Lori Blaser calls her 1940s textured metal cocktail purse by Italian company Walborg, a lipstick-keys-ID purse, because not much will fit in the glamorous bag. Or, so she claimed, until she put it to the test. It fits the average Blackerry or I-phone, and reading glasses. The only thing that was little too bulky, was a camera. ”I have never seen one like this,” said Blaser. This says a lot, since Blaser has co-authored the definitive book on historic purses, and a has a personal collection in the hundreds. Although some of her purses date back to the 1500s and are museum quality, she does collect modern purses like the metal one she brought to the Del Mar Show. Blaser celebrated her 54th birthday at the January Del Mar Show. She stayed with her friend and fellow purse collector Mary who lives in Dana Point. Blaser’s husband, Carey Michael Blaser, was recently awarded the greatest honor of his life, by becoming the 1001st friend on the Facebook Collector Network. Blaser was born in Detroit, Michigan but her family moved when she was three. She is now a California girl through and through.
Category Archives: Purses
Whiting & Davis enamel mesh at Vintage Fashion Expo
Several dazzling Whiting and Davis enamel mesh purses will be making their debut in the space of Jeanne Little at the upcoming Vintage Fashion Expo in Santa Monica.Also making the cut will be a “fabulous 1940s fabric purse with a really unusual jeweled frame,” she said. She may not yet be able to part with the incredible figural petit point with jeweled frame that she bought at the San Francisco Vintage Fashion Expo. ”I’m not sure if it will make the trip to the Expo, or stay home with me,” she said. The Vintage Fashion Expo in Santa Monica is slated for October 17th through 18th. Tickets are $10 and students are free on Sunday with student I.D. For more information, contact John Maxwell at (707) 793-0773.
In stitches
Despite her bookworthy collection of historic handbags, The Princess of purses, Lori Blaser, still manages to track down some incredible bags at local antique shows. At the recent Bustamante Show, she uncovered a circa 1850 English sewing purse complete with needles, thread, and bobbins. She valued the purse from Maria Karlson, which is now part of Blaser’s personal collection of elite bags. She valued the sewing purse at between $450 and $650.
