Clutch purses came into fashion in the early 19th century and they were called reticules. These were small bags that a woman could clutch in her hand and it could carry a handkerchief, smelling salts and rice paper. It seems like fashionable women during that time were prone to fainting and that is why they carried smelling salts and the rice paper was of course to dab of that shiny spot from the face. Clutch purses went out of fashion and made their reappearance during the Second World War when necessity became the mother of invention. Shortage of cloth and other material led to the reappearance of the clutch bag as a woman required something to carry their necessary belongings in when stepping out. Money, identification card, handkerchief, etc were carried in clutch bags. These were the envelope clutch purse pattern that was popular and the 1940 clutch purse usually followed this design. A bag with a triangular covering flap and with a button for closure was the popular design.

Today there are so many styles and designs in women's handbags and purses but for evening wear a number of women still prefer to carry a purse. The usual clutch purse is a rectangular purse with a zip on top or with a triangular or rectangular folding closure. Some of the designer and fancier clutch purses have two metal clasps that snap together to close the purse on top and both the top sides have metal hardware. The hardware maybe inlaid with gems and other precious or semiprecious stones. Clutch purses maybe made of leather, satin, beads or brocade. One can get a simple clutch purse for $10 and a designer clutch purse can cost over $1000. Most women buy a clutch purse that will match with the clothes that they are going to wear and as it is an evening purse they may have several matching clutch purses to go with their evening wear. The black clutch purse is still a big favorite in clutch purses as the color black can be matched with any evening gown. Some women who can afford it also have a gold clutch purse which is made of gold thread and has gold hardware on it.

There are also so many design in clutch purses now with heart shaped, oval, round and other shapes in clutch purses. Also the outside of the clutch purse used to be black, white, silver, golden or pink but now one can see some very fancy modern art also on clutch purses. The younger generation especially does not want to stay with the traditional black clutch purse and want a purse that is trendier and inline with today's fashion and that is why clutch purses in bright colors or with graffiti designs have become popular. Some clutch purses have a removable wristlet or shoulder strap or a chain on them. One can also be innovative enough and make their own clutch purse. To make a clutch purse one can do a search on the internet and learn how to how to make clutch purse with frame or get a pattern for a clutch purse. As there are number of women who have taken up the sport of golf and don’t want to carry a regular big tote or hobo or satchel bag they usually use a golf clutch purse which is a relatively small clutch purse that can at best hold a cell phone and a couple of other essential items.

Today every handbag designer has clutch bags in their collection as they know that a woman who buys designer bags would also want a clutch bag as a part of their evening wear. Now the variety available in clutch bags is unbelievable and some women use a clutch bag as a wallet in their bigger sized regular daily wear handbags.