A 1967 song about vanity became an unlikely anthem for the modern workplace
In short: Written by Mike d'Abo to warn a girl against equating material success with arrival, Handbags and Gladrags has enjoyed a strange afterlife. From its 1967 debut to its role as the iconic theme for The Office, the song has evolved from a cautionary tale into a cultural touchstone for multiple generations.
Mike d'Abo, then lead singer of Manfred Mann, penned Handbags and Gladrags in 1967. He intended the lyrics as a sermon to a young woman, urging her to look past the superficial allure of status symbols—the handbags and gladrags of the title—and consider more enduring values. He famously warned her not to grow up too quickly, framing the pursuit of material wealth as a hollow substitute for genuine maturity.
The song’s journey through the charts is as eclectic as its arrangements. Chris Farlowe released the first version in November 1967, featuring a distinct piano blues-scale riff by Dave Greenslade. Rod Stewart later recorded a version for his 1969 album, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down, which eventually charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Stewart’s connection to the song remained strong; he performed it at the 2002 Party at the Palace, backed by Phil Collins on drums, following the song's resurgence in popularity.
The song reached a new audience in 2001 when Welsh band Stereophonics released a version that achieved gold certification in the UK. Despite criticism from some reviewers who accused the band of selling out, the track became a commercial success. Simultaneously, Big George’s arrangement became the theme for the BBC series The Office, with vocals by Fin Muir. The song’s cultural footprint even extended to the show's narrative, where Ricky Gervais, in character as David Brent, performed a version during the end credits of the fourth episode of the first series.
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