National Handbag Day Is 10/10/16

What are you carrying on National Handbag Day?  This year it's October 10th.

Some people say the purse you carry says something about your Pursonality

Designer bag - Stick to well known designer labels and prepared to spend all disposable income on bags. If possible, you'd collect all models of bage by your favorite designer. Don't care much about color, style, materials, or size. You're a champagne drinker, whenever corks are popping.

Clutch - Minimalist and a little fancy. You like things simple and clean but don't have so much on your plate that you need to be hands free. Holding a clutch makes you feel empowered and like you could be going on a hot date any minute. You're glamorously girly and love to wear flirty dresses, skirts and high heels. You like to finger the stem of your wine glass as you chat with your friends, or your date.

Novelty bag - Love collecting unusual and strange shapes and probably have a train, bird, house, fruit, etc. Don't want to be boring or "normal". Also look for bags covered in patterns, comic book characters, or other fanciful design. You like pretty drinks like Tequila Sunrise, Malibu Sunset, or Cake by the Ocean.

Impulse bag - Buy because you fell in love with the bag at first sight and have to have it. Don't care what it will go with or if its practical size, or what it will be used for. Can't live without it because so in love. Live life with your emotions on your sleeve, the sleeve on the arm with the bag. You also love passionate drinks like Sangria.

Hobo - Chill girl likes to go with the flow and needs an equally carefree bag to match your free spirit lifestyle. Friends would describe as boho chic. Inclined to live in a year round warm climate and only use umbrellas as decorations in your icy drinks.

Logo - Usually you have just one bag, or few bags, but you like to look fashionable so you want a prominent designer logo on show.  You probably bought it quite a while ago, probably in a sale, but you don't care if it's a design from an old collection or even if it's getting worn as long as the logo is still in good shape. You don't want to spend an exorbitant amount so you'll carry the old one until the next sale of logos. You like drinking Baileys and other name brand alcohol

Tote - You're prepared for anything, which is why you need a bag large enough to carry all your stuff.  You're the one who always has aspirin, bandaids, hair ties, and so on, and enough for everyone. You tend to be a planner and don't like to get stuck without something you might need. You like to drink tequila shots.

Oversized Tote - Busy career woman who's always on the go, so the need for the huge tote to lug around all your essentials from laptop to makeup bag, and sometimes change of clothes. Ready to take on the world and always comes prepared, but you often forget to stop and smell the roses. Remember to relax, it's good for your health. You drink wine, especially Pinot Grigio

Backpack - Super active and love to travel. You're always on the move so you need a big enough bag to hold a lot of stuff and has double-strapped shoulder support. Like the tote gal, you're usually prepared for most situations but you like more comfort. You're a beer and hard cider drinker

Arm Carry Bag - You're independent and fashionable. The arm carry bag fits in the crook of your arm, which pulls out a slightly sassy attitude, but it's because you're confident. You're up to date on the latest trends and like to be sophisticated. You drink daiquiris, martinis, sidecars, and moscow mules.

Shoulder Bag - Loved by downtown gals with cash, and by models. Usually worn with scarves. Drink Makers Mark bourbon and soda.

Satchel - More serious, you take your job seriously too. Definitely not a high maintenance gal, you do appreciate the finer things in life and you have a classic sense of style that you convey through your impeccable power-woman wardrobe. You like to drink Mojitos, gin and tonic, white russian, Jack on the rocks.

Crossbody - Less is more type of gal. Appreciate the simple things in life and skip the 24/7 glam makeup thing. Just need wallet and phone and ready for anything. You like adventurous, and well-crafted drinks like Bacon Cherry Creek, peach margaritas, jello shots

60% of women own more than 10 bags and 3% of women have at least 25 bags.

A Collector's Compacts

Lovely 1940s compact from Judith Works' private collection, author of Coins in the Fountain A Memoir of Rome   (Recommended Read!), and friend.  I especially love all the detail on the ladies' dress and the poodle's bow. The interior on this compact for carrying all the essentials is intact.

