Vintage Rodo Clutch
1980s Italian Clutches
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1970s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1880s Italian Clutches
1980s Italian Clutches
Late 20th Century Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
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1950s American Wedding Dresses
1990s Italian Wedding Dresses
Early 2000s Italian Clutches
Late 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, White Gold
Early 2000s Italian Mini Dresses
Early 2000s Italian Wedding Dresses
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
2010s French Neoclassical Clip-on Earrings
20th Century Clutches
Early 2000s Italian Wedding Dresses
1950s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
1990s Unknown Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1940s Beaded Necklaces
2010s French Neoclassical Clip-on Earrings
Recent Sales
1980s Italian Clutches
1970s Italian Clutches
1960s Italian Clutches
1980s Italian Clutches
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Italian Clutches
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Late 20th Century Italian Clutches
1970s Italian Handbags and Purses
1980s Clutches
1970s Italian Clutches
1980s Italian 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.