| Vintage bags are new again. Just look around, they | | | | decreases it open market value. |
| are everywhere. They were the talk of the fashion | | | | Understand what you are paying for. Vintage |
| industry when many 'A list' celebrities were seen toting | | | | handbags are given value not only for their popularity |
| vintage handbags, gowns and accessories at this | | | | of past and current times, but also for workmanship. |
| years Emmy Awards. | | | | This can include things such as the clasping |
| Buying vintage handbags is a great way to broaden | | | | mechanism. Your biggest concern might be that the |
| your handbag collection. There are thousands to | | | | handbag close properly, but you could pay top price |
| choose from and can sometimes be bought for | | | | because the bag you are eyeing happens to have the |
| pennies on the dollar. But when is a vintage handbag | | | | first magnetic closure ever used on a designer bag. If |
| right for you, and what makes a bag vintage and not | | | | you happen to find these types of things interesting |
| just used? | | | | then this is the bag for you. But if you are more |
| You will need to determine if the new handbag you | | | | interested in the appearance of a handbag, you might |
| are in the market for will be used frequently or are you | | | | not want to pay this much for a piece of ingenuity and |
| more interested in the bag as a collectable. There is no | | | | history. |
| harm in wanting to use a vintage handbag, how else | | | | Prices for vintage designer handbags can range from |
| are you and your impeccable sense of fashion going | | | | less then a hundred to several thousand. The price |
| to be the topic at this years Christmas party, but it is | | | | depends on condition, uniqueness, design, rarity, |
| important to buy a bag that will hold up to the | | | | condition, adornments (beading), the material from |
| challenge. So make sure you follow some simple | | | | which the bag is made and age. |
| guidelines when purchasing your new vintage handbag. | | | | When shopping online for vintage designer handbags, |
| Only buy from a reputable dealer. Many of your | | | | try using different search words: purse, handbags, |
| questions can be answered and your worries set to | | | | vintage purses, vintage designer handbags, clutch |
| ease when you know the dealer has done their | | | | purses, lunch box purses, cigar box purses and so on. |
| homework and has a reputation of being honest and | | | | Also look for an online boutique that offers great detail |
| fair. | | | | on the items they sell. A good description of the bag, |
| Obviously, anything that you use often must be made | | | | estimated age and a full list of any flaws should be |
| to last. Do not buy a handbag that is worn or stained | | | | provided. It is essential that the retailer offer a money |
| more then a little. Some 'wear and tear' can add | | | | back guarantee. |
| mystique, but too much damage only looks used. | | | | A vintage handbag is right for you if you want genuine |
| Handbags can be restored and repaired, but it is highly | | | | GUCCI or Hermes leather bag at a great price and |
| unlikely you would want to go to all the trouble of | | | | couldn't afford one new. Nobody has to know that it is |
| having a handbag repaired, only to use it on a daily | | | | vintage, but everyone will be wondering where you got |
| basis. Also, although most people would not be able to | | | | it. |
| tell the bag had been repaired, repairing a bag greatly | | | | |