60s Style Handbags

By the mid-'60s, colorful handbags replaced conservative ones.

Handbags evolved in the 1960s. In the early part of the decade, the classic handbag matched the tailored and conservative fashions of the day. As the decade progressed and the country was changing, so were the handbags. Designers started to use different fabrics and styles, and the handbags became larger, less conservative and more personalized.

The Classic Handbag

In the early part of the '60s, the classic handbag was typically a square or rectangular shape and made with a metal frame covered with leather or vinyl. It had one or two handles that were made from the same material. It would snap shut with a metal clasp.

The Lucite Handbag

Lucite is a hard plastic that made a unique fashion statement in the '60s. These handbags were initially intended to target a high-end market and were popular with society women and movie stars. Eventually, cheaper versions were mass-produced. They were made in a variety of geometrical shapes, and often were black and white. Pearl and metallic versions were also very popular. High-quality Lucite purses have become quite collectible.

The Tapestry and Carpetbag Handbag

These handbags came in a large variety of shapes, but it was the style and type of fabric that made these bags so recognizable. The bags were woven and typically had a floral design and a silk interior. The larger, free-flowing handbags were popular with the newly emerging bohemian crowd, while the smaller, square-shaped carpetbag and tapestry handbags were popular with more conservative women.

The Hat Box Handbag

For years, hat boxes were used to protect hats and keep them from getting dusty. Eventually the idea of the round hat box inspired the design for a purse. These handbags have been around for decades, but were especially popular in the 1960s. They are typically round, but there are also square hat box handbags. The bags usually have two handles and a zipper close, or one handle and a clasp.

Colors and Material

As the the 1960s progressed, bright-colored handbags became very popular, along with various materials, like straw, wicker and velvet. Large flowers were a popular adornment on handbags, and animal prints like leopard also became fashionable along with snakeskin, crocodile and lizard.

References

• Henrietta's Handbags: The History of Handbags in the 1960's
• Best Purses Reviewed: Lucite Purse