From Judith Works collection, a compact again from the 1940s.  The delicate scrollwork is fascinating, and notice the finger loop

From Judith Works collection, the bloom hasn't faded from this compact dated in the 1920s.  Its original interior organization was removed at some time so it could be used later by the owner as a cigarette case.  Thank you so much Judith for a glimpse into your beautiful collection!

Vintage Compacts at White River Museum

From the 1940's and 1950's these matching accessories are designed to be carried in a middle size, over the arm handbag from the 1940's or 1950's, like the Evans bag in the picture from the White River museum Bags exhibit earlier this year.  The matched accessories include a powder compact for blush that's leak proof and has a soft velour puff.  Also a one piece pop up lipstick holder, cigarette case, lighter, and comb.  The full set like this, including the purse in 1940 would have been priced at $41.50 + tax.

The Evans Case Company of North Attleboro, MA manufactured American compacts between 1920 and 1960.  The company started by making brass buttons.  As competition in the button business increased, they branched into other items such as picture frames and neck chains for US Navy dog tags.  With the end of WWI, they were looking for other items again.  That's when they started making compacts.  These were a big hit and they could barely keep up with sales demand.

Another option of the time is a compact designed to have all the accessories within it.  Then you carry just the single compact in your mid-size purse.  This one has a pretty gold metal finish.

Here's a real sparkler, rhinestone set.  One of the challenges in collecting vintage is that over time these separate, small accessories get separated and misplaced.  It's more valuable and exciting when you find a collection intact.

Another gold plated intact compact

Pretty compact with faux sapphires.

For when you don't want to carry a big purse.  Instead a holder for converting a pretty, gold plated compact into a sort of wristlet

A collection of "dance bags" by Briggs.  These began as especially fashionable in the 1920's.  Some brands of dance bags, not pictured here, had a metal circle at the top of the extended chain which was a "finger loop".  Inside, the necessities of a compact.

More examples of dance bags

Sparkling evening bag, and notice the intricate filigree at the top of the frame

1920's wallet to carry either on its own, or inside a larger compact or purse

Antique Purses at White River (Part 2)

This enamel mesh is very flexible and soft to the touch. It's shiny surface and cheery colors are so alluring. Look at the detail on the frame that really adds to the styling. And of course, the popular kiss clasp.

This delicate purse is from 1910 is on the early side of the art deco design. This displayed bag is currently under repair and originally included a small lavendar sachet. The antique purses so often included a small accessory within when purchased, could be a sachet, or a compact, or a small mirror. Over time these pretty accessories were often separated from their original purse, or misplaced, or lost.

This very small bag is from 1905. Remember these purses are primarily for decoration, and for just the ladies' absolute necessities when away from home.

One of my favorites, no subtlety in the gold here, and crowned with a shining, clear, faceted clasp embellished with smaller, sparkling round clear glass. This is one of the early bags with no kiss clasp, and it's a little roomier than many from the era.

The metal mesh in this case is not enameled, instead the orange lining from the bag is seen through the mesh. The corners and edges are a little reinforced, and notice the six dangling metal pearl shapes at the bottom. The silver colored metal frame and large silver color kiss clasp complement the mesh and highlight the colorful orange lining.

What a dreamy, dynamic, midnight blue beaded bag. It's a French metal beaded purse with brass frame. The intricate beading is thickly layered for an extravagant effect.

And here's the matching coin purse with the twist lid.  This was included inside the bag for the original purchase.

This bag engenders feelings of Great Gatsby for me, although it's decidedly prior to that era. The intricate beading is best described simply as art. Look at the details on the frame as well, including the gem stones.

Unbelievably beautiful scrolled frame work on this bag, and again the layered, draping beadwork. In person the shiny brightness of the yellow beads is delightful.

Whiting and Davis

What a treat - a temporary purse exhibit at the White River Museum. Wish it was permanent, but I very much enjoyed it while it was here.  I'm happy to share with you all the amazing purses.  In this series, I'm going to start with one of my all time favorites which is Whiting and Davis and metal and mesh bags.  It all started with the original factory in Plainville, Massachusetts when three men . . . 

