Vintage Collectible Handbags: The Perfect Gift for Christmas, Mother's Day and Birthdays

You can have a green Christmas and stay out of the red if you know how buy the hottest vintage handbags, evening-bags and purses for the woman (or women) in your life. Wondering what to get Mom this Mother's Day? Read on!

If you think that giving someone a vintage collectible item for a Christmas, Mother's Day or for a birthday present is the same thing as giving someone a “second hand” gift you are mistaken! Antique, Retro and Vintage handbags are not only eco-friendly re-cycled items, many are in stunning, near-mint and unused condition.

Popular television programs like the British ITV series, “Downton Abbey” and HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” are boosting the popularity of vintage handbags, (and vintage clothing styles). Many cool retro items are showing up on the runways and at celebrity attended functions.


Classic vintage and retro handbags are true works of art that have lasting value. Compared with the designer handbags of today, designer vintage handbags and purses are just as fashionable and they can be very affordable. If you know the hottest items and where to find them, these handbags and purses can make the perfect Christmas holiday or birthday gift.

There are many styles of vintage, retro and antique handbags on the market right now and the prices will vary according to the item’s condition, age and designer or manufacturer.

Here are some of the more popular styles of vintage handbags and purses.

Chain metal mesh and enameled mesh handbags designed and manufactured by Whiting & Davis or Mandalian Mfg are in high demand and the styles range from casual enameled mesh bags to sexy evening-bags. Some of the higher-end antique mesh bags are made with German silver.

The flashy and colorful mesh flapper purses from the roaring twenties are stunning. There are many highly collectible purses in excellent condition just waiting to be flaunted at a 21st century party. Going green never goes out of fashion.

Antique velvet evening-bags from the 20’s and 30‘s make a perfect give for a pre-teen or young lady. They come in bright or muted colors and many are embellished with decorative beading and jeweled or filigree clasps.

Eye-catching and very cool post-war Lucite box-style purses make a striking fashion statement and go great with power business suits as well as casual evening wear.

Colorful cotton shoulder bags from hot retro designer Marimekko are all the rage since the 2011 opening of Marimekko’s Fifth Avenue store. Bringing back the positive vibes of the 60's is a welcome fashion trend.

You can make a classic amphibian handbag truly sustainable by purchasing one from a previous owner. There are many rare crocodile and alligator purses that live on as treasured collectibles. Going green never looked better.

The French Deco and Native American hand-knitted handbags made with tiny beads known as mico or seed beading are antique mini masterpieces .

Colorful designs range from fairytale flora and fauna, to lattice-work landscape scenes, to Moorish and Middle Eastern designs. Some bags are even embellished with filigree frames and jeweled accents.

Hand-woven petit point and tapestry designed handbags became an integral fashion accessory by the 1800s. Those hand-made in France are the most desirable (and the most costly), but if you are a savvy shopper, you can find bargains from those made in the 30's and 40's.

Tiny Reticule purses with expandable accordian-style metal openings were popular in the 18th and 19th century for carrying coins, smelling salts and small handkerchiefs.

The proverbial silk purse is a classic accessory. Some, like the handbag featured in my photo to the right, are decorated with pastoral scenes. This one came with a matching silk eyeglass case (which is rare); however, many vintage bags include silk change purses.

If the trendy retro designer handbags are right for your special someone (or for your own collection), Angela Frascone's bold resin handbags are quickly becoming one of the new designer classics.

Shopping for classic vintage handbags and purses has never been easier. If you cannot find the handbag you are looking for in a local boutique, just look on-line. Many serious collectors have good websites that display excellent photos.

Shopping on eBay is also an excellent choice, as the sellers display clear photos and describe items in detail. The great thing about eBay is that they have very strict guidelines to which a seller must adhere. If you don’t wish to bid on an item, many sellers have “buy it now” options. In any case, you can pay with PayPal and take advantage of their free eBay Buyer Protection plan that covers you if you don't receive your item or if it is not as described by the seller.

You may be surprised to find that the many beautiful vintage handbags, purses and clutches for sale on-line rival those new designer handbags in the shops and department stores. Why buy new, when you can have a serious collectible item that's so much more eco-friendly? Antique handbags and purses are works of art that deserve to be well-cared for and enjoyed.

Start a Collection

I began collecting vintage handbags several years ago when I discovered the value (and fun) of collecting retro accessories. While I still can appreciate the new designer handbags, I also like being different and creative. A vintage handbag can make a bold statement about a woman's ensemble and about her style, sense of creativity, and eco-consciousness.

If you give a vintage, antique or retro handbag as a gift, it can delight the recipient and even inspire a new hobby that’s fun and profitable. According to collectibles experts like Paul Fraser, the vintage collectibles market will double in the next twenty years and today’s treasures will continue to grow in value.

So if you are thinking of going green this Christmas or Mother's Day, consider giving a retro, or antique handbag, evening bag or purse to the ladies in your life. Once you see them, (if you’re anything like me) you’ll want a few for your own collection. Just remember, like shoes, one can never have too many handbags.

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