COLLECTABLE NAMES AND DESIGNS IN WOMEN'S HANDBAGS

Vintage and future accessories expert and fashion columnist Tracy Martin reveals what to spot when buying both vintage and modern handbags which are already desirable with collectors or have the potential to become sought after in the future. Her book is organised through the history of the handbag, the age of jazz, the glamorous 30s, wartime 40s, fabulous 50s, swinging 60s, 70s and 80s, 90s, the millennium, the noughties and beyond - bags, bags, bags! The Holy Grail is the Hermes Birkin. From the Victorian miser bag to 1950s Lucite and the op-art designs of the Sixties to bang up to date modern examples such as Lulu Guinness's iconic Lips clutch, Tracy recommends the most desirable for collectors on all budgets. She showcases modern designers whose talents are displayed in eye-catching, innovative handbag designs at more affordable prices and advises on which ones to snap up now. Throughout the pages she shares her top tips on which designers to buy from the past, present and future, how to avoid getting caught out by fake or damaged bags and where is best to invest. Together with a detailed social history on the designers and their bags, this lavishly illustrated book is for all who adore handbags. Over 100 beautiful bags have been photographed in colour for this special book and our favourites include a Victorian Chatelaine bag of 1875 in embroidered silk taffeta with tiny black glass pearls, a 14 carat gold mesh purse decorated with amethysts and diamonds, names like Tiffany, Van Cleef and Arpels, Whiting and Davis art deco, Louis Vuitton, basket and wicker bags, calf skin and alligator, plastic daisies, Vivienne Westwood's red tartan Yasmine bag to the everyday Radley Market Day bag, or shoulder bags with books appliquéd and favourites from Kate Spade. 144 large pages.