Lucite® acrylic first emerged into the world of fashion in the form of ladies' handbags after World War II. Designers inspired by the qualities of this futuristic material soon began to experiment, using its versatility to reinvent the traditional handbag with unusual colors and interesting shapes and forms. Almost overnight, Lucite handbags became irresistible novelties; a status symbols for celebrities and style leaders everywhere.
Today, after more than sixty years, these beautiful creations are still treasured for their individuality and jewel-like qualities. Caryn Scheidt has been a collector for over 20 years and has more than 360 examples by all of the major Lucite handbags designers.
"Scheidt's collection is probably among the top three in the world," said Janice Berkson, author of the new book, 'Carry Me! 1950's Lucite Handbags: An American Fashion'.
In her book, Berkson talks of the handbag's heyday in Miami Beach, the vacation mecca of the decade, which became the test market for the purses. "After the war, people needed an outlet for beauty and personality and they started to create these little gems," she said. The purses started out clear and became increasingly embellished with colored tints, faux jewels, pearls, stones and fabrics. Wildly imaginative designers shaped them into rockets, torpedos, bullets, guitars, beehives, flowers, etc. Women covered the contents of clear purses with beautiful scarves, or carried jewelled Lucite lipstick holders and compacts, which were often sold with the bags.
Chris Robinson, Business Manager at Lucite International is responsible for the latest LuciteLux product portfolio, which is even more versatile and inspiring than the original Lucite used in the 1950s bags. Chris and his team are building on the brand's heritage and are revitalising interest in the fascinating world of opportunities offered by LuciteLux.
