Birth of the Bag: 1900-20:
Birth of the Bag: 1900-20:
COMELY HANDBAG
The nine years during which Edward VII reigned in Britain are bathed in a golden glow of retrospective glamour. Caught between the restraints of Victorian society and the cataclysm of the First World War, members of the rich and privileged upper classes lived a life of extravagance and luxury, enjoying a hedonistic social round that included lavish weekend house parties and glittering society balls.
It was a time of conspicuous consumption, not least in the fashions the day. Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, who was Duchess of Marl borough during Edward’s reign, worte in her autobiography of the enormous demands made upon her wardrobe by a house party at Blenheim Palace:
To begain with, even breakfast, which was served at 9.30 in the dining room, demanded an elegant costume of velvet or silk. We next changed into tweeds to join the funs for luncheon, which was served in the High Lodge or in a tent.
An elaborate tea gown was donned for tea, after which we played cards or listened to a Viennese band or to the organ until time to dress for dinner, when again we adorned ourselves in satin, or brocade, with a great display of jewels.
All these changes necessitated a tremendour outlay, since one was not supposed to wear the same gown twince.
That meant sixteen dresses for four days.