Handbag: To Have and to Hold

An indispensable accessory as well as a key fashion statement, the handbag is portable boudoir, office, bank and emergency kit for women everywhere. With chapters on the history of the handbag, a Who's Who of style-shapers, a look at the contents women carry and an A-Z of international designers and brands, this book is the ultimate style guide for all handbag lovers. This newly updated book now includes include the 'it' bags of the twenty-first century, those on the arms of every celebrity about town and on every fashionista's wish list such as the Fendi B, Marc Jacob's Stam and Dior's Gaucho. From the classics - the Chanel quilted bag, the Hermes' Kelly, Gucci's bamboo-handled, snaffle designs and Louis Vuitton's Monogram - to artistic creations from Judith Leiber, Jamin Puech and Alexander McQueen, and celebrity favourites Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Anya Hidmarch, Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga, the A-Z section profiles the most coveted and iconic designs ever. Discover, too, what your handbag says about your character and check the style dictionary to find out the varied range available and which one suits your personality - the tote, backpack, clutch, drawstring, duffel, Kelly, envelope, shoulder, minaudiere, and more. With useful hints and tips on how to accessorize and over 200 colour photos, "The Handbag" is a truly indispensable, inspirational book for the many women for whom the bag is the accessory.

About Author

Carmel Allen, was marketing director at Heals before joining the Conran Shop as creative and marketing director in February 2011. She has also worked as a beauty and fashion editor for a wide range of publications including Tatler, the Observer, the Financial Times, Vogue and InStyle.