A place to find about styles of vintage clothing from the 1940's to the ‘80's and ethnic and art-to-wear fashion. Enjoy the aura that dressing in vintage clothing and jewelry will create.

Monday, June 8, 2009

The must have—A Vintage Handbag



Chanel Quilted Lambskin Leather Shoulder Bag - Navy Blue With Certificate Of Authenticity - French Designer Signed AccessoriesIn addition to the beautiful CHANEL vintage costume jewelry I have listed I also have two CHANEL leather bags to list too from the late 1980's from Sweetie’s Memorable Gemz at Rubylane.com


Handbags are practical jewelry - an accessory that you can use. If a woman wants to have a dramatic flare, there's only one way for her to go…..that is a Vintage bag! Vintage bags have been a fashion treasure for decades. Women loved these bags way back when and today, we are searching for them even more. They are the must-have trend of today , they are seen on the fashion catwalks and fashion magazines, side by side with vintage clothing and accessories, with "vintage" meaning dating anywhere from the 1920s to 1980s.

Julia Roberts, Kate Moss, and Sienna Miller are among the celebrities who have helped spread vintage fever. Now this fever has the old fashion houses scrambling to reproduce their own vintage collections, including handbags, while new designers are launching their vintage-inspired lines.



Vintage bags are everlasting and unique. They fit and look beautiful when you carry them, whatever the occasion. Vintage bags are not just mere items to be worn, but are more like family heirlooms, which can be passed on from one generation to another. Remember when you buy a vintage bag you don't simply buy a handbag: You buy a work of art. Handbags of the 1920s to 1940s were covered with beads and sparkles, embroidery, combined with fine fabrics such as satin, silk, fur and lace. Other popular handbags during the 1940s were made from wood and plastic because metal was saved for the World War II artillery supplies.




In the 1950s, the trend was leather handbags. Popular handbag designers from fashion houses such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Gianni Versace, Judith Leiber, and Balenciaga created designs that are described today as "classic". An example of a classic handbag is the popular Hermes Kelly Bag that was named after actress and Monaco princess Grace Kelly. It was given the limelight in 1956, and has been an iconic handbag ever since.



During the 1960s and 1970s - bags were bright neon colors and patterns like bubbles. In the 1980s, there was a craze for clutch handbags because of the compact design that was great for carrying the essential women stuff for the fancy evening party and the elegant dinner party. The clutch of those days came in various colors worn to match the shoes. The popularity of the vintage handbag is because of their original designs and high quality, plus their potential as a collectible item. Vintage and classic designer handbags are forever, they never go out of fashion. Most vintage handbags are made from fine materials, such as high-quality fabrics that are no longer manufactured, or too expensive. Their details such as the buttons, beads or other ornaments are rare and lovely. No wonder collectors are hunting down these vintage handbags, whether for investment or because of their appreciation of history, especially for the roles and skills of previous generations, including respected designers. And being a part of this "generation-to-generation" history is what you get when you own and wear. Vintage handbags have higher or relatively more stable prices than contemporary ones. This means it's more profitable if you want to sell those vintage bags again. So the vintage bag is a marvelous green item for your wardrobe.






1980s Judith Leiber Alligator Clutchavailable at Decades Inc.