Shoes

[Anais]

I grew up in the suburbs of NYC and we used to say pocketbook. When I moved to the midwest and now the upper midwest (MN), it is called a purse and I had to remember to say purse because to me, a purse is really one of those little coin things. Now I say handbag because that at least makes sense to me and feels "real." Growing up in NY, we didn't say billfold, we said wallet.

Although this is off-topic, in MN, what I have always considered a casserole is called hotdish.

[betteb]

On 10/14/2014 stevieb said:

Growing up, it was usually pocketbook, which morphed into purse, and then into handbag or bag.

This I still like pocketbook. It's charming and nostalgic.

[betteb]

On 10/15/2014 Anais said:

I grew up in the suburbs of NYC and we used to say pocketbook. When I moved to the midwest and now the upper midwest (MN), it is called a purse and I had to remember to say purse because to me, a purse is really one of those little coin things. Now I say handbag because that at least makes sense to me and feels "real." Growing up in NY, we didn't say billfold, we said wallet.

Although this is off-topic, in MN, what I have always considered a casserole is called hotdish.

Here in the Land of Oz, a billfold is for a man and a wallet is for a woman.

[Lavenderjunkie]

I prefer the term handbag. Just sounds more refined than pocketbook. And purse sounds very old fashioned to me. Probably a regional thing... I've always lived in a big city in the Northeast. Years ago I do remember that pocketbook was the terminology I heard most.

[author]

Grew up here in midwest saying purse, but now like handbag better as it is exactly what it says it is, a bag I carry in my hand. I can't keep a shoulder bag on my narrow shoulders so I don't even try anymore. Purse to me now is one of those little coin purse things.

Pocketbook! It's a paperback novel you put in your pocket and pull out and read whenever.... Never heard it used here.

[stevieb]

I've pretty much gone to just 'bag'... Short, sweet, and to the point...

[Jackielee]

My grandmother always used the term ""pocketbook"" so I have always associated it as a term used by older people although I am in my 60s and have never heard anyone I know say pocketbook. My grandma grew up in southern Ohio and I live in southern California.

[moongirl]

I have enjoyed reading all the replies, very interesting. I didn't do Qvc's poll because I don't use those two terms. If you did the poll, which term is winning?

moongirl

[Luv My Cresties]

Purse is winning. Purse 61.25% vs Handbag 38.75%. I call them purses.

[moongirl]

Thanks Love My Cresties.... still wonder how it would turn out if pocketbook was in the running, too.

moongirl