etsy.com

This is a guest post By Sandra Mendoza-Daly at DebutanteClothing.com

Sandra Mendoza-Daly is the owner and editor of Debutanteclothing.com. The blog features news, tips and resources on all things vintage. It’s a must read if you love vintage. The shop is loaded with wearable vintage which has been carefully selected by Sandra herself. No frumpy or dated items in this store! Sandra is on a mission to teach the world how to incorporate vintage with modern clothing.

When it comes to accessories, women are usually in one of two camps: shoes and handbags. I’m part of the handbag camp. I love bags of all shapes and sizes, every decade, and a variety of materials. But shopping for vintage handbags is one of my favorite pastimes. Shopping for vintage purses can be a real treasure hunt, with some designer names and styles worth a small fortune. Before you set out for shopping for your next vintage bag, here are a few pointers to help you find a purse you will treasure forever.

  • Buy What You Love

    This old adage is true of any collectible, but especially true when you are shopping for vintage bags you actually want to wear. Always buy what makes your eyes dance and your arm or hand feel like it’s carrying a work of art.

  • Less is More

    Vintage bags do tend to run smaller – women didn’t have Blackberries and iPods back in the good old days. Be sure to buy a bag that will be roomy enough to hold just the essentials. Think of it as a junk in your bag diet.



Some of my favorite Day Bags:

Leather satchels

Vintage Coach Bag: $75

Vintage Coach Bag: $75

Totes

Vintage Gucci Bag

Vintage Gucci Bag

Structured

Vintage Navy Blue Faille Kelly: $39.49

Vintage Navy Blue Faille Kelly: $39.49




And favorite Evening Bags:

Plastic

Vintage Lucite "Bag": $250

Mesh & Beaded

Vintage clutch: $20

Vintage clutch: $20



How to Care For Your Bag

  1. Keep in a dark, cool place like a closet. It’s hard not to display these beauties, but keeping them out of light or harsh temperatures will keep them around for another 50 years.
  2. Keep them in a dust bag. You can make your own out of a clean pillow case.
  3. Clean with a damp, soft cloth. Do not wash or spray your bag with any harsh chemicals.



Great Places to Shop for Handbags

Etsy.com

Decodame.com

Bagladyemporium.com

ModBag.com


Giveaway!!

Do you love vintage handbags? Want to win one? Sandra has been so gracious to allow one winner her choice of either a lovely vintage satin clutch or a cute mustard pleather & plastic clutch.

enter to win a vintage clutch enter to win a vintage clutch

Ways to enter to win:

leave a comment here and tell me which one suits your style better – the classic black, or the edgy mustard? (I personally would rock the mustard pleather/vinyl clutch!)

Follow Sandra on twitter – leave a comment back here confirming your follow to be entered to win.

RT this post using the button below

Good Luck! Giveaway ends next Monday, August 17th and the winner will be chosen by random.org.

Share

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Vintage week: Deals & Steals!

by grechen on August 12, 2009 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

Okay, in keeping with the vintage theme, this week’s deals & steals all feature vintage and recycled/refashioned items. Please don’t forget to leave a comment on this post with your favorite vintage shop, seller, or blog to be entered to win a vintagfe-inspired clutch from Modcloth!

Happy Shopping!


Night Owl Vintage

The clearance section at Night Owl Vintage is chock-full of lovely 70′s dresses for a steal! Even if you can’t wear them as-is, the patterns are very cool, you could do as Jennine says, and “think outside the box!”

70's watercolor dress: $17.25

70's watercolor dress: $17.25

Blue Vintage Dress: $18

Blue Vintage Dress: $18



Brown Bag Vintage

Thanks to the recommendation of a commenter, I’m now totally smitten with Brown Bag vintage on etsy. Everything is super-cute, in good condition, and really affordable.

