6 things you did not know about handbags yet

1. A handbag is more than a handbag

It sends out signals. Size, brand, style - all this reveals a lot about the wearer. Is it solid and practical or extravagant and wasteful? Is the owner part of the elite circle of fashion-in-crowd who knows exactly which label is currently in fashion? Or is she two seasons too late? Julia Werner and Dennis Braatz in their book "For the Love of Bags" set out to decode these codes - and that's extremely amusing and instructive.

2. The first it-bag was a baguette

Better a "Fendi baguette". The narrow, rectangular bag owes its name to the short handle, which means that you can - just like a baguette - just pin it under your arm. The "baguette" Sarah Jessica Parker aka Carrie Bradshaw owes her stunning success. Throughout the third season of "Sex and the City," Carrie and her baguette were inseparable.

3. Dior honored Lady Di with a bag

Many famous bags bear the name of their famous fans: The "Jackie Bag" by Dior is named after Jackie Kennedy, the "Kelly Bag" by Hermès after Grace Kelly. But did you know that the small, box-shaped "Lady Dior" was renamed after Lady Diana turned out to be a fan? At first the model was called "Couchou", in English "sweetheart".

4. Chanel's pocket bestseller is 2.55

Namely, because the rectangular bag, which is worn on a long shoulder strap, was invented in February 1955. Supposedly because Coco Chanel was tired of never having her hands free by wearing her (then strapless) bags.

5. No one is as good as Phoebe Philo

At least when it comes to designing a bag that awakens unlikely desires. She created the "Paddington Bag" for Chloé and set off with the "Trapeze" by Céline probably the biggest bag hype of the past years. Your status: mostly sold out. And that's what makes a real it bag.

6. In is who is individual (at least for the moment)

Short handle, long shoulder strap, worn across the chest or loosely tucked under the arm: pocket fashions and wear codes change even faster than most trends. Currently it can be seen that fashionistas decorate their it-bags with all kinds of supporters from fur pompos to plastic animals or with the eye-catching bag-stickers of the British designer Anya Hindmarch. If you can still wear it in the next season? We do not know.

Book Tip: For the Love of Bags

The fashion journalists Julia Werner and Dennis Braatz have penned a tribute to the power of the handbag with the visually stunning tome "For the Love of Bags". The illustrated book arouses longings and at the same time closes some gaps in knowledge. This informative handbag customer is illustrated with streetstyle photos by Sandra Semburg.

"For the Love of Bags" is available in stores at www.teneues.com. Approximately 220 pages, 59.90 euros.