The handbag is quite possibly one of the most important inventions of all time. Without them, there would be a lot more lost IDs and cracked cell-phone screens — that much we know for sure. But, before the trusty items earned their spot practically fused to our bodies for all time, they went through quite a few reincarnations.
To chronicle the evolution of the handbag, online boutique Lou Lou has created an infographic that traces its origin back to medieval times. The visual is packed with interesting snippets of information, like the fact that bags were worn as huge pockets inside ladies' skirts in the Victorian era. (That would make paying for your afternoon latte decidedly more awkward.) With so many choices on the market today, it might be surprising to note that the accessory was largely unavailable to most people until the 20th century, when mass production and affordable price points became possible. Consider this next time you want to snap up a new crossbody: You're investing in history.
Scroll down for the full infographic and head to Visual.ly for more details.
Photo: Courtesy of Visual.ly.