Koret Change Purse
1940s American Top Handle Bags
1960s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
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1920s French Evening Dresses
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1980s American Cocktail Dresses
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
1940s French Tote Bags
1950s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1960s American Top Handle Bags
1980s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Early 2000s French Structured Shoulder Bags
1950s Top Handle Bags
1980s American Clutches
1940s American Top Handle Bags
Late 20th Century American Camisoles
1970s French Swimwear
1990s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Recent Sales
1950s American Handbags and Purses
1960s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1950s Handbags and Purses
1960s American Top Handle Bags
1940s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1960s American Novelty Bags
1950s American Top Handle Bags
1950s American Clutches
1950s American Handbags and Purses
1960s American Clutches
1970s Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century American Top Handle Bags
1960s American Top Handle Bags
1950s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1940s American Handbags and Purses
1960s American Handbags and Purses
1940s Evening Bags and Minaudières
1950s American Clutches
Finding the Right Handbags and Purses for You
An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.
Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.
“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”
First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.
They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”
From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.