Turn out your vintage Purse or Handbag

Louise Anne · Aug 16, 2012

I know there some talk about vintage Purses (Handbag) and Powder compacts, lip sticks etc.

I wonder if any one has a vintage purse and have collected with all the periods items to go in it.
(items which ever a lady of the period would need)

I just thought it might make a slightly different photo thread for us ladies to see.

CaramelSmoothie · Aug 16, 2012

Finding a vintage purse that I like is like trying to find vintage shoes that actually fit my size 9.5 feet. I like to carry clutch bags so finding anything from the 1920s to the 1930s is like trying to find a needle in a haystack so I just buy modern. Clutches from the 1950s on up seem easier to find.

lareine · Aug 17, 2012

I think it's going to be difficult for many women here to turn out their vintage purse and not spill a mobile phone onto the tabletop! I know I couldn't

And my digital camera is in there too. Some things I'm not going to give up just for the sake of appearing period-correct.

St. Louis · Aug 17, 2012

Interesting -- I interpreted this thread to mean, "what's inside your vintage purse in vintage times," not "what's inside a vintage purse you wear every day." Is that how you meant it? As it happens, over the past couple of years I've been collecting and fixing up items to go into my vintage purse for those times when I absolutely do not want any modern intrusions. If I get home from work early enough today I'll post some photos. For now, here's a list:

--several embroidered handkerchiefs
--two vintage lipsticks that I cleaned out and refilled with modern lipsticks (in a vintage color, of course)
--a vintage compact that I cleaned out & refilled with Coty Airspun powder (according to a 1942 recipe I found in Popular Mechanics)
--vintage mechanical pencil
--a ration book from Iowa
--postage stamps
--tiny perfume flacon
--celluloid comb
--vintage rouge compact (I don't use this b/c it still has the original product in it, but I like the way it looks.)
--tiny notebook with a cardboard cover, looks just like ones you'd have found in a 5&10

What I'm still looking for: a working fountain pen; a period key (maybe even a car key? would I have owned a car? and do I need gas rationing cards?); period specs (I have ones that would pass, but they're early 20th c.), nail file, and sewing kit.

Louise Anne · Aug 17, 2012

St. Louis said:
Interesting -- I interpreted this thread to mean, "what's inside your vintage purse in vintage times,

Yes it is. Wow St Louis

Miss Sis · Aug 17, 2012

I thought you meant tell us about interesting things you have found in a vintage handbag once you've bought it. I've found various bits but I love old bus or train tickets that work their way into corners.

One of the sweetest things was a little silver coloured cartoon dog, a bit like Betty Boop's dog. I think it was some sort of confetti or table decoration. I wonder where the original owner picked it up from?

When I want to carry nothing but what might have been in there in times past, it's usually not much! My 1930s purses tend to be on the small side, so it's some old money (coins) that makes a nice sound when you're rifling about looking for something, silver and green enamel powder compact, lipstick, handkerchief, comb, tiny pencil, some hairpins, safety pins. When it's a larger bag I have a vintage cigarette tin in which I can keep a sewing/stocking darning kit and any other useful items like that (a variety of safety pins always comes in handy!) and I have a tiny leather bound notebook with a pencil that still has wartime shopping lists and budgets written in it. That was a gift from a friend when I did some mending for her.

With any wartime impression then of course, ration books and ID card are in there too. I even have a special ID card for when I do WAAF, as of course the services had their own distinct from civilian.

Louise Anne · Aug 17, 2012

Well you know me Sis if it taking about vintage I am happy and if it's handbags for this thread I double happy.
It's interesting that you carry an ID card,

LizzieMaine · Aug 18, 2012

St. Louis said:
What I'm still looking for: a working fountain pen; a period key (maybe even a car key? would I have owned a car? and do I need gas rationing cards?); period specs (I have ones that would pass, but they're early 20th c.), nail file, and sewing kit.

You'd have gotten a ration card for gas in May of 1942 if you lived on the East Coast -- rationing was only implemented in the East at that time. This was a reddish-brownish colored card with a series of squares along the bottom to be punched out at the time of gas purchase, and in the upper left corner was your ration class -- A, B, C, or X. In the fall of 1942, gas rationing was implemented nationwide, and you got a folding greenish-colored sheet with detachable stamps attached, and this was the sort issued for the rest of the war.

As for me, I've got fifty dollars in period currency, coins and mixed notes. Just in case.

Miss Sis · Aug 18, 2012

Paul said:
Well you know me Sis if it taking about vintage I am happy and if it's handbags for this thread I double happy.
It's interesting that you carry an ID card,

Every service person and civilian were required by law to carry an ID card in Britain during WW2. You could get into quite a lot of hot water if you couldn't produce it when asked!

St. Louis · Aug 18, 2012

Ok, I thought I'd share some photos of my purse project. Obviously this is a work in progress.

Technically, those stamps shouldn't be cancelled, and the compact mirror is a little mottled looking (it would have been brand new) but I'm relatively pleased with this project so far.

What you see at the far right: a tiny pillbox and a rouge compact. As far as I can tell, everything here is from the mid-to-late 1930s, except of course the ration book.

Louise Anne · Aug 19, 2012

St. Louis said:
Ok, I thought I'd share some photos of my purse project. Obviously this is a work in progress.

Technically, those stamps shouldn't be cancelled, and the compact mirror is a little mottled looking (it would have been brand new) but I'm relatively pleased with this project so far.

What you see at the far right: a tiny pillbox and a rouge compact. As far as I can tell, everything here is from the mid-to-late 1930s, except of course the ration book.

Music to my eyes , thank you for turning out your purse and photographing it for us St Louis

JennieWren · Aug 24, 2012

St. Louis said:
What I'm still looking for: a working fountain pen; a period key (maybe even a car key? would I have owned a car? and do I need gas rationing cards?); period specs (I have ones that would pass, but they're early 20th c.), nail file, and sewing kit.

St. Louis, would you like a needle book? I know it's not a sewing kit, but it is exactly like this:
http://www.attunedtoantiques.com/2012/03/vintage-sewing-needle-books-are.html
and came to me with four needles and a threader. The threader has "Japan" printed on it, and I suspect that it is a replacement. It was given to me and just sits in my sewing box. If it could be used by someone I would be happy.

St. Louis · Aug 24, 2012

Wow, that is so sweet of you! I would love a needle book. Could we swap for something? Is there something you've been wishing for?

JennieWren · Aug 24, 2012

St. Louis said:
Wow, that is so sweet of you! I would love a needle book. Could we swap for something? Is there something you've been wishing for?

All I really want is a cleaner, more kid-friendly sewing room, so you are helping me achieve my goal! When you sew and like vintage you get A LOT of hand-me-downs from people who are cleaning out their grandmother's sewing basket. It's a very cute needle book, but I really have no use for it, and I would love for it to go to someone who would enjoy it.
Just PM me with your address, and I will send it out this weekend

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