[work in progress: passementerie texture is being woven]

1990-2000 replica of handbag from a a fashion magazine ca. 1820-1830.
Lilac rayon; black velvet trimmed with passementerie at the bottom.

A reticule is a small drawstring bag that became popular among women towards the end of the 18th and early 19th century. It was typically made of netting, silk, or satin, and had a drawstring closure at the top. Reticules were carried over the arm on a cord or chain, and were often embellished with embroidery or beading.

Reticules became popular with the advent of Regency fashion and remained in women’s wardrobes also during the Victorian era. Previously, women had carried personal belongings in pockets tied around the waist, hidden under their voluminous petticoats, but with the columnar skirts and thin fabrics that had come into style in the late 18th century, pockets were not usable anymore. Reticules provided a stylish and practical way for women to carry their belongings, and quickly became a staple of Regency women’s fashion.