Vintage top: $26

Vintage top: $26




etsy.com

More of my favorite under $30 finds on etsy.com:

Vintage Sears Bag: $25

Vintage Sears Bag: $25

Vintage 50's purse: $18

Vintage 50's purse: $18

Vintage 50's gold shoes: $25

Vintage 50's gold shoes: $25

»crosslinked«

Share

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Vintage Week: A Separate Issue

by grechen on August 11, 2009 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

This is as guest post by Angela Petraline. About Angela:

I’m Angela Petraline, founder and owner of Dorothea’s Closet Vintage. I’ve been selling vintage clothing online since 2001 and currently run a local vintage boutique in Des Moines, Iowa as well as my website, www.dorotheasclosetvintage.com and as scarletbirdvintage on etsy. I also design a line of hats using upcylced vintage millinery pieces on etsy as www.sugarlids.com . I maintain a vintage fashion related blog at www.real-vintage.com.

Put down that dress! We all love our vintage dresses, but it’s time to re-think that approach. This Fall the look is all about layering. A quick glance through current fashion mags shows this season is all about mixing textures and finishes……luxe bohemian chic with a decidedly Russian flair, rocker chic with sleek leathers and studs, electric 80s inspired neon hues, 40s wartime glamour, romantic deco details. So if the fashion magazines are touting vintage as inspiration for new looks, why not use vintage to create those looks yourself?

Vintage separates are readily available all over the web as well as your local vintage and thrift shops. A few basics to build on and some flashy signature pieces are all you need! The key here is to not be afraid to mix vintage with modern.

Skirt

Lets start with a skirt. This vintage royal purple wool skirt on etsy from seller LaVictoire will add a pop of color to your wardrobe for under $30 and work with several current trends.

vintage is eco-friendly fashion vintage week at greengrechen.com

Wear this skirt in the 40s pin up vein with a fitted blouse and babydoll platforms, or rock that bold color with a skinny black printed tee and neon tights for the 80s look.


Vest

How about a vest? Easily layered for hot or cool weather, the vest adds that middle piece that takes a summer tank into fall and adds a base to build on as temperatures dip. Imagine this very gypy-like 1920s vest over a long thin tank top with skinny jeans and lace up ankle boots….then imagine topping that with a cropped denim jacket. A perfect staple for only $100 from poshpig vintage on MarketPublique!

vintage week on greengrechen.com vintage is eco-friendly market publique


Ruffles!

Ruffles are a continuing trend and this blouse from etsy seller Mousevox adds both the romantic angle and a blast of color. Easily layered with a cropped or nipped waist jacket and belted with a bold, wide belt or worn loose over a mini and bright tights.

evan piccone vintage week vintage is eco-friendly etsy.com



the Suit

And finally, the suit. Sure, at first glance its as if a dress….but no! A suit naturally looks great worn as together as intended, but each piece offers a multitude of wardrobe possibilities. You get a full dress look, a jacket and a skirt! This suit from CoutureAllure.com boasts classic yet avant garde in styling even for the 1940s and is spot on for fall trends to wear in a multitude of ways. Silver metallic silk with a jacquard weave appeals to the romantic and the rocker. The jacket boasts amazing sculptural details…..perfect for pairing with skinny jeans or leggings and silver boots with piles of necklaces, or with a floaty chiffon skirt and tights. The skirt becomes a remarkable basic to easily build ensembles from!

vintage week vintage suit vintage is eco-friendly coutureallure.com

Vintage separates are the perfect way to add some volume to your vintage wardrobe without adding volume to your closet!

Share

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Must Have: Handmade French Lace Bag

by grechen on May 19, 2009 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

I know I’ve mentioned Cosa Verde before, but it’s worth talking about again…if you’re at all intimidated by Etsy, or at least find it exhausting to browse, Cosa Verde takes some of the work out for you. Cosa Verde connects independent designers with environmentally-conscious consumers (me & you) through a cute, easy-to-browse interface that ultimately links to the sellers Etsy store for buying.

I found this lovely bag through Cosa Verde from seller tortillagirl: French Lace Bag constructed in cotton canvas with floral hand-cut unbleached lace appliqué stitched (no glue, ever) onto front. Double interfaced. Unbleached cotton lining. Interior patch pocket with lace detail.

frenchlacebag

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
Share

{ Comments on this entry are closed }