National Handbag Day – October 10, 2026

Expected National Handbag Day Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Handbag Day often brings exciting deals from major retailers and designer brands. Expect significant discounts from stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue on a wide range of styles. Brands such as Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Dooney & Bourke typically offer special promotions, including percentage-off sales or gift-with-purchase incentives. Online luxury retailers like Net-a-Porter and Farfetch may also feature curated sales. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October 10 approaches.

History of National Handbag Day

As it turns out, humans have always loved purses. Before they became the fashion statements that they are today, they were used to carry necessary items on long journeys and for work. In fact, purses go back to prehistory. The first purse recorded in history belonged to Ötzi the Iceman who lived between 3400 and 3100 B.C., between what’s now Austria and Italy. And he wasn’t alone! Historians agree that it was mostly men who carried purses initially, particularly to have easy access to coins — the purse even became a status symbol for men.

The man-purse era, while long in prehistory, didn’t last in modern history. The reticule, or small closed bag, soon became a fashion item carried by many women from 1795 to 1820. No men carried reticules. After this era, handbags went out of style. Women with money began to wear large, voluminous skirts that could easily conceal pockets the size of a medium handbag. Deep pockets were sewn into gowns, and women had yet another way to carry the essentials with them. After high-waisted dresses became stylish, however, this trend ended as the dresses could not accommodate the pockets.

Off and on, women carried one type of handbag or another through the next few centuries. While the early 20th century saw more glamorous bags on the arms of flappers and wealthy noblewomen, the Second World War changed fashion and culture. As scarcity was an issue nearly everyone encountered, handbags took on a frugal, sensible, and utilitarian appearance. One type of bag that became popular in this era is the ever-useful shoulder (or messenger) bag.

After this period of understated bags, it seemed a new trend took over every decade. For example, in the 1980s, handbags were made with a variety of vibrant colors, glitz, glam, and opulence. During this decade, the first unisex bag was also launched. Today, many men carry purses, and it has become increasingly acceptable for people of any gender to carry a bag for essentials. Today, many popular designer bags and styles have already come and gone — fashion only repeats itself! Even in the 2020s, we see styles from the 1990s and early 2000s returning.