Women love handbags because they are a perfect vehicle-not just for keys, credit cards, and lipstick, but also their dreams and desires. Luxury labels made the humble purse into a billion-dollar business in the 20th century, but the purse is more than just a status symbol. Because it is constantly being reinvented, it wields a greater influence on everyday fashion than any hemline or silhouette. For the Love of Bags is a homage to the power of the pocketbook: from icons like the Kelly Bag, the first "must-have" item ever, to popular Paris fashion house labels and the latest Instagram stars, this book details the history of the "it" bag and decodes the messages handbags communicate. Text in English, German and French.