What used to be a pouch used to carry necessities has evolved into a major fashion statement used to carry more fashion and everyday essentials.  It is sometimes a status symbol, and honestly it always has been.  In fact, did you know Louis Vuitton has been around since 1854?  Whether you consider your purse a necessary accessory or just a frivolous bag, the history of the whole handbag is intriguing.

1800-1920s:  This is when a more modern handbag came about.  People began to travel, so the need for different bags and cases was greater.  Louis Vuitton designed a travel case that was durable yet fashionable with the wealthy class.  The modern handbag was first small suitcases before it evolved into what we know now.  Brand names like Prada and Hermes came about in this time to create what we know as the designer handbag.

The 1920s brought about the clutch, and it became very popular among women wanting to be taken seriously.  The 30s and 40s brought about novelty bags, although clutches were still popular.  Purses were made into different shapes and styles, whether it was an animal or a particular object.  These gave way to a more sturdy and industrial look to the designers in Europe once World War II rolled around.  They were simple and useful and made out of any materials that could be found.  In America, however, large suede and crocodile bags were popular during war time.

1945-1960s:  European designers began making couture handbags.  Designer bags became all the rage, including styles from CoCo Chanel and Hermes.  In fact Grace Kelly carried a Hermes bag, which is why it is name the Hermes Kelly bag to this day.  It showed an air of elegance and sophistication.

1960-1970s:  The status of a woman was determined by the bag she was carrying.  Fashion was big in the 60s, and handbags were fun and quirky for the younger crowd.  Bold prints and odd materials were used in designing purses and were made to cater towards all social statuses.  Of course, hippies loved the cross-shoulder bag because it allowed more freedom. 

1980-2000s:  Designer handbags, backpacks, big bags were the name of the game.  Business women carried bags to represent their drive in the marketplace.  The bag called the Baguette was also around and named because it fit under a woman’s arm like a loaf of bread.

2000-now:  Handbags are true fashion statements.  You have a purse for every season in any color you can imagine!  Even those with low budgets tend to spend a lot of money to have a certain logo on their purse. 

Purses have been around for centuries, but their use has changed over time.  Whether you have the “it” bag of the season or an old trusty stand-by, the fact is that every woman carries one in some form or another.  Besides, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, right?

What is more magical than a Christmas wedding?  The reds and greens, the glistening snow, and the cheery attitudes all make for a perfect wedding day.

Of course favors are important to any wedding, but for a unique winter wedding idea, fill small Christmas stockings with candy, ornaments, candy canes, or whatever your heart desires.  Your guests will love the creativity!  Another idea for a favor is to send your guests home with a cd of your favorite classic Christmas tunes.  It is something that they can pull out from year to year and think of you!

As far as the reception, you can ask your caterer to serve a traditional holiday meal to make it feel like one big family dinner.  You can serve egg nog, hot cocoa, or even spiced cider to make it feel even more like a big, happy Christmas wedding.

You need to take good care of your bridesmaids on your big day, as they are the most important to you.  You can adorn them in some beautiful crystals to go with a winter wonderland theme.  If you want classy, find some pearls.  If you want cheery and bright, go with a green or red piece of jewelry.  Silver is also a great color to use for your bridesmaid jewelry.

Whether you choose to go with a winter wedding or a traditional Christmas wedding, it is very easy to make it beautiful.  If you want your wedding to be magical, why not get married on the most magical time of the year?

This month I have chosen to give away a custom made Steampunk ring. My Steampunk rings are specially made with vintage (non-working) watch movements, Swarovski Crystals and adjustable high quality filigree rings.  The winner may choose up to three crystal birthstone colors. For more detailed information click on the picture. Winner will be chosen by random.org on June 30th. Winner will be contacted through email. Giveaway is open worldwide & includes FREE SHIPPING.

A total of 5 possible entries! 

1 Entry =  The only mandatory one. Subscribe to the awesome Inspired by Elizabeth newsletter by submitting the form below. Make sure to check your email to confirm your subscription. I do not receive your entries unless you confirm. You don't want to miss out. If you are already one of our fabulous subscribers post a comment below letting us know so we can count your entry. 

Good luck and thank you for helping to spread the word about how amazing Inspired by Elizabeth is. You rock!