From 1910, this was a common size for a purse at the time, which would hang over a woman's belt of a dress or skirt.  When dresses didn't have pockets, this pocket purse style took the place in order to carry a very few necessities.

The original wristlet style.  These are drawstring openings.

A beautiful little wristlet with a peacock accent at the top.  The delicate clasp to open it you can just see on the left side.

Love these gold mesh coin pochetes (French, "small bag")

Delightful pansy design in the beading, and on the right an amazing, sparkling orange.  Notice the silver frame on the orange wristlet, with the kiss clasp.  I'm a big bag girl, but I just love this artistry.

Back again to the drawstring opening on this exquisite silver and gold pocket purse.

Proud peacock art in this striking Whiting and Davis, again with a silver frame and kiss clasp.  This purse in the collection was really in excellent condition for being almost 90 years old.

Here's an intricate, abstract design that almost leaning toward the art deco of that era.  You see again the typical framing, but this time in a gold metal.

This well loved dear has seen better days, faded now from its glories and outings.  If only it could talk and tell of the many adventures its seen.

A mesh floral bouquet.  You can almost catch the pretty scent in the air.  Unfortunately the hanging trim is a bit worn and a little missing, but still a pretty display.

As Whiting and Davis continued through to the Fifties.  And the company still thrives today as you can see at this link  

Now we're really starting to see some tendencies to art deco.  This isn't Whiting and Davis though.  This is a French metal beaded with a brass frame.

This one isn't a Whiting and Davis either.  This is enameled metal mesh by Mandalian Manufacturing Company.  The co-founder of the company was Sahatiel Mandalian of Turkish heritage and so you can see his product was influenced by a Turkish design from his heritage.

Another enameled mesh, this one with a gorgeous trim and an embellished gold framing.

Couldn't resist ending with this very different Whiting and Davis.  This one is more recent, from the 1950's.  Despite the look, this isn't beading.  It's a metal woven "alumesh" that is a trade name for a light weight metal beadlike material.  A different look.  The framing idea is their typical, and with the kiss clasp, but the enameling adds a nice accent.

Snoopy Celebrates 75 Years of Coach!

Coach's overarching theme is - sexy and fun that also works.

This newest, limited edition design emphasizes the fun side of functional.  The first in a series of limited-edition projects celebrating the brand, this collaboration is catering to the heritage label's lighter, more playful side. This window was in the Seattle suburbs, and the collection includes all kinds of styles from coin purse, to wristlet, crossbody, satchel, and tote.  My favorite were those picturing Snoopy, and his very yellow pal Woodstock together.

This idea is the brainchild of newly appointed creative director Stuart Vevers, who's responsible for dramatically revamping Coach's image over the last year.  Born in South Yorkshire, England, Stuart Vevers moved to London at the age of 18 to study Fashion Design at the University of Westminster.  He started his career at Calvin Klein in New York, and moved on to successful roles at Bottega Veneta, Givency, and Louis Vuitton.  Vevers was named Accessory Designer of the Year at the 2006 British Fashion Awards.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Coach!  In 1941 they started with totes and hobo's.

Coach has always stood for high quality for a fair price, with understated American good taste and functionality.  Timely, not trendy.  The company started marketing their bags for airline stewardesses, and military women.  The brand quickly spread.

Coach derives inspiration from art, architecture and films, and now in this limited edition from an American iconic comic.

The company's buzzy new concept is "modern luxury".  It’s a phrase that’s been on the lips since the appointment of Stuart Vevers as executive creative director in fall 2013.  The concept plays strongly into the history of the brand, incorporating touches of leather in traditional New York architectural details, a nod to the company’s home.

Victor Luis, Coach Chief Executive Officer, noted that while the new look will hopefully draw a new customer to the brand, ongoing references to its history — the leather touches, the horse and carriage logo, the turn lock hardware — will satiate existing ones.  “We see ourselves as wanting to represent our own authentic view of what it is to be America’s original authentic house of leather, but at the same time, we are, under Stuart’s direction, stepping out to be a very credible fashion resource.”

Watch for Vevers' new spring campaign - The freedom and romance of the great American landscape meets the raw energy of New York City.