1950s | This Week's Look

Archive for the ‘1950s’ Category

Here on the blog, we like our handbags long and strong and we’re down to get the friction on (apologies to Sir Mix-a-Lot).

Sometimes, a handbag is just a handbag. Nothing more than a utilitarian vessel for your crap. Sometimes they are status symbols, carried by it girls and celebrities and coveted by the middle class. Then there are the rare ones. So astonishing on their own, they become part of the outfit.

I own such a handbag.

At an imposing 22 inches in length, my vintage black leather clutch, with its brass frame and sleek, single compartment, is the first to arrive at the party and the last to leave. One does not take this purse out on the town, the purse takes you.

It’s not easy to find an impressive specimen like mine on the Internet. If you’re in the market for an extra long purse that will command a room, you can’t really search for purses by length, it’s tedious. And length is not just important here. It’s everything. The handbags you browse must be 14 inches or longer. 16 to 18 inches is ideal. For maximum drama, 20+ inches is the holy grail. And rare. If you find one, buy it. Immediately. You’re not searching for shoulder bags here. You want clutches, envelope purses, baguettes. Vintage categories will produce better results.

To help you along on your quest, below I have assembled the results of my latest extra-long handbag search. Click on each image to see the full listing.

22 inches! Incredible vintage burgundy clutch on eBay. A rare find. $99.

19 inches! Vintage black patent super long clutch from NanasMercantile on etsy. $47.50.

18.5 inches. Vintage tapestry clutch on eBay. $45.

16 inches. Vintage 1960s exquisite white clutch from ayek8 on etsy. $24.

17 inches. Vintage 1970s extra-long silver clutch with purple lining on eBay. $16.95.

16 inches. Vintage 1950s to 1960s Cadillac clutch from gokittengo77 on etsy. $24.

18 inches. Vintage, light yellow, woven (possibly silk) purse with plaid interior from dancingwindcreations on etsy. $40.

15 inches. Vintage 1950s dark brown elongated clutch from theswankyfox on etsy. $18.

14.5 inches. 1970s beige foldover clutch from rockthisvintage on etsy. $20.

14 inches. Vintage 1960s black patent leather zippered envelope by anewlife on etsy. $28.

14.5 inches. Vintage 1960s white clutch from charlialana on etsy. $16.

14 inches. Vintage 1960s brown vinyl handbag from newtovous on etsy. $34.99.

16 inches. Vintage 1950s oversized clutch from shhbang on etsy. $60.

18 inches. Vintage extra-long carpetbagger clutch from diddle47 on etsy. $35.

Written by Verdell

July 26, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Posted in 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 2011, Accessories, Bags, eBay, etsy, Vintage, Women

Tagged with 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 2011, accessories, clutch, elongated, envelope, envelope clutch, extra long, handbag, long, long clutch, long purse, purse, vintage

Fashion Files: The Golden Age of the Secretary

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After several notorious decades of stenography and coffee fetching, the office secretary eventually became extinct after the 1980s, replaced by administrative assistants and executive assistants. The title of secretary has since been relegated to condo association boards and official cabinet positions like Defense Secretary. Yawn.

To honor our fallen foremothers, today we revisit the Golden Age of the Secretary, from the wiggle skirts of the 1950s to the puffy sleeves of the 1980s. Click on each image below to see the listing. And hold my calls.