A Passion for Purses and . . . . Kat Out of the Bag, . . . . . . . . . In Purse-Suit Mysteries: In A Moonlit Mood

Amber: Here's an Austrian crystal-encrusted "Heart N Soul" evening bag by Judith Leiber, 2009. She's a favorite designer of Katherine's. When I'm working in the gift shop, I get fascinated with designers like her and the intricacies of her amazing works.

Michael: Makes me think of that chainmail one we found that day. It looked like chainmail from the knights of the round table. That one we found with the old love note inside. That really started you and me investigating. It's all written up in that Kat Out of the Bag mystery.

Amber: That was a romantic find in a vintage Whiting and Davis donation. Actually from the 1920's. Oh Michael, what we discovered! The clues were exciting, and then it got scary.

Michael: Talk about dangerous.

Amber: I'm not finding a hidden note in this "Heart N Soul" The shimmering of the crystals is just beautiful though. They pick up the lights in a room, in sunshine, and even in moonlight. That's romantic. Remember when we were out together on that fall night and you gave me that gardenia? I still remember what you said . . . .

Michael: I'm in a moonlit mood, baby.

Amber: Yeah, that's just what you said. Our author captured it in Kat Out of the Bag -

"I'm in a moonlit mood, baby." His strong arms surrounded Amber, and she reached up for his broad shoulders. As their lips met Amber couldn't imagine anywhere else she'd want to be.

"I have something for you, babe."

"Really?" Amber's curiosity surfaced in her breathless voice.

Michael grinned. "Close those eyes for a second." He took a small, plastic box out of his jacket pocket and showed it to her under the sparkling light decorations hanging around the courtyard. It was a very small wrist corsage with a gardenia. As he opened the lid the sweetest, pure floral fragrance was freed. He took it out of the box and reaching for her hand he slid it onto her wrist.

"Oh Michael."

"Amber, I've never met anyone like you. I'm falling for you."

She reached for his shoulder and brushed his cheek with the gardenia, releasing another burst of the deep perfume. They gently kissed.

"Oh Michael, you're sunny kisses on the bleakest of days, you're a sweet dream on a bitter night a familiar hug in the midst of strangers. You're my kindred spirit."

-------------------------------------------------------

Amber: Too bad all days aren't like that one.

Michael: Having a day like that helped us through our adventure. And now we're in another one.

Amber: Yes the Kat sequel is happening and it's intriguing. Just wait until everyone reads about it.

Michael: In the meantime, will this heart purse be in your gift shop at Katherine's museum? Who did you say designed it?

Amber: This beauty is a Judith Leiber. The designer is an icon. Her bags are not just fashion, they're pure artistry. She made the sparkling beauties in all kinds of shapes, animals, cupcakes, flowers, fruits, almost anything you can imagine. Our Purrada cat would love Judith Leiber's cat purse.

The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art has 80 pieces of hers in their collection.

Courtesy of the Museum of Arts and Design

Michael: Sounds like they're expensive.

Amber: It's said that her jeweled style was the result of a mistake. Her Chatelaine bag from way back in 1967 didn't turn out as she'd hoped. She tried to save it by adding crystal rhinestones to the bottom. It really worked - that bag was a big success.

Michael: Good things can come from mistakes.

Amber: She survived the Holocaust and WWII in Germany. At the start of the war she worked at a handbag company named Pessl. For awhile she and her family lived under the protection of the Swiss Consulate. In the final months of the war the Nazis rounded up her and her family. Later she said that she designed handbags in her mind to create an escape for herself from the brutal conditions. After the war she met an American GI in Budapest. Gerson Leiber, he was an abstract impressionist painter and sculptor. They were married for over 70 years.

Michael: That's a lot of moonlit nights.

Amber: She had an amazing life. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 97. She designed her last bag in 2004. Get this - an intricate blue-green peacock minaudiere.

Michael: What's a minaudiere? I thought you said she made purses?

Amber: That means a style of purse that's small, decorative and has no handles or strap.

Michael: I never knew there was more than just calling it a purse or a bag.

Amber: You know how you can recognize the make and model of a car from a distance, and tell me all about the engine and so on? Well, that's how Katherine is about purses. She can recognize a purse from far away including its style and more. Sometimes I think she recognizes a purse coming towards her before she recognizes the person carrying it.

Amber: Judith Leiber sold her company as co-owner to Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, wife of Tommy Hilfiger. Online you can see the line continue at judithleiber.com

Michael: Is that someone I'm supposed to know?

Amber: Tommy Hilfiger is another famous purse designer. Judith Leiber opened her own purse museum too, like Katherine has now. Her museum is surrounded by gardens and has a sculpture space designed by her husband.