 other drugs on the market from entering our drinking water? The dumping of treated sewage into our lakes, streams and oceans is not new.
Most modern cities in the world put their treated effluent back into the natural water system.
All new sewage plants employ the most modern technological systems available but they are not designed to remove any of the over 2000 drugs and chemicals that enter the treatment...
Cosmetics > Alarming Water News: Drugs…Coming to a Faucet Near You
Basic Skin Care
Healthy, beautiful skin is possible to achieve, but elusive to many. Despite the myriad of advertisements claiming that one cream or one product can give you the smooth, clear, wrinkle-free complexion that most people hope for, skin care is in fact a complex process grounded in real science and human physiology. Many factors contribute to our need for skin care products, so abstaining altogether from them is not healthy for our skin either. Healthy skin begins with a basic knowledge of your skin type, and how to keep it clean, nourished and protected throughout the year. It also requires a consideration of our overall diet and nutritional status.There are four basic steps to successful skin care: cleansing, toning, moisturizing and special needs such as make-up.
Our skin types are genetically determined, but can vary depending on the following factors:dietenvironment, such as climate change or pollutionstress or anxietycosmetics and skin care productsillness or traumahormone levels,...
Basic Skin Care
Cosmetics > Basic Skin Care
Unique Fashion Dolls, Action Figures and Kindergoths Dolls to be at American International Toy Fair, February 20-23, 2005
Bleeding Edge? (www.begoths.com), creator of the "Toys That Refuse To Conform", proudly announced the launch of the Series Three line.
The Series Three BEGOTHS(TM) include five fashion dolls, four action figures, and three Kindergoths? to excite and tempt any offbeat collector.
The entire Series Three line of BEGOTHS(TM) will be available for viewing and purchase at the American International Toy Fair, February 20-23, 2005 in New York City, at booth #1246 in the Javit's Center."I truly feel that the Series Three BEGOTHS? are the best of all the goth dolls yet," said Steve Varner, self-professed mad scientist creator of the Bleeding Edge? dolls.
"A bit scary in their non-conformism, the Series Three collectible dolls are nonetheless gothic icons of awe-inspiring beauty.
The International Toy Fair will give people the opportunity to see them up close and in person, and for Bleeding Edge?...
Cosmetics > Unique Fashion Dolls, Action Figures and Kindergoths Dolls to be at American International Toy Fair, February 20-23, 2005
Cosmetics
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