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

Good-Time Gals Ready to Go!

These gals are working hard to find a new home. They're tired of being cooped up and are all hooched up with candy cigarettes, a nip of booze and a vintage surprise, ready for a night on the town. They appear under their aliases, but will change their names -- for the right price.

You've met Ingrid before. She's a saucy gal covered in bugle beads. She's not really a vintage bag, but she's a partier and it shows.

Sofia is a true collectable. Her metal frame was made by Rodo for Bergdorf-Goodman in the 1960s. She's got a story to tell. Just give her a nip and she'll gab all night long.

Bianca has partied it up in her day. It's hard to tell how old she is, but her Whiting & Davis gold mesh frame is in mint condition and possibly from the 1960s. Just give her a smoke and a shot of tequilla and she's yours!

Any of these shimmery sexies catch your eye? Want to find out more? I'd be delighted to fill you in on my lovelies if you'd email me at theelegantthrifter@gmail.com. And be sure to come visit me at The Elegant Thrifter.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrifter

Bawdy and Beaded!

Ingrid isn't so much a vintage bag, but I can tell you she's been around the block a few times. Why, just look how she's showing off her nip of tequila and a wad of bills. But then there's the prissy fan and the black-and-white mid-century photographs stuffed inside. Is there more to this bawdy and beaded character than meets the eye.

What I think we can all agree is that Ingrid cleans up well for birthdays, special occasions, and of course, Valentine's Day. And she's looking for someone to take her off my hands. Oh she's got a price, for sure. Just email me at theelegantthrifter@gmail.com and I'll tell the real story!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

The Elegant Thifter

A Golden Girl

Marilyn, Marilyn, what can I say about you, you vivacious, vintage gold lamé goddess. I packed you up for a friend's momentous birthday and you filled up on pills, booze, cigarettes!

Oh I know you have a naughty side. Why, you can't even keep your necklace straight. But you certainly make a nice gift for the saucy gal inside everyone.

Welcome to the ranks of The Hooch Bag!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

The Elegant Thrifter

I can customize a Hooch Bag for you or a special occasion -- Mother's Day, Valentine's Day or even a wedding party. Just remember, The Elegant Thrifter doesn't have a liquor license so the nip is just a serving suggestion! Email me at theelegantthrifter@gmail.com.

Old Bag, New Tricks!

Here's another oldie from the past, but with gift-giving time coming up, I thought this might give you some ideas.

As you may know, I make Hooch Bags that make a perfect little something for that saucy, someone special in your life. Basically, they're vintage bags filled with funny money, a nip of booze, a vintage surprise and candy cigarettes making for a naughty-but-nice gift. It's like a party in a handbag -- all concealed in pretty wrappings

This is one of the first bags I made last year out of a 1960s satin, beaded clutch in perfect condition that I ran across at a Housing Works thrift shop. And since my best gal pal Bevy Smith's birthday was coming up, it seemed predestined for her.

About the same time as finding the bag, I was dumfounded to discover a heap of vintage shopping bags in the recycling pile. I gasped when I spied among them a Bonwit Teller bag from the famous department store that closed its doors in 1990. Now this bag held special significance for me, since it reminded me of the stories Bevy shared with me about her parents purchasing school clothes for her and her siblings at Bonwit Teller and the warm memories she holds for a department store that only lives in memory.

From there, everything started to fall magically into place. I took the beaded bag and filled it with miniature bottles of rum and vodka and nestled them among bills of faux dough. Bevy's own Hooch Bag had finally started to materialize! Enough money in the world couldn’t buy Bevy the jewels she deserves, so I settled instead on the gloriously photographed book, Alchemy: A Passion for Jewels by Temple St. Clair, the inimitable jewelry designer, and wrapped it up in lavender tissue. The crowning moment came when I propped a vintage fan from the 1960s honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. and Bobby Kennedy inside a bed of silk violets that I bought in Manhattan’s floral district, all peering out of the top of the shopping bag.

If you'd like me to make a Hooch Bag for a special occasion or even a holiday gift, email me at theelegantthrifter@gmail.com and I'll give you all the details.

And remember, on Monday, November 30th, my first ever mystery giveaway begins at The Elegant Thrifter. I'll be giving clues all week long, reveal the prize on Friday, December 4, and finally announce the winner on December 7. I hope your Thanksgiving was a wonderful moment shared with family and friends!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

The Elegant Thrifter

Hellooo Valerie!

Oh my! Valerie is off the chain!

When I went about creating a hostess gift for Cheryl Maedor of Gardenhouse who hosted a fab event in West Palm Beach last week for The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details, all I had to do was open my wardrobe trunk full of

vintage handbags for another Hooch Bag creation!

She looks all innocent and proper from the exterior -- her chic Parisian frame crafted especially for Saks Fifth Avenue back in the day. And why, she is even sporting a vintage Pierre Cardin scarf. But release her dainty clasp -- and woaaaah -- you discover she's a party gal packed with on-the-go margaritas, maraschino cherries, a TGI Fridays cocktail shaker, packs of candy cigarettes and a cordial glass to boot.

When it gets messy, she has a rain bonnet from Simmons Funeral Home in Kansas City, Kansas; if it's too hot, she's got a fan; and if she's looking for a travel destination, there's a 1940s brochure about Ponte Verdra on the Florida Coast.

Let's just say this daring lady is ready for anything!

If you'd like a Hooch Bag for a gift or special occasion, send me an email at theelegantthrifter@gmail.com.

The holidays are on their way!