In fashion, it’s all about trends. What’s hot, what’s not. Are hemlines up or down? Are pants loose and flowy or fitted? What is more popular, flats or heels? Fashion magazines keep us informed, but a recent trend in purses on social media is “coming in clutch” (see what I did there?), telling us everything we need to have. On some platforms, notably TikTok, the newest must-have is a specific style of beaded purse, and it’s become a white whale for some Gen Z fashionistas.
Some fans might not know that beaded bags have been around forever. Young people, especially online, have a knack for bringing back trends from the past and putting their spin on them. This summer, one TikTok influencer created a viral demand for some random beaded bags, typically found at Marshalls or TJ Maxx. Ever since, hundreds of followers have scoured stores looking to find their version of the new look, which isn’t all that new. Vintage fans have been hunting down beaded bags for a long time at estate sales, shops, and thrift stores.
EARLY DAYS
It might seem like a trite expression, but especially in accessories, everything old eventually seems new again, with items from the past coming back into fashion, sometimes the same as they were, other times in a more updated look. At the turn of the 20th century, beaded bags had a decidedly western appearance, echoing the daily wear and styles of Native American dress. The patterns were typically tribal symbols, and the bags featured long beaded straps and fringe, crafted of mainly leather or suede. Bags like these are popular with collectors who like to display them, rather than carrying them for fashion.
Beading remained a popular look in handbags. However, in the 1920s, the style shifted from tribal-inspired designs to a more art deco look, with carved silver handles, clasps, and intricately embroidered flora designs. The time it took to create the beaded designs and the addition of hardware, sometimes sterling silver, made the bags an instant symbol of luxury and high-end design. For fans of the Roaring Twenties and Gatsby-esque pieces, these bags are sometimes in thrift stores, but many are reproductions, so researching your finds is essential.
MID-CENTURY MODERN TAKES OVER
Once the Great Depression hit, and then World War II, accessories were way simpler, while the world coped with financial issues, material shortages, and supply chain problems. After the war, new designs were sleeker, with an atomic aesthetic of starbursts or sometimes intricate floral designs. Women often had several different purses and styles. Much like hats, gloves, and shoes, every part of an ensemble had to look pulled together, as if curated by a celebrity stylist to hit all the right fashion notes. These bags don’t just sit on a shelf; many who collect them also carry them as part of a retro fashion ensemble.
Because coordination was the style of the time, many women carried change purses, cigarette containers, and carriers for glasses in their handbags. Today, most people don’t carry that many accessories in a bag, but sets were common, often coming with a matching accessory like a keychain or compact. If a bag originally came with a matching compact or other piece, it retains more value if those pieces are with it.
THE HIPPIE BOHO LOOK
Once the “Mad Men” look faded, a new beaded bag appeared. At the end of the 1960s, the tide began to turn away from florals and matching pieces and more towards a boho chic look in the 1970s. Often mixed with shells, macramé bags with beaded accents were no longer fussy formal pieces but the perfect complement to caftans, headbands, and bell-bottom jeans.
The style completely departed from the more fussy and formal look during the mid-century period. It was large enough to carry more than a compact and a change purse. These bags were often handcrafted rather than mass-produced, and while some of them echoed previous styles, with fringe or leather accents, they were a new look for a new generation. Those who remember the 1970s often still make macramé items or seek them out at flea markets. They can be handy for carrying more than small dainty clutches.
TOTALLY BEADED
Towards the end of the 1970s, the flower power Woodstock look was on its way out, and a flashy disco look came in with lots of bling and color. While short-lived, the colors and styles for clothing and accessories in the early 80s were about bright colors and geometric shapes, perfect for intricate beadwork. Beaded purses around this time were mostly clutch styles, suitable for proms or more formal occasions. Clamshell shapes were popular, and the styles were smaller and more feminine than the bulky macramé bags.
FROM BEADS TO BLING
Designers are creative, but there are only so many ways to feature beaded bags, whether boho, atomic, or preppy. Enter the age of crystals. If you wanted something that stood out, the 1990s had Swarovski crystals and, at lower price points, a “Bedazzler,” the home gadget that could add sparkle to just about anything, from cell phones to clothing to shoes.
An iconic brand in this style came from designer Judith Lieber. Her bags were typically metal, rather than soft-sided leather or cloth, and had a hinged opening and figural designs of flowers, fruit, and even fast-food items and animals. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and the Victoria and Albert Museum are just a few world-famous museums that own some of her pieces. They were works of art as well as accessories, and were staples for any red carpet celebrity appearances. Judith Leiber passed away in 2018, so fans of her work don’t usually sell their pieces, and they are becoming asset-class collectibles.
TODAY’S TREND
Beaded bags, as they have for decades, continue to evolve and come in and out of style, each time with some slight variation. While hundreds of Gen Z TikTok creators dash around to every Marshall’s and TJ Maxx location, on a mad scavenger hunt for the “viral” lobster bag, vintage fans are scouring thrift stores for mid-century evening bags.
Still, as every decade has its trends and styles, so does every generation. WorthPoint spoke with Leah Alba, the TikTok Content creator credited with starting the craze over these bags. She told us,
“When posting about the beaded bags I knew it was an emerging trend but never knew how big they would become. I think this shift in style towards vintage-looking purses has encouraged people to thrift/ shop second hand and add charms/ scarves to their bags. For fall I think we are going to see suede and fringe bags make a return!”
If you are looking for a beaded bag, some are available in brick and mortar stores, but take a look at other options, such as online sellers and vintage markets. Do you have a fun and funky beaded bag? Vintage or not, check out the WorthPoint Price Guide to learn more about what you have.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for The Marblehead Weekly News/Essex Media Group. When not writing or walking her snorty pug, Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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