Postcard from Paris: 14th Street Antiques market yields Marche aux Puces finds

The first thing that Luxe Diva said when I returned was, “Tell me about the flea markets. Were they great?” “Of course!” I replied. Flea markets in Paris are like a treasure hunt. I don’t know if it’s the thousands of years of history and country’s obvious obsession with perseveration of its antiquities that lends to some of the most amazingly priced antiques sold every Saturday morning. I found myself walking the aisles of Vanves and Saint Ouen. Vanves is more of a tradiontal flea market experience, where street vendors lined up for 4 hours displaying some of the best artwork and vintage purses imaginable.  Saint Ouen is an antiques market that literally stretches several blocks.I found a cool late 1960’s Yumarcel leather clutch with detachable leather strap in almost mint condition. I bought it for 25 Euro. If you’re looking for a cool vintage purse try the 14^th Street Antiques Market where a local dealer sells a host of vintage purses fit for a lady.

 

Until tomorrow,

 

Chamele

Day 13: Structured Handbags

Hello Divas!

 

Only two more days to Thanksgiving?  What are you thankful for?  Me?  A whole lot! 

 

Chamele and Day 13 is all about the classic structured handbag. Love it!

 

This season find us lusting after retro looks, below-the-knee hoop 50's dresses and structured handbags. I found several structured handbags which struck my fancy- Prada, Fendi, Dooney & Burke. None of them in my budget, however. Despite what you have heard, people are still in a recession.   Because I am on a serious budget, I have found some comparable structured handbags that will work for this season's trend. Here is a side note about the structured handbag: should you choose to invest in one, the classic style will last ages, so the investment would be worth your while.

 

Of the more affordable structured handbags that I have seen, Aldo's Cyphert is the most popular. The Cyphert is a hard-bottom bag with a magnetic enclosure,  sturdy handle, and long shoulder strap attached with gold hardware. The top of the bag contains a smart tassel that hangs over the side when you close the bag. Despite the the fact that the Cyphert is synthetic and not real leather, it is a super attractive buy and no wonder that it has been popping up in the pages of Glamour and Lucky magazines. The Cyphert is versatile, professional and affordable. The Cyphert comes in black, beige, and rust. The classic style and classic colors make it a purse for the ages. You can purchase the Cyphert at aldoshoes.com for  $ 45.00.

 

I am not a big antiquer, but I have been on the hunt for some classic pieces to furnish my home. On a recent trip to the 14th Street Antiques Market, I ran across a variety of settees, barrel back chairs and Eighteenth century chaises that I liked. I was only looking for furniture and what did I find in a display room????  An entire room full of structured handbags, many of which were black, with gold hardware. The display was by PerSe, an antiques dealer who concentrates on finding and reselling antique handbags. Wow! I hadn't even thought about it until I was shopping for furniture, but perhaps the best places to find affordable and authentic structured handbags were in antiques shops. 

 

I ran across this one for $165.00 by Tarkor.  

 

Wowed by the display, I took a trip to the PerSe' website. Many of the pieces in the 14th Street Antiques Market were not on the PerSe' webiste, but I did find another number that caught my eye, this Blonde Gator for $405.00. 

 Until Tomorrow, 

Chamele