The Elizabethan Era is one of the most fascinating periods in the history of England however in this era it was more about the big clothes and gowns rather than the handbag being discovered and growing as a fashion accessorie. Most women wore girdle pouches which were their types of handbags but instead of parading them around like we do now a days they were worn concealed by women wearing them under their expensive petticoats. The reason for this was because women wanted the focus to be on their clothes and not distracted by anything else as to them nothing else was as important as their garments. Especially for the superior and more higher class of people.
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This all happened when men's fashion became increasingly ornate in nature. Peasants and travelers then began to wear cloth bags diagnolly across the body.
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Aristocrats were high end people in the Elizabethan times kind of like how we look up to idles now a days eg. celebrities. They had a lot of money and due to the poor hygiene around at this time they were able to try avoid this by carrying 'SWETE BAGS' which contained sweet smelling material to cover the smell of bad odors. The reason they could do this and peasants couldn't was because it wasn't seen as a necessity and they struggled for the bare essentials as it was.