The exhibition is an exciting journey through the history of women’s handbags over the last 100 years. Carry Me is a boutique collection of classic (and sometimes curious) and infamously luxurious handbags carried by some of the most iconic and famous fashionistas of the last century. Featuring Dior, Chanel and Gucci to name a few and direct from a private Italian collection, this collection is not only a celebration of what has become much more than a mere fashion accessory, but also a commentary on society and culture.
A handbag is so much more than a mere fashion accessory. Before clothes were equipped with pockets, valuables were transported in various kinds of leather pouches, muffs or even in the sleeves. At the turn of the 17th century, pockets were sewn into men’s clothing in which money, personal documents and amulets could be kept. Women’s pouches sometimes hung from precious chains on the waist, or they were hidden into the folds of clothing.
The discovery of Pompeii impacted fashion. The waistline of the empire dress rose to just below the bust, and the waistband was no longer embedded into the dress. From then on, small items were carried in separate bags. This was the birth of the woman’s handbag. Railways united Europe in the 19th century and new types of bags were needed to facilitate travel. Actual bag fashion emerged in the 20th century. It was influenced by art, trends, new materials and social changes, such as the increased employment of women, all at an ever-increasing pace.
Carry me imparts the centenary story of the handbag. If the bag was once simply a practical tool, today it can be used to communicate a lot about oneself. As society changes, so do handbags. Pop culture, music and celebrities have a huge impact on fashion. Bag trends come and go, while some bags become luxury items sought by the masses. Classics are often born thanks to their famous users, such as Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Diana and Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw – Sex and the City).
In association with:
66 objects including handbags, dresses and other accessories.
One iconic bag featured in Carry Me is the iconic Lady Dior. This handbag was originally introduced as Chouchou which means ‘favorite’. The story goes that the First Lady of France was looking for a gift for the visit of Charles and Diana, the Duchess of Wales. The House Dior offered her this elegant bag. It was presented to Lady Diana at the inauguration of the Cézanne-exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris. Lady Diana was smitten with the bag, and often photographed with it. As a tribute to this style icon, Dior renamed the bag Lady Dior. It was a runaway success.
Likewise, when Grace Kelly used the French fashion house Hermes ‘postal bag’ to hide her pregnancy from the paparazzi it grew so popular Hermes names it the Kelly. One bag required 16-24 hours of work with a total of 2,600 hand sewn stitches and is available in calf skin, crocodile, lizard or ostrich leather.
Another is the Jackie bag, as much as an icon as Gucci itself. Gucci designed the bag in 1950 and initially named it the Constance. It was originally designed as a unisex model, but quickly grew into a beloved women’s bag. When Mrs. Kennedy was spotted carrying the Constance, the bag became an instant hit and Gucci renamed the bag from Constance to Jackie. Mrs. Kennedy was one of the most stylish First Ladies that America had ever known and was a huge fashion icon.
Other signature handbags include Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw’s Baguette, Judith Lieber’s Crystal Egg and the Chanel Bag, the handbag with a shoulder strap that blew everyone minds and is said to be one of the most iconic fashion creations of the 20th Century.
The collection is available exclusively through PANART for North America.
