Lara King Lara King

The politics of handbags

For centuries, bags have had the ability to reveal a great deal about us without being opened

Experimental fashion: ‘Normandie’ clutch bag, c.1935. Credit: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 
issue 09 January 2021

‘Of course, I am obstinate in defending our liberties and our law — that is why I carry a big handbag,’ Margaret Thatcher once told an interviewer. That handbag was part of the Iron Lady’s suit of armour; a fashion accoutrement turned into a political prop.

But an accessory that became instantly recognisable on the outside held secrets on the inside.

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