I’m the Accidental Bag Lady selling vintage evening bags on Etsy         

          I’m not sure what got into me, but suddenly I’m selling my vintage evening bag collection that was fifty years in the making

          I remember the first bag so vividly: It was a small puffy little satin roly poly on a chain with tiny seed pearls and a compact with a powder puff in the clasp. It cost $1. I swear I was craving thrift shop treasures even before Barbara Streisand notoriously gave it an aura of chic.

  Vintage All Over Beaded Bag in Royal Colors with Peacock Strut, $245.

          At some point I discovered Sylvia Pines’ Uniquities, a small shop at 1102 Lexington. Sylvia told me she’d been forced to open the shop when her own collection grew out of control. I quickly became addicted. When a boyfriend asked what I’d like for my birthday, I gave him the shop's address. 

Vintage Large Beaded Rectangular Purse with Pink Beaded Flowers, $350. 

          One day after lunch at LeCirque, the fabulous Patrick Shields wanted to buy me a Christmas gift. We went together and I picked out a wonderful black suede art deco pouch with a marcasite watch in the frame that worked. It was outrageously expensive. He flinched but recovered and bought it.  He asked me to help him choose something for Elaine.  There was an exquisite all over beaded rectangle with a red snake on it.  I wanted it too. But I wanted the art deco suede more. The thrilling beaded snake went to Elaine.

Vintage Drawstring Bag with Striped Iridescent Bugle Beads, $75. 

           I once asked her, years after Patrick's too early death, if she still had the beaded snake bag.  “Yes,” she said. “It’s wonderful.” I meant to check out her estate sale to see if it was there.

          But now I am deaccessioning. My assistants and I posted the bags today on Etsy and two sold in a few minutes, probably seriously underpriced, I guess. Click here to see what we’ve posted so far. If you’re a collector and want to visit my office to see more, email me.