Carry Me: 100 years of Handbags

The history of handbags over the past century is unpacked in a new exhibition in Upper Hutt via Italy, featuring more than 50 examples from the world famous to the curious and tiny. Carry Me: 100 years of Handbags includes the Lady Dior made famous by Lady Diana, the Jackie and Kelly bags, the Baguette made famous on the Sex and the City TV show, and the Chanel Bag with shoulder straps that's described as one of the most iconic fashion creations of the 20th Century. The handbags are all from Italian private collections but they're not all by famous fashion houses. And they're not all what you'd call practical. I spoke to the exhibition organiser Dr Alex Susanna in Italy, and to Leanne Wickham from Whirinaki that is hosting the exhibition.