Don't judge a book by its cover because the cover on this book isn't winning any second glances. Sure the Dior bag on the cover is fabulous however the model desperately needs to book a visit at the nail salon.

Enough with the negative because once you get past the scary cover The Handbag: An Illustrated History is great a great read. The book takes you from the birth of the handbag to today – where the handbag is more important than ever.

The coffee table sized hardcover book has plenty of glossy pictures of handbags from the nineteenth century, which are no more than a pocket with a handle on them, to the 1960's youthquake with its vinyl bags worn my Twigger and Edie Sedgwick. This book not only walks us through each decade, it also bridges them together into a fashionable evolution.

The price of this book is completely reasonable at $35.00 ($23 if you buy it on Amazon.com) and would make an excellent gift for the girl who covets the "it" bag.