Hayley Ninnis has a passion for vintage clothing and jewelry and offers a wide range of items through her Etsy site. Among the pieces Hayley Ninnis has sold online is a vintage clutch purse from Bags by Josef featuring a gold tone chain handle and colorful floral embroidery over a black beaded background.
Bags by Josef was a New York company that partnered with Gold Seal Importers, and the clutch’s beadwork was crafted in France. The company’s fashionable accessories included bags of fabric and leather, which were often featured in trade journals such as Haire Publications’ Handbags & Accessories.
According to one mid-50s article in the magazine, Josefs was particularly known for pairing classic shapes with “dazzling imported sequins.” These included lustre sequins designed to match leather and those in specific floral shapes. In one noteworthy bag, a striped pattern was created through vertical rows of bugle beads, pearls, and sequins. Another line of bags was characterized by Ceylon beads that contained geometric sequin insets. From an elegant era noted for its pizzaz and flair, Bags by Josef are sought after by those with an affinity for vintage style.
