Golden Goddesses

Here are just a couple of golden gals before they get all hooched up for a night on the town with a bag full of funny money, a discrete nip, some candy cigarettes and a vintage surprise.

I've called this piece of shiney, leather goodness Vanessa since I met her. She's tired of hanging out with me and the other gals and is ready for a good time!

Claire thinks she's French, but I doubt it. She was made in the 1960s for a shop called Goubaud de Paris, but her "After Six" Made in the USA label gives her away. (Snooty New Yorkers!)

Are you agog at these golden goodies? If so, email me at theelegantthrifer@gmail.com. And be sure to visit me at The Elegant Thrifter.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrifter

White Hot

Once again, I'm showing off some before photos of my Hooch Bags. After they get filled with a ton of funny money, a nip of booze, some packages of candy cigarettes and a vintage surprise, these hard working gals will be ready for a night on the town.

This patent Meyers bag for Saks Fifth Avenue appears to be the peak of chic-ness, but it wouldn't take much to transform her into the peak of freak-ness!

I've called this Susan Gail Original Lulu since I met her. And she is a lulu. But like my other lovely ladies, she'll change her name for the right offer.

This beaded and sequined Richere bag by Walborg appears as innocent as a spring flower. I won't tell you what she's been up to over the winter!

This Jorelle number is French....need I say more?

Oh she's all wrapped up in beads and sequins, but this gorgeous gal from the 1960s gets funky once the sun goes down.

This shimmery, white beaded La Regale bag from the 1960s is a perfect foil for what could be her racy contents!

If one of these white, hot ladies catches your eye, let me know at theelegantthrifer@gmail.com. And be sure to visit me at The Elegant Thrifter.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous

The Elegant Thrifter

Black Beauties

My gals don't come out very often unless they're all hooched up with a ton of funny money, a nip of the hard stuff and a vintage surprise, but here are some of my lovelies just looking for the right person to snap them up.

Even without their naughty-but-nice wrappings, my beauties are anything but Plain Janes.

Now this satin bag from the 1960s has been going by the name of Jackie. She'll change it in a flash since her identity is difficult to verify.

This glamorous, 1950s velvet clutch by Garay is is chic and demure....but once she hits the town all bets are off.

This vintage velvet MM clutch from the 40s is understated...until you fill her deep pockets with a bunch of hooch and a ton of funny money.

Oh she's a looker, but we can't tell how old she is. Is it the lift or the lack of identity?

Ain't she a dame? This 1960s beaded lady will turn some heads.

You've had a special preview of my Hooch Bags without all their trimmings. If you'd like one of these black beauties all hooched up just for you or for someone special, email me at theelegantthrifter@gmail.com.

And be sure to visit The Elegant Thrifter.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrifter

Ferocious Fifi!

So you already met the sassy Sabrina at The Elegant Thrifter, but get to know her sassy gal pal Fifi. Oh she's a fine specimen of a Hooch Bag, filled with a ton of cash, a gallery map of Paris and a nice-old nip of Absinthe. They say too much of the sauce will make your crazy, but Fifi, like her pal Sabrina, are good time gals ready for a night on the town. Oh they're pretty gals, but look inside their stash and you might just flip your wig!

For more information on The Hooch Bag by The Elegant Thrifter email theelegantthrifter@gmail.com

Old Bags, New Tricks!

My girls were on parade last week at the Miraval Living Retail Therapy show coordinated by Grace Group and my gre at pal Nancy Berger. They wriggled, they jiggled, and they giggled for four days until many of them go picked up and toted away.

So Long Sonya! Later Lola! Ta Ta Petula! and Goodbye Dolly! Oh, it's sad to see my gals go, but they'll be back soon enough -- after a little nip and tuck to keep them looking good.

I've got a whole new hard-working crew ready to take the stage, but until then, feast your eyes upon last week's extravaganza, and the gorgeous stage effects and sexy hangtags that my set producer Eagle Eye Elliott created.

For more information on The Hooch Bag by The Elegant Thrifter, email theelegantthrifter@gmail.com

Back to the Flea!!

The Elegant Thrifter will be back at the Brookln Flea Pop-Up Market this coming Sunday. Come by and say Howdy, and take a peek at his new book: The Find, The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details. It's his only copy, but you can order one for yourselves at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Borders, and it'll be shipped to you in May.

In the meantime, take a good look at Nanette, a lovely department-store purse from the 1960s before she got all hooched up for a night on the town. She used to be all, "No! No!" But these days, she a "Yes!" gal. Oh, you'll see the difference in her when you come out to see her in her Sunday best. And we're not talking about her singin' in the choir!

Get Your Hustle On!

Oh my girls are out of their minds today since they discovered that my pal Ali who runs 21st-Century Hustle posted this great article about Hooch Bags by The Elegant Thrifter. They took the weekend off from shimmying and shaking at The Brooklyn Flea-Pop Up Market to re-group and get re-styled for their next outing.

Now the lovely pink Dolly clutch has been showing cleavage for a few weeks, all trussed up in a pretty silk scarf, carrying a trio of hard candy sticks and a nip of tequila but has been belly-aching about not getting enough attention. Here she is in all her satiny glory. Take a long gander at this lovely, and while you're at it, savour the new Dolly Parton Backwoods Barbie video.

Now that's a show worth repeating!

In May, Clarkson Potter will publish my book, The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details. Pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders.