Clutch Crutch

I don't know if I've shared one of my latest thrift obsessions: retro purses.

They're just so darn easy to buy - normally less than a fiver - and the 1950s and 60s ones are so dandy design-wise.



This silver lace one was only $3.99 at Sally Ann.


This pretty quilted silvery one, made in England, was about the same price at another thrift store (short metal strap not shown here).

Sadly I don't lead a glam enough life to warrant the purchase of all these purses, though you can bet I try to get as much mileage out of them as possible when invited to press events and cocktail parties.

I've had particular luck finding clutches with tags that read "Handmade in Canada by John Hort."

This spanky little red number, again with short strap hidden, was $14 at a shop in Kensington Market in Toronto - it's in mint condition too.

You can tell this one is handmade - love how it's not symmetrical - and the circle detail clasp is just darling.

Once I decided I loved these bags I was able to pick them out of a dusty thrift store case three feet away. This is another John Hort (slightly out of focus, sorry), found at Goodwill for $3.99. It has a long chain link strap, and you can see it has the same clasp detail.

By the way if anyone has information on John Hort I'd love to hear it - all I know is he was based in Vancouver in the 1950s and 60s and won something called the Judy Award for design. His bags aren't too hard to find in thrift stores or the Internet so he must have been pretty prolific.

Later this week I'll show you how I display all these purses.

TIPS: I always open the bag and smell it to make sure it's not to offensive, and I always look for tags inside. If the tag indicates it's handmade I always pick it up. I also look for purses made in Canada and England - have one gorgeous one from Belgium I'll share soon ....