Who came up with the great idea for a purse? Before the 14th century, they really didn’t exist. It started with a small pouch made from leather. Their purpose was simple: to allow people to carry around their money safely and easily.

This early purse was simple in its construction. Usually, it was just a round piece of fabric folded in half and sewn together. A thin leather strap was attached which could wrap around the purse to hold it closed.

Purses progressed over the next few centuries, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that there was any sort of dramatic change. This was when designer purses started to make its presence known. High end accessories started appearing from well known designers such as Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

These days, there are many more big names involved in producing designer handbags. Some of the renowned designers of these high end purses include Prada, Coach and Kate Spade.

With every Hollywood actress and celebrity casually carrying them around, it’s no wonder they’re so popular. They make a bold fashion statement, and women tend to feel more confident when they’re sporting a designer label on their purse.

Designer purses are always made from the finest materials with the highest quality craftsmanship. Because of the fine materials and skill that are involved in producing one of these handbags, it should come as no surprise to discover that they’re too expensive for the average consumer.

If you decide that a designer handbag can fit in your budget, use caution when you’re shopping. There are a lot of unscrupulous vendors out there who will try and pass off a knock off as the real thing. It’s important that you’re guaranteed that the purse you’re buying is the real thing before you pay out a huge sum of money. Your best insurance is to shop only at a well known store or the designer outlet itself.

If your paycheck won’t stretch far enough to buy an original, then your best bet would be to look for a replica designer handbag. Not only can they pass as an original, they’re also considerably less expensive. Of course, they don’t have the attention to detail and careful construction of the original. However, it’s really difficult to tell them apart unless you have a trained eye.

One thing hasn’t changed much in the history of women’s purses. They’re still mostly used to carry your cash and other small items like tissues, hairbrushes and makeup. But these days, it’s not what you carry; it’s how you carry it. And that’s what makes the designer purse a must-have item on many women’s lists.