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Vintage Handbags - Designer Shoes Bag Yourself a Piece of Nostalgia By Judith MillerGlamorous handbags, like designer shoes, have long held a special place in the hearts of women who adore fashionable accessories. It comes as no surprise then, that the market for good vintage bags is currently very strong; established collectors compete with the increasing number of buyers who simply want to make a strong fashion statement. Bags from the early 20th Century tended to be small and dainty, but by the 1920s and 1930s handbags had grown in size to accommodate more money and make-up, as well as accessories needed for the newly fashionable activity of smoking. Increasingly ornate in decoration, bags were becoming objects of desire for the glamorous and women who aspired to greatness. Beadwork evening bags, made from glass or cut-steel beads painstakingly knitted together, or embroidered onto fabric, were particularly popular during this period, and are now worth around £50- £400 depending on condition and quality of the decoration. Geometrical Art Deco designs in strong colours, and carefully worked figural scenes, tend to command a premium price, while floral and abstract designs are generally easier to fin and therefore, more affordable. After the austerity of wartime, the 1950s saw a return to glamour and frivolity. Bags became brighter and bolder. Beaded bags returned to favour, but shapes and motifs were updated to suit post-war fashions.  Examples can be found for under £50, but bags by known designers, such as Nettie Rosenstein, can cost £800 or more. More revolutionary in design were 1950s Lucite box bags.Today, striking colours, unusual shapes and additional decoration in materials, such as Bakelite, glitter or metal can add value to a box bag, as can a maker's label. Pale blue, yellow and green versions are fairly rare, while whites, greys and browns are more common. Look out for examples by Rialto or Willardy as these can be worth around £200-£1,000 or more. Those 1950s women who preferred a classic look might have aspired to a leather Hermes Kelly bag, now worth at least £1,000, while ladies wanting something more outrageous might choose one of the hugely popular novelty bags in the shape of poodles, elephants, umbrellas and many other unusual objects. Bags from the 1960s and 1970s are no less collectable, especially Emilio Pucci's psychedelic bags and Enid Collin's wooden boxes. While these can be worth £50-£400 or more, bags can be picked up for far less and might appeal to collectors wishing to make good use of their new retro bag. When buying handbags from any period, remember that a recognised maker, especially a top name designer, tends to increase in value, as does excellent condition and an eye-catching design that epitomises the look of an era or the style of the designer. Extract: Handbags by Judith Miller, published by DK, priced £7.99, on sale now. Pictured Above: A 1950s Lucite handbag by Myles Original, caramel coloured and striated butterscotch with clear plastic hand-carved rose and leaf decoration. 1951-53, 8.25in (21cm) wide, $600-900. Credit: Deco Jewels Inc, The Price Guide Company. |
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