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A handbag or purse in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, and used to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, gloves, cosmetics, a hairbrush, mobile phone or personal digital assistant, feminine hygiene products, etc.
Variations in handbags
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A medium-to-small-sized handbag with a short handle, designed to be carried (clutched) in one's hand, is often called a clutch.
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A larger handbag with two handles is often called a tote.
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A pocketbook is similar to a handbag.
Vintage pocketbook
- A security bag protects the carrier from travel theft and includes an invisible stainless steel strap sewn into the fabric and a protectant on the main zipper.
- Man purse
Handbags are traditionally carried only by women. In parts of Europe, men carry purses regularly. Increasingly younger men carry one as a smaller alternative to a backpack; such a handbag is sometimes termed a manbag, or in American slang, murse (portmanteaus "handbag" and "man" with "purse" respectively), also male purse or man-purse.
Many handbag companies now have specific collections that cater to men's bag needs. Some of the styles are actually messenger bags.
- Child's purse
Young girls also use small purses or clutches, but usually just for play or dress-up.
Types of handbags
- Clutch, a small, yet long (rectangular), evening bag without a handle
- Satchel, a soft-sided case usually of leather, used to carry papers or books; usually has a handle and often has a strap
- Duffle bag, a large bag usually used for travel or sports
- Tote, a medium to large bag with two straps
- Messenger bag, a bag with a long strap to be worn across the body
- Sling bag, a bag with a long strap (similar to a messenger bag), yet smaller
- Laptop purse, a medium to large bag that contains a padded interior compartment or sleeve for protecting a laptop computer.
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