It's time to get a summer handbag!

[Sunny]

I've got a dilemma.

My current bag is a plain, soft leather bag from Naturalizer. I love it because (1) it's a handbag, (2) it has two handles so it doesn't fall open when it's not fastened, (3) it holds a lot of stuff but doesn't look big. The only problem? It's black.

Warm weather down here in Texas lasts from March-October or November, and a black bag simply isn't appropriate with lighter clothing. (Or not this bag, at least.) But nothing I've seen in stores lights my fire or has the elements I require, and since I'll be likely using it for more than half the year, I need to find one that I really like. This has been an issue for the last several years - I keep experimenting and discarding summer bags. It was such a relief to get back to my black bag in the fall... now I have to lay it aside again.

I'd love to go vintage anyway, but I suddenly realized I know very little about what would be common or appropriate - in short, I don't know what to look for. I know I don't want anything cutesy or little or obviously 1950s. (It's cute, but just not what I want to use every day.) And it needs to be big enough to fit in a paperback book, at minimum.

Do you ladies have any pictures or styles to recommend? How about particularly summer colors or styles? I'm not big on creams or tans (they look dreadful on me) and straw's not my favorite, but I'm not ruling them out. My favorite period is late 1930s and early 1940s, but a number of my dresses are mid- to late-1940s so that's not out, either. What did they use in the day?

Thanks so much for the help! You ladies are so awesome and helpful - I love it here!

 

[BonnieJean]

Sunny,
Why not get several colors to go with different outfits? I've got brown, black, gray and cream, although I use the cream one for mostly spring/summer. I'm currently looking for a red and a navy colored purse. I prefer leather as it holds up better than other purse materials. You can google vintage whatever color you want purses and there are a lot of sellers that sell vintage purses of all types. Ruby Lane is another good place to look besides the standard Bay. I prefer Dofan purses, but have picked up several "off-brands" because they were vintage-styled and had the look I like. Purses are more of a personal choice I think, so the field is wide open.

My great grandmother only owned a nice black leather purse and she used it year round. In the 30s and 40s a lot of women didn't always have the luxury of owning several purses--though many dreamed of it!

I know I have gleaned a lot of "purse knowledge" just by looking at different purses from the 30s-50s on the web. After a while, you get an "eye" for determining the approximate time period of each purse. But I always go with my personal preference over whether its an exact purse from the 30s or 40s. (The 30s and 40s are my favorite time periods, but some of my favorite purses are from the 50s--I'm kind of an eclectic vintage girl!)

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I tend to switch purses fairly often, regardless of the season. For spring and summer wear, I have a couple of purses that work very well. My favorite is a cream Whiting and Davis Alumesh bad with a Bakelite handle; it goes with a wide range of outfits this time of year (I am carrying it right now, in fact.) I also have a great wood bead back from the late 30s; the beads are in bright shades or red, green, blue, yellow, and white, allowing it to complement many outfits. A third purse that I reserve for warmer months is an early 40s fabric box purse in navy blue covered with white, pink, yellow and green 'beads.' I also find that Corde bags, which come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, are good options as well (I have five--two in navy, one in brown, one in white, and one in black.) For a more later option, I have a 1950s wicker purse with brown leather handles; this one is fairly large, which is a good thing as I am always carrying too much stuff with me and my smaller purses are often overstuffed. In addition to these, I'd like to add a 1940s bamboo purse to my wardrobe, as these offer another interesting, but still neutral colored, option.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Do you ladies have any pictures or styles to recommend? How about particularly summer colors or styles? I'm not big on creams or tans (they look dreadful on me) and straw's not my favorite, but I'm not ruling them out. My favorite period is late 1930s and early 1940s, but a number of my dresses are mid- to late-1940s so that's not out, either. What did they use in the day?

Thanks so much for the help! You ladies are so awesome and helpful - I love it here!

I have a solution for you...get thee to ebay and start a healthy handbag-collection problem. What are your favorite summer outfits? Browse the WWII (1939-1946) section under Clothing, Shoes & Accessories> Vintage> Men's & Women's Accessories> Handbags, Purses - and shop to match. As you browse you will become more familiar with styles.

 

[Viviene]

If any of you crochet there is a seller on Ebay who sells patterns for the corde' purses from the 40s. I've purchased two books of patterns and plan on crocheting myself several of these purses using modern nylon thread available at Walmart. I thought I would use corde' thread but after pricing it (yikes it's expensive) I'll stick to making it out of modern nylon thread.

