The Most Popular Handbag the Year You Were Born
1970: Shoulder Bags
More casual, bohemian styles gained traction in the ’70s, like shoulder bags with wider, longer straps. They were often larger and featured buckles, like this one on Candice Bergen.
1971: Patent Leather Purses
Princess Margaret—and every other member of the royal family, TBH—brought a purse with her whenever she went out, as evidenced by this patent-leather number. The material was a prominent part of British fashion trends in the ’60s and became even more popular in the following decade.
1972: Briefcases
A rectangular briefcase wasn’t just for work; it became the accessory women brought with them everywhere. It was more practical than a tiny handbag for stashing all your stuff.
1973: Weekenders
A year later, larger bags were still in style, this time in the form of weekenders. They were the ultimate accessory if you wanted to be stylish while traveling.
1974: Clamshell Clutches
As the name implies, these purses resembled clams but came in suede, leathers, and almost any other material you could think of.
1975: White Bags
Queen Elizabeth really made the case for bright white purses in ’75—she was often spotted with this bag and similar ones when traveling and attending official events. Here, she brought the accessory with her on a visit to Mexico.
1976: Neutral Shades
Beige and neutral bags hit the scene next. Staying within the royal sphere, Queen Fabiola of Belgium toted this one with her while on official duty with King Baudouin. She even matched it to her leather gloves.
1977: Hermès Kelly Handbag
She was beauty, she was Grace…and she had her own Hermès bag named for her. The Kelly bag, named after Grace Kelly, is still around today and remains one of the brand’s most popular styles.
1978: Straw Bags
1979: Textured Materials
Woven leather purses followed straw bags, as seen here on Valerie Velardi, Robin Williams’ then-wife.
1980: Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato Weave
In American Gigolo, Lauren Hutton’s character carried a red Bottega Veneta Intrecciato weave clutch, a style that was quite popular in the moment.
1981: Gucci Jackie Bag
Gucci named this shoulder bag for the iconic former First Lady Jackie Onassis; it was just as effortless and sophisticated as she was.
1982: Bamboo Handle Bags
Bamboo top handles were super durable, and the vintage-looking accessory has made quite the comeback in recent years, thanks to Gucci, as seen in more contemporary collections from the brand.
1983: Envelope Clutches
Ever heard of a little TV show called Cheers? Diane Chambers, played by Shelley Long, had the best style (she really loved a good blazer) and was often seen carrying an envelope clutch.
1984: Louis Vuitton Carry-Ons
!["Against All Odds" premiere: Audrey Hepburn.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-110774204-1535720752.jpg?crop=0.777xw:0.755xh;0.151xw,0.168xh&resize=980:* ""Against All Odds" premiere: Audrey Hepburn.")
A Louis Vuitton bag is often the go-to airport carry-on for celebrities, but it was particularly chic when Audrey Hepburn did it in ’84.
1985: Little Black Bags
No matter the shape or silhouette, 1985 was the year of the LBB, or the little black bag. Here, Sigourney Weaver paired hers with an LBD and matching gloves at the Tony Awards.
1986: Dooney & Bourke Cross-Bodies
In 1981, Dooney & Bourke branched out of making belts and suspenders and moved onto handbags. Just a couple years later, everyone was wearing the brand’s leather purses, like this beige and tan cross-body.
1987: Prada Nylon Backpacks
Prada’s classic black backpack (pictured here in a pink mini version) was so utilitarian with its buckles and waterproof material that it became an accessory staple for years.
1988: Chainmail Pouches
Piggybacking off the disco era of the ’70s, chainmail, like that of designer Paco Rabanne, was an easy, flashy addition to liven up a look.
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