A mini history of the tiny purse
From our friends at JSTOR Daily
![](https://about.jstor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SS7731421_7731421_11342969-217x450.jpg)
Bag (reticule). British. First quarter 19th century. Image and data courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The purse has always been political, a reflection of changing economic realities and gender roles. Blame the Balenciaga IKEA bag. When the $2,145 luxury lambskin version of the familiar blue plastic shopping bag appeared on the runway in June 2016, it was the beginning of the end of a glorious era of capacious hobo bags, boat totes, and bucket bags. The upscale counterfeit triggered a backlash against fashion’s flirtation with so-called poverty chic, but also against gigantic bags in general. From a 19-gallon capacity, there was nowhere to go but down.