green living,  style,  vintage

Vintage Style for a Steal

Got a wedding or other summer soiree on your calendar that calls for a dressy handbag? Whenever I’ve had to buy a purse or clutch for a special event, I’ve always been disappointed at the slim selection available at department stores. Many of the dressy bags are cheesy and reminiscent of prom, and the nicer ones come with price tags I can’t justify for an accessory I’ll only use a handful of times, at most. Rather than scrambling around at the last minute for the perfect special occasion bag, I’ve started to keep my eyes open at garage sales and secondhand stores for versatile vintage pieces.

During a quick spin around my local St. Vinny’s, I spotted the six bags pictured here in less than ten minutes. A clutch in silver or gold goes with almost any dressy outfit. And a structured straw bag with a fancy clasp is perfect for a summer celebration.  The bags I found ranged from $3.50 to $16 each. And what’s even more satisfying than the price of these beauties, or the fact that buying secondhand is one of the easiest ways to be green, is the certainty that no one else at the party will have the same one. You’ll show up with your own unique style “in the bag.”

3 Comments

  • barbara

    I have a beaded bag that was my mother-in-law’s and I love it. You can’t beat the vintage bags for unique style and quality.

    Great finds!

  • Style Maniac

    Great finds, as always.

    I treasure my collection of vintage purses, most of them from my grandmothers, great-grandmothers and a friend of my mother’s mother (!). Most happen to be in black velvet, and in a previous home I hung them on the wall — they each had such a distinct silhouette it was like a piece of art.

    Vintage summer purses I have not had much luck with. But your post has me on the hunt.