 

[Elaina]

My summer bag is one I've macramed a few years ago out of hemp I dyed khaki, and I made liners for the bag to match. Based it off a 30's open weave pattern beach bag I saw once.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

I think Miss Bella's idea is a great idea. Owning any type of purse/bag is really a very personal thing. Search the bay, see what your options are, and go from there.
I don't have a lot of vintage handbags, 3 black, 1 brown alligator, and I don't really know how many little beaded evening bags from whiting and davis (I've been trying to collect these for years, ever since my mom gave me my great grandmothers for my senior prom). But, I have one too many (others would say more than one too many) modern handbags. I don't know why but ever since my sister brought me back a tiny little Fendi bag during a high school trip to Italy, I've been in love with designer handbags. It's a bad habit to have, especially when one is unemployed. But anyway, I have quite a few black bags that I use all year round. I think other people might think that they're too heavy to use during the winter, but I really don't care. The bags are cute, incredibly well made and durable, and I'm amazed at the amount of stuff I can put in them. That's what's important to me, how much it holds. It also [/i]must[/i] have some sort of zippered compartment, I can't have the medicine's I carry with me just floating around, they have to be hidden as best as possible.
So, get what you like and what makes you happy. Peruse the internet to get ideas. Get a few different colors to go with different outfits. But if you like your black bag and it's a good size and serves your needs well, I say keep using it.

 

[Honey Doll]

Lcuite repos

This site was talked about here recently

http://www.misslfire.com/handbags.aspx

Honey Doll

 

[Paisley]

How about this one:

From Talbots.com. It's on sale. Yes, I know it's a black bag, but it is similar to the one you have (and like) without being too black.

 

[Pink Dahlia]

I'll admit handbags/purses are an area in which I am seriously lacking. I do have one vintage purse. It's too cute and basic black but I don't carry it much. It's not really big enough for much more than my wallet and phone. All the purses here are much too small for all my junk and I don't even carry make-up with me!

 

[Sunny]

Wow, all the great ideas! :eusa_clap Following Bella's admonition, I hied me to ebay and am beginning my self-education. Thanks for the pics, jitterbugdoll! There are actually several auctions right now for bags very similar to the first you posted. And thanks for the encouragement about the black one, or going with a lighter one like the one Paisley suggested. I've got a lot to think about now...

Oh, and Viviene, what's the seller's name? The last thing I need is another project, but at least crocheting is something I can definitely do.

Thanks again! And if you have any more ideas, or pictures to share of your own bags, I'd love to see them. I'm a very visual person, so the more I have to look at the better.

 

[Viviene]

The seller's name is mrmctoad. If you go take a look in his store he has all kinds of different patterns. The ones I got he sent me via a pdf file via email. I've printed hard copies already and saved the files of course.

Since tomorrow is shopping day I'm going to Walmart to see about getting some thread so I can get moving on my purse.

 

[NicolettaRose]

I have way to many purses....

What is the Black silky type cords that looks like it is woven that appears alot of 1940's purses many times along with lucite? Someone told me the name, I am just drawing a blank.

 

[olive bleu]

if you are looking for a big bag and it can be casual, another fun option is to just make a fabric totebag, using vintage cotton fabric.I did that last year,and i didn't even use a pattern i just cut pieces for the front and back. pieces for the sides & bottom, and did the same to make a lining.used some light cotton batting to sandwich between them, and then made straps.Voila, it was super cute and i ended up giving it to a friend who carried everything in it all summer.now, bear in mind, this is pretty casual...maybe you arev looking for a real purse

 

[Miss Dottie]

This site was talked about here recently

http://www.misslfire.com/handbags.aspx

Honey Doll

Hoo! Those are too dreamy for words!

 

[Lady Day]

This site was talked about here recently

http://www.misslfire.com/handbags.aspx

Honey Doll

Oh, this site is going up in the sticky! :eusa_clap

LD

 

[Shearer]

Oh, this site is going up in the sticky! :eusa_clap

LD

Oh my, YES. How did I miss that?!

 

[CherryRed]

I also have a great wood bead back from the late 30s; the beads are in bright shades or red, green, blue, yellow, and white, allowing it to complement many outfits

JBD... I have a bag like that too. It's adorable! Love the new avitar!

 

[Joie DeVive]

Whimsical nature

If you're feeling crafty and want something of a more whimsical nature. (I'm not sure these would do for daily use) You could make a cigar box purse. The craft stores sell wooden box purses for finishing. I just picked up one at Michael's for under $10!
Mine is round with a bamboo handle. Now I have to decide how to decorate it!

Joie

 

[Shearer]

If you're feeling crafty and want something of a more whimsical nature. (I'm not sure these would do for daily use) You could make a cigar box purse. The craft stores sell wooden box purses for finishing. I just picked up one at Michael's for under $10!
Mine is round with a bamboo handle. Now I have to decide how to decorate it!

Joie

A friend decoupage-d (that's a word, right?) a wooden jewelry box for me once using the original Tenniel illustrations from Alice In Wonderland. It turned out really cute, and she said it was easy to do.

You could always get a good copy of some vintage art you love and do that.