Vintage Handbags

The look of the 40’s was feminine but strong.  The purses and handbags that they carried at all times reflected the occasion that they were celebrating.  Generally, a leather satchel would take the ladies throughout the day.  By night, the evening bags were made of soft silk or satin, in a compact size to perfectly fit the essentials such as lipstick and extra bobby pins.  To copy that look for today’s times, you do not have to be so particular regarding the occasion.  The rules are not quite as strict and fabulous evening purses can be carried around with pride in the light of the afternoon.  If you have a plain looking outfit, give it a little pop with the addition of a colorful vintage bag.  It does not matter what time of day it is, as long as you carry your look with confidence, you will be able to pull it off!

Back in the days of old, in the 1940’s or 1950’s, women would not think of leaving the house without a hat, gloves, heels and handbag at the ready.  There were purses for the day time for lunching with the ladies and playing Gin, and there were more glamorous evening bags reserved for special occasions such as a night on the town with the Mister to hear the latest Big Band Swing music.  Doesn’t it seem unfortunate that those days have long past, where women stopped taking pride in how they look when they left the house?  Luckily, the vintage look is making a comeback in a big way.  Though, you won’t see a vision of June Cleaver staring back at you from the mirror, you can adapt some of that nostalgic style to your every day wardrobe.  This can be done with the simple addition of a vintage handbag or retro attire mixed with modern wear.

Vintage bags, shoes and antique costume jewelry are all you need to accessorize even the most basic of outfits.  Adding an ornate brooch to a simple cardigan can bring back a nostalgic feel of the 1950’s.  Pairing a handbag from the 1940’s with a tube of bright red lipstick applied to your lips will send you right back in time to Old Hollywood glamour.  Even a fabulous pair of vintage peep toe pumps can vamp up the most boring pair of jeans and give your plain outfit a boost for the night!  Sometimes, it’s not what you wear, but how you accessorize.  You do not have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks.  Rummage through estate sales or antique shops to find unique vintage pieces at great prices.

If your night out is a cocktail party, chances are that there will be many women there wearing little black dresses found in their closets.  So, what can you do to make sure that you stand out above them?  It is all in the way you accessorize your outfit, Darling!  If you have enough extra cash to purchase a pair of new shoes, go for it!  Don’t choose the conservative basic black pumps.  Why not take a risk and walk out of the store with a daring pair of bright red patent leather stilettos!  Pair your shoes with a coordinating vintage handbag found in an antique shop and it is a promise that no one will be looking at your plain black dress any longer!  If you will be outside, add a soft colorful Pashmina wrap that coordinates with all of your accessories.  These wraps can be tied in fun ways, or just draped over your shoulders to keep out the evening chill.

Do you have an event coming up and you want to find something fabulous to wear that will knock everyone’s socks off, but money is tight for you right now?  Well, you are luck because you do not have to spend a fortune on a brand new dress; in fact, you will not have to spend one penny on a brand new dress!  Most women have a LBD (little black dress) hanging in their closets.  It is a basic staple of any woman’s wardrobe.  If money is tight, have no fear, because with the addition of few fabulous accessories, you will be able to turn that boring LBD into an outfit envied by everyone!  By simply adding an evening back, the right jewelry and cute shoes, you will be set for the perfect evening out.

If you are a collector of all things vintage, the best places you can go to find these treasures with the best prices are estate sales.  Many people think that the estate sales are rather morbid because generally, these sales are being done because someone has recently passed away.  If you can get past that little tidbit, you will be shocked at what amazing pieces you are able to find at these sales.  Many times, the estate sale is selling of pieces that have been in a person’s home for decades upon decades.  You will be able to find vintage pieces of nostalgia from all time eras in many cases.  Beautiful dresses from the 1940’s, Poodle Skirts from the 1950’s and 1970’s handbags that will rock your world.  Check your local newspaper listings for upcoming estate sales in your area.

Many designers today are drawing their inspiration from styles and fashion of the past, and giving it a modern twist.  Perhaps it is in the quality of the fabric that is different, or in the way the patchwork is sewn together.  Whatever the new design technique is, overall, the look of these modern handbags very much takes on the look from the past.  This idea is not just geared towards 1970’s handbags.  It also applies to clothing design as well as accessories, even interior design.  Adding retro touches to anything modern gives it a certain panache and flair that would not normally be there.  With interior design, adding a vintage lamp or chair to a modern living room completely changes the look of the entire room.  Adding a vintage hobo bag to a modern day outfit gives a great spin to your outfit.  It doesn’t take a lot to give your look some oomph, you just have to be willing to take the risk and go for the gusto!

Crushed velvet was another popular fabric choice for use in making 1970’s handbags.  Normally, one color of velvet was not used, rather, a variety of different velvet colors were used, sewn together in a jumble of ways.  These pieces were not uniformed in size at all, giving it a carefree look so apparent in everything having to do with the 1970’s time era.  Bags with wood handles were also a popular choice in the 70’s.  These handles would be attached to the fabric or leather of the purses usually with large metal brads.  The handles were strong and durable and would be stained in a wood color or painted to match the coordinating colors of the purse.

The fashion look of the 1970’s was big, messy and free-flowing.  The dresses and pants skimmed the floor and if you were lucky enough to see a glimpse of a shoe underneath these outfits, you would have found clunky brown boots.  With the big long clothes came the big accessories; extra large round sunglasses, big floppy hats with wide rims and large almost homemade looking purses.  These 1970’s handbags were sometimes referred to as Hobo bags because they looked as though they were big enough to fill with all of your belongings.  The style often came in a leather or fabric patchwork pattern with a braided leather strap.

Are you fascinated with all things Flower Power?  Was the Flower Child, Hippie Movement a place in time that you wish you could have been a part of?  While we cannot turn back the clock to take you back in time, you can still catch the style of the 70’s.  Though the thought of bringing back bell bottoms and macramé vests do not appeal to those who actually lived in the 70’s, those who did not, like to incorporate even small portions of that era into their wardrobe of today. This can easily be done with the addition of the 1970’s handbag.  You can give any outfit a retro feel with the simple addition of vintage accessories, like a purse, shoes or jewelry.