Purse (n.)

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women).

Yes, they do have a purpose, we use them for money or makeup , handkerchiefs and credit cards, but did you know that the purses like us in history have evolved over time. Changed by every period by every generation. It is also as noted above assuming that women originally were synonymous for carrying purses, but did you know the original purse owner was man. From necessity to fashion from tortoise shell to plastic. Our fashion much like our needs change over time. Here is a collection of bags over the years a reflection of our history.

The first known purse was carried by Otzi the Iceman who lived around 3300 B.C. Hhe made most of his belongings with a menagerie of animals. His bag had a chamois hide (a form of goat leather) and a strap. He used the items available to him at the time and that's exactly what his ancestors did in the future.
(image: espressoscience.com)

Fashion changed the look of the purse. It was more sleek and slender designs much like the attire of the fashion. Reticule became to new height of women's fashion. It was light convenient to carry and no longer hidden. They were more decorative to reflect personal style. It was a woman's small handbag, originally netted and typically having a drawstring and decorated with embroidery or beading and intricate floral patterns.  
(images: pinterest.com)

William Comyns first appears to have made a significant impact in the early 1880s by supplying increasingly large numbers of decorative wares in silver, many of which were die-stamped. The purse below is dyed blue with an intricately etched silver pattern around the handle with a clasp at the top. 
(images: koopman.art)