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Vintage Dancer | 1920s Fashion | Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags

Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags

1920s Fashion History

12 Sep 2012

Today, our purses carry everything we could possibly need for a busy day. However, the 1920s purse or handbag was a thing of beauty with only a little practicality. Since most daily items were purchased at neighborhood shops with credit accounts under a father’s or husband’s name, there was no need to carry money other than some pocket change for the movies or a soda pop. Instead, women’s 1920s purses carried only the hot new necessaries of the day- Make Up!

Face powder, lipstick, and sometimes rouge were carried in small decorative compacts that were as pretty as the bags that carried them. Some varieties of bags even had the compacts built right into the bag handle. Inconspicuously hidden, the compacts were always close by for a quick touch-up. A refined lady would powder her nose in the ladies’ room, but those new liberated flappers would apply make up right at the dinner table. Gasp!

1920s purses

1922 Purses

Such beautiful ladies required carrying equally as beautiful 1920s purses. There was an art to making metal woven “mesh” handbags as well as beaded fabric bags. Hand tooled leather clutches with intricate Art Deco designs or snake skin puchettes made daywear slightly less formal. Puchettes, which had carved metal frames and clasp closure or fold over envelope flaps, were also elaborately decorated for evening formal dress. Glass beads, seed beads, and round faceted beads were hand woven at home using mail order kits. Metal mesh bags were mass produced in a variety of designs, shapes and coloring techniques.

Talking about the variations of handbags alone is worthy of an entirely separate post here.

The key styles of 1920s purses were that they were small with thin strap(s) or clutch varieties. Some were small boxes with handles. Whenever possible, purses complimented the wearer’s dress — beaded bags with beaded dresses, leather with fur, etc. Continue reading about purse history with 1930s handbags.

Vintage 1920s purses are very collectible today. The age of the beads and metals makes them extremely fragile as well. If you want  to wear one to your next 1920s party, I would recommend you purchase one of the many reproduction purses available today. I have put together a page of 1920s style purses for sale from several online shops below:

1920s Style Purses for Sale:

Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Vintage Style Black Marabou Feather Fan $24.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$24.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Micom New Small Retro Vintage Kiss Lock Imitation Leather Purse Handbag Totes Bag for Womengirls $26.80 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$26.80
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Belsen Womens Vintage Beaded Sequin Evening Handbags $29.95 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$29.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Abuyall Women Retro Purse Vintage Top Handle Handbag Kiss Lock Shoulder Bags $15.34 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$15.34
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags QZUnique Womens Fashion Chinese Style Elegant Empaistic Top Handle Shoulder Bag $34.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$34.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Tuscany Leather - Michelangelo - Doctor gladstone leather bag - TL10038 $207.58 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$207.58
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags 20s Eleanor Beaded Handbag in Black £44.45 AT vintagedancer.com
TopVintage
£44.45
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags HOLLYWOOD INSPIRED VINTAGE SATIN GLAMOUR CLUTCH PURSE - BLACK $54.95 AT vintagedancer.com
DecoHaus
$54.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Kisschic Womens Vintage Beaded and Sequined Evening Bag Wedding Party Handbag Clutch Purse $25.98 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$25.98
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Chicastic Fully Sequined Mesh Beaded Antique Style Wedding Evening Formal Cocktail Clutch Purse $19.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$19.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags ILISHOP Womens Vintage Luxury Printing Beaded Women Handbag Evening Bag $19.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$19.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Deco Style Ivory Beaded Satchel Bag $68.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$68.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Deco Style Dark Olive Beaded Satchel Bag $68.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$68.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Unique Vintage 1920S Style Black Beaded Top Frame Flapper Purse $72.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$72.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Rejolly Women Vintage Kiss Lock Top Handle Handbag Evening Purse Crossbody Shoulder Bag with Chain Strap $25.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$25.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Cotilion Cobweb Kiss Clasp Purse $79.95 AT vintagedancer.com
VictorianTradingCo
$79.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags 1920S INSPIRED GATSBY EMBROIDERED HEART CLASP EVENING PURSE - BLACK $89.95 AT vintagedancer.com
DecoHaus
$89.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Antique Beaded Party Clutch Vintage Rose Purse Evening Handbag $24.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$24.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Unique Vintage Gold Pearl  Rhinestone Handbag $62.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$62.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags 1920S INSPIRED GATSBY LOOP BEADED EVENING BAG - ANTIQUE RASPBERRY $39.95 AT vintagedancer.com
DecoHaus
$39.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags PULAMA Elegant Envelope Clutch Satin Purse Wallet with Vintage Decoration $11.96 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$11.96
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags DECO ESSENTIAL - VICTORIAN BEADED SATIN POUCH BAG - SILVER $34.95 AT vintagedancer.com
DecoHaus
$34.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Unique Vintage 1920S Style Black Peacock Sequin Flapper Handbag $62.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$62.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Antique Beaded Party Clutch Vintage Rose Purse Evening Handbag $24.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$24.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Purpledip Potli Bag (Clutch Drawstring Purse) For Women With Intricate Gold Thread & Sequin Embroidery Work $12.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$12.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags ZLYC Women Retro Vintage Genuine Leather Doctor Top Handle Cross Body Bag $119.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$119.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Tan leather purse art deco leather handbag 20s vintage leather purse brown leather purse 1950s vintage handbag Great Gatsby handbag $87.00 AT vintagedancer.com
Etsy
$87.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags DECO ESSENTIAL - VICTORIAN BEADED SATIN POUCH BAG - BLACK $34.95 AT vintagedancer.com
DecoHaus
$34.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Heminway Bags #47 c.1920 - VIntage Patterns to Make Crochet Purses and Bags (PDF Ebook DIgital DOwnload) $3.57 AT vintagedancer.com
Etsy
$3.57
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags KISSCHIC Womens Vintage Beaded and Sequined Evening Bag Wedding Party Handbag Clutch Purse  AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Women Vintage Style Genuine Brown Leather Cross body Shoulder Bag Handmade Purse $36.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$36.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Llani Aragon Bag $138.00 AT vintagedancer.com
BHLDN
$138.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Vegas Vintage Inspired Hand Embellished Bucket Bag in Black Gold $40.68 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$40.68
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Belsen Womens Vintage Beaded Sequin Flower Evening Handbags $26.94 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$26.94
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags LONI British Hand Made Fantasy Suede Velvet Drawstring Clutch Shoulder Cross-body Bag $26.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$26.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Women Retro Hollow Oil Wax PU Leather Handbag Kiss Lock Messenger Bag Handbags $17.99 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$17.99
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Vintage Inspired Beatrice Bucket Pouch clutch purse bag White Wedding Bridal Bridesmaids 20s Great Gatsby Flapper Art Deco retro Handmade $40.68 AT vintagedancer.com
Etsy
$40.68
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags MODERN LUXE PEARLIZED BOX CLUTCH PURSE - PEARL DECO $84.95 AT vintagedancer.com
DecoHaus
$84.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Hiawatha Beaded Bags #10 c.1927 - Vintage 1920s Patterns to Make Bead Purses in Knitting & Crochet (PDF Ebook Digital Download) $5.97 AT vintagedancer.com
Etsy
$5.97
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Mauzari Womens Genuine Leather Crossbody Purse with Removable Straps — Artisan Crafted $124.95 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$124.95
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Vintage Evening Clutch Purse Metal Mesh Gatsby Bag for Cocktail Party Prom Wedding Banquet $23.80 AT vintagedancer.com
Amazon
$23.80
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Retro Style Taupe Silver Beaded Satchel Bag $62.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$62.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Deco Style Purple Beaded Satchel Bag $68.00 AT vintagedancer.com
UniqueVintage
$68.00
Pretty 1920s Purses and Handbags Black leather handbag art deco leather purse 20s vintage leather purse black vintage purse 1950s vintage handbag Great Gatsby handbag $87.00 AT vintagedancer.com
Etsy
$87.00
ViewMore

 

debbie
We are Debbie and Oscar, your guides to dressing up like decades past. We are here to help you find clothing online and learn about vintage fashions as worn by everyday people, just like you. Need help with your outfit? Ask us anytime.
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