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 bag into a billion-dollar business in the 20th century, but the bag 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 handbag: 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.