White Acrylic Box Bag. 1950s. Maker: Unknown. White plastic pearlized box-style purse with goldtone hardware and matching acrylic handle. This style reminds me of a tackle box or a sewing kit. It must have belonged to Judy, because there’s a goldtone cursive “J” on top. Maybe Judy liked to fish. Or sew. Or carry a mighty fine purse.

Collinsiana Tote-Style Handbag. 1960s. Maker: Enid Collins. Classic Enid Collins tote in textured fabric with faux leather ivory-colored trim, featuring everything that makes a Collins a Collins: a montage of beaded designs from her cable car, money tree, night owl, kitty, bird, sol and les fleurs bags. It’s marked with the lowercase “ec” logo on the back and the word “Collinsiana” on the front. I don’t need a big collection of Collins bags—I have them all in one purse!

White Beaded Purse. 1960s. Maker: Unknown. Ivory mesh fabric with hundreds of small and large white beads glued onto it, making a fabulous three-dimensional feast for the purse collector’s eyes. The handle is made of upholstery foam, which you can see because the mesh has come apart a bit. The opening is metal, which snaps stiffly open and closed. At first, I couldn’t tell if the beads were sewn or glued, but, after examining them closely—and, I admit, tugging on them—a lot—I determined that the glue they used must be the same stuff that held Apollo 11 together. This purse is forty years old and is in a lot better shape than I am!

Wicker House Purse. 1972. Maker: Simon, Made in Hong Kong, Styled by Mister Ernest. Very well-constructed house-shaped wicker box purse with leather accents and brass hardware. I love the asymmetry of the handle and the window- and door-like patches on either side. One of the patches has, embossed in gold, the words “©1972 MISTER ERNEST.” I have a great picture in my head of what the actual Mister Ernest may have looked like. I’m thinking Project Runway-type designer, but in a leisure suit, with a neck scarf. FABULOUS!

I know I promised to take some purse photos today, but I had to work. So, since some of you have expressed interest in other aspects of my vintage clothing collection, here’s a picture taken about two years ago. I’m carrying a Corde wristlet bag; that’s a Persian lamb coat with fur collar slung over my shoulder; and on my head is a matching Persian lamb hat with a cute little bow. The best part is that fabulous ‘40s evening dress, black with exquisite white glass beadwork on the front. I paid $12 for it at the Salvation Army. You can imagine how exhilarating that was! Even better was that it fit me! I’m not so sure now, but maybe if I hold my breath…

Hi everyone! My apologies for not posting lately. I promise to take some purse pics tomorrow. Meanwhile, check out one of the reasons I've been so preoccupied...my eldest daughter graduated from culinary school this month, receiving her A.O.S. degree in culinary arts and Le Cordon Bleu Diplome. Congrats, Chef Rachel!

Note: In the photo, she is giving me a nice hug, and not trying to squeeze money out of me. I'm pretty sure there isn't any left. Next kid better get scholarships!

Vintage Leather Belt Purse with Ephemera. 1930s. Maker: Unknown. In poor condition, this leather-like bag has a beautiful butterscotch celluloid or Bakelite closure and a loop fastened along the backside (shown in the photo), which, I believe, is meant to be used with a belt. The utterly fantastic part of this purse is its contents. I was so excited to come upon this because I love being able to touch history, some of which, in this case, is falling apart. Among the fragile items in this bag: A leather change purse, a pocket mirror, a Morton’s Salt ad recommending its use as a “dentifrice,” an American Legion Veteran’s Day paper poppy, raffle tickets for an Aladdin Lamp & Shade, a receipt from the Acme Feed Company of Burlington, NC, dated August 5, 1933 for $3.80, and a Peerless Weight Machine cardboard token dated October 29, 1932 with weight—163 pounds—and fortune, “Though naturally generous with money, you have a keen sense of its value and never dissipate it unwisely.”

Homemade Kitschy Kitty Purse. 1960s/70s. Maker: Unknown. Hand-knit cat-shaped purse that’s molded around what looks to be an old margarine container. Kitty has green eyes with luxurious lashes and is adorned with fake flowers and yarn puffball feet and cheeks. When I look at it, I’m just about speechless. All I can say is “I can haz silly purz?”

Straw Mushroom Purse. 1960s/70s. Maker: Bags by Patricia. Funky and fab purse circa the hippie era, made of wrapped and woven straw and featuring a psychedelic design of raffia ‘shrooms, flowers and leaves. This handbag was gifted to me by the lovely, talented and very generous Miss Holly, whose blog, Sweetheartville, I command you to visit. Holly also has a booth in an antique mall. See her post of October 23, 2007 for details.