After arriving in New York in 1949, Warhol quickly became established as one of the most sought-after commercial illustrators, working for magazines such as Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar. His fashion illustrations and adverts are quirky and playful, utilising his blotted-line technique and vivid colours. With this work, however, Warhol has not used vibrant colours but has instead concentrated on capturing the different textures of the six handbags - such as fur in the foreground and a beaded one at the rear. The elaborate frame and outlines of the handbags were created using his blotted-line technique.