Thursday Purseday: Day Dreaming About the Caribbean

We've set the dates and location for our honeymoon! Now it's onto the day dreaming and the outfitting. Of course I'm looking at (and dreaming of) vintage (or thrift finds whenever possible) for our trip. The first thing to find? A purse. More specifically, one that looks good whether it's lounging on the beach or held smartly in a museum. I've already got a bag for hiking (it's super comfortable, holds the necessities, and has gone camping and to the playa). 

Some basic criteria my honeymoon dream bag needs to satisfy:

1. Environmentally responsible
2. Neutral colors
3. Size (large enough to hold a camera, my iPhone, my wallet or coin purse, and some sunscreen)
4. Shape (has to fit tucked inside my carry on because we're flying; purse I took with me to NY was 10"  x 13" x 4" and to Yountville was 8" x 12" x 3.5")
5. Must close (can't have contents spilling out if I drop it)
6. Comfort (can't irritate my wrist or my shoulder) 
7. Easy to clean
8. Ability to keep contents dry
9. Price (no more than $50 with tax)

First I scanned this season's offerings to get an idea of styles and color palettes.

The Finds (from left to right): Abby by Straw Studios, $45.60, from eBags; Straw Studios B10024, $48, Found Lori's Shoes through Making It Lovely; Wicker Whip Stitch Satchel by Magid, $41.60, from eBags; Mathilda by Helen Kaminski, $595, from eBags. 

Too casual. Too cheap looking. Too neutral (as well as way over budget).

Next I scanned the John Romain offerings, not expecting anything to meet my budget requirement. (John Romain is my new vintage crush.) Gorgeous handbags made in America; they're as green as you can get - fair labor laws, produced "locally" and not shipped around the world, and previously loved by someone else.

The Finds (from Top left clockwise): 7.5" diameter by 3.25" deep, John Romain, c.1960s, $88, from Raleigh Vintage; 6.5" x 11" x 4.5", John Romain, c.1960s, $30, from Mommy's Pocketbook (leather noticeably worn; some stitching is loose); 8" x 11" x 4", John Romain, c.1960s-1970s, $35, from Karen3231 (leather noticeably worn on handles and fold); 7.5" x 12" x 6", John Romain, c.1950, $50, from Angels Camp; 7.5" x 11.75" x 5", John Romain, c.1960s, $75, from Vintage Diehls.

You know the advice given to brides? Never try on a dress that's outside your budget, because chances are you'll fall in love with it and end up with heartbreak. I should know better than to look for John Romain bags. Want to know the result? I found two that are tugging on my heart strings. Can you guess which two?

Of course, there are other vintage options. Some have integrated wrapped straw or wooden handles.

The Finds (from far left clockwise): 5.5" x 8" x 4", c.1960s, $22, from Fashion Rerun; 7" x 8.5" x 4", $26, from Selective Memory; 6" x 13" x 4", c.1960s, $16, from Something New Again (unlined, opens fully); 6.5" x 12" Bag, $14, from Another Thyme; 6.5" x 11.5" x 4.5", c.1960s, $38, from Raleigh Vintage.

Others have faux wood, lucite, or metal handles. (Passing on those with metal handles as I fear they might be hot to the touch if I left the purse lying in the sun.)

The Finds (from far left clockwise): 8" x 14" x 5", Dayne Taylor, c.1950s, $15, from Roadside Vintage Hut; 6.5" x 11" x 5", Filcraft Importing, $25, from A Periwinkle June; 8.5" x 10" x 4", Simon, c.1960s, $28, from Vintage Stew (liner appears to be detached on one side); 6.5" x 8" x 4", $49, from Full Circle Studios (also available from Burlap Bikini, $27.99).

To me these work for a museum or a picnic, but seem a little too formal for the beach. Then there are purses with rolled leather handles - again most are either a little too formal or more appropriate for a picnic in the park.

The Finds (from top center clockwise): Dimensions Unknown, $14.23, from Made Ya Look; 6.5" x 11" x 5.5", c.1950s-1960s, $18, from Bags by Suzi; 7.5" x 12" x 4", Du-Val, $35, from The Vintage Ramble; 9.75" x" x 13" x 5", $28, from Marybeth Hale (leather decoration shows some wear; liner has hole); 8" x 11.5" x 4.75", Gary Gail Signature, $25, from Chic Vintage Styles; 6" x 11" x 4.5", Mr. Jonas c.1960s, $43, from Pineapple Mint (leather hinges on the bottom of the bag are worn).

Then there are these bags that work for sight seeing or visiting a museum but again maybe not the beach. (A few options exceed my budget.)

The Finds (top clockwise): 7.5" x 9" x 4", $24, from The Primitive Fence; 8" x 14" x 5", c.1950s, $40, from Studio 1950 (a couple of breaks in the straw); 9" x 12" x 5", Burlington, c.1960s-1970s, $75, from Skinny and Bernie; 9" x 13" x 5", c.1960s, $60, from Vintage Girl NY (leather shows signs of wear); 9" x 13" x 5.25", $35, from Seesong.

There are so many options from which to choose - all work with very different styles.

The Finds (from top center clockwise): 8" x 14" x 3.5", $35, from Whim and a Prayer; 7.5" x 13.5" x 4", c.1950s, $24, from Dirty City Vintage; 7" x 10" x 4", $24, from The GetUp Vintage (leather shows some signs of wear); 8" x 10" x 4", $29.99, from Emma's Vintage; Dimensions unknown, $25, from the exhausted etiquette (some holes in the liner); Dimensions unknown, c.1950s-1960s, $15, from Blase' Vintage (leather shows signs of wear, front leather clasp is scuffed); 6" x 10" x 6", c.1950s-1960s, $19.99, from The Groove; 7" x 12" x 6", c.1970s, $20, from Hardwire88.

I've "narrowed" the purses to the nine that I'm seriously considering.

The Contenders (shown at relative size to each other) Top Row: 1. 7.5" x 9" x 4", $24, from The Primitive Fence;
2. 7.5" x 13.5" x 4", c.1950s, $24, from Dirty City Vintage (leather straps show wear);
3. 7.5" x 12" x 6", John Romain, c.1950, $50, from Angels Camp;
4. 9" x 13" x 5.25", $35, from Seesong;
5. 6.5" x 12" Bag, $14, from Another Thyme.
Bottom Row: 6. 7" x 12" x 6", c.1970s, $20, from Hardwire88
(liner appears to be pulling away from the wicker, needs to be reattached); 7. 6.5" x 11" x 5", Filcraft Importing, $25, from A Periwinkle June;
8. 9.75" x" x 13" x 5", $28, from Marybeth Hale (leather decoration shows some wear; liner has hole); 9. 6.5" x 11" x 5.5", c.1950s-1960s, $18, from Bags by Suzi. 

If you were me, which purse would you chose for your Caribbean honeymoon and why?