Vintage Hand Bags, 1900's - 1950's Vintage Inspired Handbags

Pre-19th Century Antique Hand Bags

Hundreds of years before the beginning of the 20th century, hand bags were made out of common materials found within the people’s locality. They were made mostly from rough beaten leather, plant materials such as grass and straw, and textile materials, and to have them closed required fastening with drawstrings, leather or ropes.

These items of apparel, carried by both men and women of the time, including the large tightly woven cloth bags and leather bags, were mainly, just as they are today, to cart around personal stuff and as luggage used by travellers on their very long journeys. They usually wore them diagonally across the body.

After this period, hand bags became more versatile, complex and elaborately adorned with delicately embroidered or stitched artwork, many of which are today aptly described as vintage bags.

The late 1800's and early 1900's, women started to become more fashion conscious had handmade handbags they called reticules, with the wealthier ones possessing more than one. Each reticule was had its own purpose and meant for a specific 'occasion', and held various personal items which mainly included rouge, a delicate hand fan, a bottle of scent, some visiting cards, and most likely a small jar of smelling salts.

The most popular designs of the day were bright and cheery themes, with beautiful and popular handmade designs of motifs and embroidery, ranging from little cute poodles, to themes such as birds facing each other, or happy Parisian street scenes with lovely summertime flowers.

Such themes were immensely popular, with the decorative fun bags following the themes of fun skirts.

Fun bags were always well made and trimmed with leather that had prettily painted areas, attached mirrors, sequins and/or crystals. Many were also designed as wooden box purses, or as a canvas bucket style bags with whimsical decorative themes.

1900 - 1920's "Carrying Bag"

Innovations of vintage designer bags started in the very early twentieth century, with the term "carrying bags" used extensively to describe what we now call hand bags. These inspired the production of women's bags having more functional features and add-ons like fasteners, inner compartments, clasps and locks, and by this period, women's hand bags were no longer made to match their outfits.

The 1930's Vintage Hand Bag

Theses were the fun bags. They were produced as pretty wooden box purses, or as bucket bags with decorative features. The 1930's bags were always well made with leather trims, had painted areas, mirrors, sequins and crystals, set in beautifully breathtaking themes of lovely flowers, birds or other scenic images of nature.

The vintage inspired hand bags of today have a great feel of the designs and motifs of this glamorous bygone era, with many designs having embroidered motifs and symbols of the time. You will find many of these designs of hand bag accentuates, including decorative needlework and embroidery in history books of women's fashion of the early fifties.

1940's Bags

The second world war brought on the 'hard times' for most of the people, and at this time, women's hand bags were made from wood or plastic, and because metals were necessary and strategic materials, they were never wasted on frivolities, like the production of purses or bags adornments. However, in the late forties, DuPont developed the affordable and readily available material called plastic, and this heralded the creation of the beautiful and popular Lucite bag and purse.

As modern plastics became an important material of the post war era, it became very popular and played a major part in the mid-19th century decorating that swept the fashion and style world. And with the discovery of creative methods to tint or colour the clear Lucite, hand bag and purse manufacturers began a fierce competition to produce stylish, chic and even outrageous designs of hand bags with a generous use of sparkling rhinestones, crazy shapes such as pagodas, bird cages and beehives.

At first, these bags were wildly popular with movie stars, socialites, and highly paid prostitutes, but as time went on, more and more of them were produced, and they started to become more affordable when lower quality imitations become more available.

Today, you can still find vintage Lucite purses in great condition. They are highly coveted by collectors, with some Lucite bags even selling for hundreds of dollars.

1950's Women's Handbag & Purses

Many passionate fashion accessory collectors love the 1950's hand bags. At this time, there was a wide range of design and material options, and designs were created with materials such as:

• Straw
• Raffia
• Embroidered canvas tapestry
• Mother of pearl
• High quality leather
• Suede
• Sequins and beads
• Bakelite
• Perspex or Lucite

Many vintage hand bag collectors absolutely love these 'era' bags, because the designs are very exquisite and well made by today's standards. Plus the materials are durable and long lasting, so there's no need to worry about them warping or shrinking.

Vintage handbags of note include the Chanel quilted bag and the famous Kelly bags originally made for Grace Kelly by Hermès. The Kelly bag is beautifully hand stitched and made of the best quality calfskin, crocodile skin, lizard skin or ostrich skin. The original design of this bag was based on the saddlebag design of the 1930's. If you have to order one of these today, there is a six month waiting list from Hermès!

The popular Chanel quilted vintage hand bag designs was 'conceived' in February 1955, with the bags quietly used by clients and Chanel fashion enthusiasts. And with the 'logo obsession' of the second half of the 20th century, both fake and authentic chain-twisted Chanel diamond quilted shoulder bags flooded the fashion market. It is still one of the vintage inspired bags to be seen with today!

Other popular designers of vintage hand bags and vintage inspired women's bags include Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Christian Dior, Fendi, and Prada.

If you are a vintage fashion enthusiast and would love to see (or own) one of these beautiful vintage accessories, here is the place to check out unusual, chic, unique and affordable Beautiful Vintage Hand Bags and Vintage Inspired Purses for your day or evening wear.

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