On Friday I gave some background on purses in general, and today I’m going to discuss different types of purses.
So around the beginning of the 20th century dress styles became slim and close to the body once again, making purses more practical than pockets for carrying the things a lady couldn’t do without when she left the house. Makeup still wasn’t widely used at this time so purses were small, however by the 1930s they had grown to accomodate the various powders and potions that had become more common.
Beaded evening bags
Purse collectors love vintage beaded evening bags, and who could blame them? They’re just so feminine and pretty. The beads were sewn onto a pouch that hung from a frame that was usually metal but sometimes bakelite or celluloid. The frame had a clasp for closing the purse and a chain or strap for carrying it, and the inside of the purse was usually lined. The frame was often engraved and decorated with stones or faux gems. Sometimes a drawstring was used rather than a frame and clasp. Look for solid clasps that work and make sure beads aren’t loose. Store beaded purses carefully to keep beads from coming loose.
Mesh
Along with beaded evening bags, mesh bags were popular in the early decades of the 20th century. While the frame and chain of mesh bags are similar to beaded evening bags, mesh bags are made from a decorative metal mesh.
Tapestry bags
Needlepoint and tapestry bags were popular until the middle decades of the 20th century. Here’s a great article about collecting and caring for these kinds of purses.
Designer bags
Today we associate names like Prada, Coach and Louis Vuitton with designer purses, but in decades past it was Halston and Pucci. There are tons of online sources for vintage Designer purses – eBay is a great place to start.
Related links:
Here are some online sources for vintage purses
