What’s In My Bag: The 1940s

While the popular “what’s in my bag” trend did, of course, not yet exist in the 40s, we looked into what a woman in the 1940s might choose as her everyday handbag, and what she would carry inside it, imagining the result if she were able to participate in internet trends!

Handbag History

To understand the radical changes in style and usage the handbag undertook in the 40s, we need to situate the humble handbag in a little prior history first. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 18th century, when ladies’ pockets, which were worn under the voluminous skirts of the time, fell out of fashion. Then arose the first early items which can be described as handbags, called a ‘reticule’, marking the first time a woman’s belongings were carried on her arm rather than hidden away in her skirts. The reticule was essentially a fabric pocket with a small handle attached. Reticules and the evolution away from pockets were considered somewhat risqué or vulgar at the time, because pockets had previously been worn under skirts, close to the skin, and thus were considered undergarments!

At the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, much more functional bags began to replace the reticule. Luggage brands like Louis Vuitton began to manufacturer what were in essence small suitcases – the first to be called “handbags” – to carry on the arm. These handbags had snap closures, sturdier construction, and multiple compartments. They provided more privacy and could carry more than the small fabric bags of decades past.

Like much of fashion and style in general, the handbag entered a state of flux during the 1940s, when the war meant that the small and aesthetics-driven bag styles of the 1930s no longer served the needs of the newly-employed female populace.
The forties were the first decade to push the ladies’ bag into an even more practical direction: the era’s sudden emphasis on practicality and function spurred the evolution of handbags into a new era. It created bags which prioritised function for perhaps the very first time, and in doing so, spawned styles of bag which are still worn today.

Women in the 40s found small handheld clutches too impractical during wartime. There was also, of course, a shortage of a handy spouse to carry your belongings for you, and a sudden need to carry more items before, a reflection of the busier lives women were now leading in the 40s. Travelling to and from work meant there was all the more to fit in one’s handbag, not to mention the developments in cosmetics, which grew larger and more sophisticated.

The Bag

Now we’re aware of the history of the handbag – what type of bag might a 1940s lady carry, thanks to this newfound pragmatic approach?

The frame bag remained popular throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and into the 1960s and is perhaps the first style you may think of when imagining a vintage bag, for good reason, given their timeless look. They were undoubtedly loved for their versatility and would have been a likely choice for an everyday bag in the 40s. Named so because of the distinctive metal hardware that gives the bag its shape, a frame bag is usually carried by a top handle and fastened with a snap closure.

It’s a style that inspired our own Yesteryear handbags, as you can see here, which come in a range of colours to coordinate with your vintage outfits and are made of a soft faux leather. Echoing that newfound 40s emphasis on practicality, the Yesteryear bag also has several inner pockets to help keep all your things organised. We designed the bag to have a look that will work for any midcentury outfit.

Other popular original 40s styles included the satchel bag, inspired by wartime uniforms, which was the ultimate choice in terms of practicality and carrying capacity. A leather satchel would have perhaps been a particularly apt choice for a Land Girl, the name given to women who stepped into farm work roles during the First World War. Baskets were also carried for similar practical value.

As leather became harder to come by due to it being reserved for the war effort, other materials came into fashion too. Corded rayon or corde bags are a style we often have for sale in amongst our selection of 1940s handbags. This durable fabric meant the bags held up to plenty of use and yet also had an elegant feel that could accompany an evening look.

A beaded evening bag was also a popular style - though of course these could fit a lot less in than a larger frame bag!

Crochet bags, particularly in wide, fan-like shapes, became popular. Their designs were quintessentially 1940s in that they were fashionable and striking, yet created with very minimal supplies – just crochet, a lining, typically wooden or Lucite handles, and a fastening of some sort. It was something a lady could learn to make on her own, and because wartime clothing was a bit dull and practical, bags were a way of adding individuality or a bit of glam to an outfit. Women made bags out of more out there materials too, like old phone cords!

Some of our favourite vintage handbags we often have stock of are the quirkier shapes and styles, such as painted wooden boxes and Lucite cases. The spirit of that "make do and mend" 40s attitude has carried through into more modern vintage bags we've stocked too, like ones made out of repurposed cigar boxes!

A lady in the 1940s might have chosen to reserve a more unique handbag for a specific event. Even today, a vintage-inspired outfit is made all the more fabulous with a more whimsical showstopper bag, particularly for a big event like Goodwood or another special occasion.

What’s Inside?

According to our research, a typical handbag in the 1940s might have contained any of the following: a face powder compact, a mirror, lipstick, hairpins, a comb, and breath mints, as well as the usual suspects like keys and a wallet. Vintage handbags often tended to be sold with mirrors and matching coin purses – we often have stock of original vintage handbags complete with these extra accessories.

Some of the more charming and distinctly vintage inclusions in a handbag from the 40s might be a freshly washed handkerchief, a pair of gloves – not for warmth, but for style! – and a rain hood or a hairnet. A more organised lady would perhaps carry a fountain pen and a phonebook as well, another thing that has fallen out of fashion with the invention of the smartphone. More 40s items found in a handbag would be a darning kit and of course, a ration book. If you enjoy emulating the vintage aesthetic right down to the tiny details, including some of these in your handbag is a fun way to up the authenticity of your ensemble.

What’s your favourite 40s handbag style? What do you like to carry in your purse when you’re out and about in your vintage finest? Let us know in the comments, and, as always, thanks for reading!