Taken: Vintage 1960s Dofan France Handbag

I have a very nice croc-embossed leather Dofan France handbag that is in excellent condition and in need of a stylish home. My grandmother took great care of her handbags, storing them in tissue paper carefully when not is use, and would be saddened to learn I was not using this much desired handbag of hers. In 10 years, I've never actually used it once. She loved accessories and even at 103 years old still changed her handbags to match her outfits. She would just die (again!) if she knew how little attention this cute bag was receiving. So, if anyone has a sweet spot for this bag, I would love to pass it on. My preference would be to receive mailing costs. I think this is a Kelly style, but perhaps I am wrong. I've been looking online at similar handbags and that's a best guess on my parts. It has brass closure and fittings. No rips, tears or other marks. Internal leather pocket has zipper that works well. Please let me know if you are interested.

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10 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Suzanne, I can't help but think that you should keep this beautiful bag or give it to someone who knew your grandmother or a daughter, DIL, or granddaughter. It is very special. Please reconsider.

suzanne

Active Member

That's such a thoughtful suggestion. Right now I only have this one. My mother has many more from my grandmother that she has just stored away. She will never use them either. I kept this one because I thought I might use it and then received another croc bag that is easier to use. No one else in the family has any interest in the bag and it seemed like YLF might be a resource where I could find someone who could really enjoy it. It's already 50-60 years old and in great shape. I hate the idea of it sitting in a closet for decades longer. Seems such a waste somehow. The right stylish person could have fun with it.

Vildy

You inspired me to look up the bag brand online and admire them. I love their stylings. Even more, I love the story you shared about your grandmother, how she was so careful choosing her bag and how patiently she cared for her beautiful things.

OK so I have to share this story. In the 1940s she had more taste and desire than money. She worked for Saks Fifth Ave in New York and had friends working in other big name expensive stores. She bought clothes in less expensive places and in those days they had seamstresses that sewed the store labels into fine clothing. My grandmother traded store labels with her friends who worked in other high end stores; they cut out the labels that were in their cheaper clothes and sewed in the expensive store labels. That way anyone who saw their coats or other garments thought they were expensive items from fancy stores. When my grandmother died, I inherited her sewing box with a big stack of perfect, unused store labels. Ready to be sewn into clothing whenever I might need to impress, I guess. You never know when the need might arise!

April

Suzanne, if you truly want to pass it along and don't have a family member who would love it, I would be glad to use it. I have no black handbag at the moment but have been wanting one to go with black shoes and I *love* the shape and simplicity of this one. Also its vintage-ness and backstory.

Wonderful! I'll send you a note directly.

CocoLion

(website)

Suzanne, I love your story. Nowadays tailor made clothes would impress me more than a Saks label! I am 55 and remember when I was a child, in the 60s, how important certain store labels were.

I am also very touched by your generosity in passing this precious (Made in France!) bag on to a forum member, for nothing but shipping. You have a beautiful heart.

Thank you for your very kind words. I, too, remember the importance of certain labels but thought only of actually buying clothes with the labels. These "shopgirls" went quite a bit further by swapping new store labels among themselves. My grandmother loved fashion, no question about it. And she lived for the perfect find on the hunt for fab-ness. She would have loved this site!

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