One of the most popular wedding themes for the past several years has been the Peacock Wedding. And who can resist such luxurious colors in rich teal and warm purple amethyst.  Some brides add a hint of peacock flair to their wedding using hints of color in flower bouquets and their bridesmaids dresses. Others go all out incorporating peacock themed wedding cakes and even boutineres. Are you planning a peacock theme wedding but are short on inspiration? Check out this collection from The Knot

Inspired by Elizabeth offers Wedding Jewelry Collections in many colors & styles.  

It turns out, the hottest color for spring is often overlooked as a color at all. The spring 2014 New York fashion week runways were beaming with white from such top designers as Carolina Herrera, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren & Phillip Lim. White represents purity and freshness unlike any other color. It evokes memories of weddings, the spring, something pristine you do not want to tarnish or stain. Throughout time white has held many different meanings and has been used for many different traditions and customs.

Although a crisp white outfit is certainly nothing new, it is how we use this color in our expression and in our décor that gives it new life and purpose. I personally hadn’t (until recently) bought anything white since I was old enough to buy my own clothes. When I was about 11 a woman came in to visit our girl scout troop to "read our colors.'' In other words to examine our skin tone, hair and eye color and inform us what colors would suit us best. Looking back, it was pretty cool for a bunch of young girls, who hadn't yet learned-or cared-that clothes should probably match.

I distinctly remember the women holding up a swatch of the color white to the side of my face. She made a disgusted look then told me "Honey ecru or off white is a much better choice for you."

I thought of this moment as I stood in the dressing room last week with a handful of white shirts. “Screw her!” I thought and laughed. It turns out white does look pretty good on me. I'm actually wearing my new white top right now as I type this post. The great thing is that it matches everything in my wardrobe. How do you use white in your wardrobe or throughout your home? What decade is your favorite? Don't miss a beat join my mailing list today!

Elizabeth



 

Welcome to the new Inspired by Elizabeth homepage and home to our amazing monthly giveaways. A big thank you to all my wordpress blog subscribers that have switched over to my new & improved website. There may still be a few kinks to work out but it is so much easier to have everything all in one place.

This month I have chosen an extra special piece to kick things off with. This handmade Steampunk necklace is made with a vintage (non-working) watch movement, Swarovski Crystals and an 18mm vintage sapphire blue glass jewel. The necklace dangles from a 15" silver tone chain. For more detailed information click on the picture.

Winner will be chosen by random.org on April 30th. Winner will be announced in Inspired by Elizabeth newsletter, Facebook & twitter. Winner will also be notified through e-mail. Giveaway is open worldwide & includes FREE SHIPPING.

A total of 5 possible entries! 

1 Entry =  The only mandatory one. Subscribe to the awesome Inspired by Elizabeth newsletter by submitting the form below. Make sure to check your email to confirm your subscription. I do not receive your entries unless you confirm. You don't want to miss out.

1 Entry= Share an item from https://www.inspiredbyelizabeth.com/ on Facebook.

1 Entry= Pin an item from  https://www.inspiredbyelizabeth.com/  on Pinterest.

1 Entry= Tweet about an item from https://www.inspiredbyelizabeth.com/  on Twitter.

1 Entry= Share this blog post on any social media sites you choose.

Good luck and thank you for helping to spread the word about how amazing Inspired by Elizabeth is. You rock!

As a jewelry designer of many vintage and vintage inspired jewelry pieces, including Steampunk Jewelry, I am often asked,' “What is steampunk?” Much to my dismay, family members have often stated when introducing me, "This is Elizabeth she makes amazing steamroller, steamboat, or steamtrunk (your pick) jewelry.” This polite misunderstanding is the inspiration for this fabulous blog post.

Time Magazine recently named Steampunk one of the hottest new fashion trends. Any Steampunk fan can tell you that there is nothing new about this subculture's popularity. Oxford dictionary defines Steampunk as “a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-poweredmachinery”.

Steampunk is deeply rooted in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. It combines the mechanics of the past with the technology of the future. The term Steampunk was actually coined in the 1980’s and has influenced film (Metropolis), television (Castle), Literature, video games & fashion. Once your world has been opened up to the idea of Steampunk you will begin to see it everywhere.

So tighten your corset and enter your time machine because this “trend” isn’t going anywhere.  And for that I am very grateful!


                               Elizabeth