I am watching The Letter with Bette Davis and I noticed that she was carrying one. Did anyone ever do this when they were young?
2007-11-04 12:39:23 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
Actually, I was referring to having it tied to a finger and carrying it around as an accessory.
2007-11-04 14:47:27 · update #1
I think men and women carried them in the 1700's with perfume on them because everything back then smelled including people .They didn't bathe back then like now. If they smelled an offensive odour, they would dab their nose with the hanky to cover the smell.
2007-11-04 15:48:58 · answer #1 · answered by Donna 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Grandma used to crochet lace edging on handkerchief, Mom carried them because she always had a sinus problem. I remember them drying out in her pockets. When they were pulled out they appeared starched. Dad used to carry handkerchiefs, too. I think that they changed to Kleenex because it is more sanitary. I still have some beautiful handkerchiefs that grandma made.
2007-11-04 14:19:28 · answer #2 · answered by Granny 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know that it was a fashion but I think it goes back pretty far in history and, I think it was pragmatic as people back then had no sense of a "throw away society" like we have today. Kleenex has become the substitute, because people both men and women carried them for the obvious reason that they use kleenex for today and so people made them pretty for the pleasure of having to use them.
2007-11-04 14:41:50 · answer #3 · answered by Meeshmai 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I still carry a handkerchief in my purse. I have never worn one tied around my finger though. Interesting! Do you recall which finger and which hand?
2007-11-04 17:11:09 · answer #4 · answered by noonecanne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why women carry hanker chiefs but I remember the sage advice my older brother gave me when my children where little. Always carry a bandanna he said. It came in handy a thousand times and I still carry one to this day.
2007-11-04 12:49:26 · answer #5 · answered by SteveX 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We always had a handkerchief in our little purses when we were small. I still carry one in my Bible and I often enclose one in a birthday or greeting card. I don't know who started it, but I remember older ladies in the family always having one in their sleeve or pocket.
2007-11-04 14:02:45 · answer #6 · answered by luvspbr2 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea but this book seems to address the history of the handkerchief.
http://www.amazon.com/Handkerchief-Twentieth-Century-Histories-Fashion/dp/089676205X
Blessings- Juju
2007-11-04 15:35:47 · answer #7 · answered by Ju ju 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Grandma always gave us cute little kerchiefs to keep in our pocket for going to church. Dont know when it started though.
2007-11-04 12:44:37 · answer #8 · answered by Aloha_Ann 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