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Mark Maggs, 28, from Henbury, is a Guinness World Record holder for his humongous collection…
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hethe inspire intens passio mere entertainme people love to colle sorts of things. We’ve all heard of people who collect stamps, ticket stubs, teddy bears, Pokemon cards or even snow globes. These collections, however, are truly extraordinary!
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My amazing collection
Vintage lifestyle blogger Kate Beavis, 47, from Bedfordshire, has collected hundreds of quirky handbags over the years…
WORDS BY NIA DALTON PHOTOS: SWNS
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ubbing my bump, I ruffled through the second-hand gems at a local jumble sale. ‘This one is beautiful!’ I said to my husband Adam, now 46. It was 2008 and I was on maternity leave from work with our first baby. Hunting for vintage treasures, I had started to buy and sell handbags on eBay. Along the way, I ended up keeping the special ones. ‘I can’t sell this one, it’s far too unique!’ I said to Adam. That’s how it all began... You see, some people collect coins, others keep train tickets and cinema receipts – I collect quirky vintage handbags. Ticking 1960s designers off my list, I scan vintage shops, jumble sales and charity stores. ‘You’ve got far too many,’ my husband sighs, as I admire my kitsch Princess Charming 50s bag with poodles on the
huffling the cards and handing them out, I played Sports Cars Top Trumps with my family. ‘Top speed: 198mph,’ I read out. It was 2002, and I’d just been gifted my first pack of Top Trumps. That was 18 years ago, and ever since I have been collecting Top Trumps in my spare time. When I was younger, it was just the odd pack to play with. If I saw them in shops or in a
Passion for fashion
cellophane. He doesn’t also in my bedroom even know half – these are my most of them. precious vintage But what he bags such as my doesn’t know, They make a Lucite ones. won’t hurt him! beautiful display The advantage of Plus, that this is that they are doesn’t stop him always out of reach of my kids’ buying me vintage handbags for sticky fingers! Christmas and birthdays. I love that I can see them and Over the past decade, I’ve purchased hundreds of gorgeous appreciate them as a collection. And my mother-in-law bought bags and stored them here, there me the cabinet from a local and everywhere. charity shop. My favourite handbags with ‘The atomic patterns and the interesting fronts are hung on the splayed legs are fab!’ I said to her, grey wall in our bedroom. dusting it straight away. These are mainly windowpane The rest of my handbag bags such as Princess Charming collection is stored in trunks and bags and Enid Collins totes. suitcases piled by my bed. ‘Do they not get dusty?’ my This works really well for friends ask. clutch bags and purses. They do, but I simply clean If I had to choose a favourite them from time to time with a bag, it would be difficult. feather duster. I’ve got an American 60s box I display my box bags in a bag by Enid Collins that’s hand vintage 1950s cocktail cabinet
ainted with jewels. Hunting a car boot sale once, I came across a leather shoulder bag with a bamboo handle. It’s about 30 years older than a Gucci. All of my vintage bags have a story to tell, which is why I love them. My 1940s telephone bags have colourful winding wires on them. After the war, they had very little disposable money to spend, so it’s extraordinary how these bags turned out. Although I do have vintage Chanel, I prefer the more rare and unique brands – that way, fewer people own them. Unlike many collectors, I do use my handbags. I take them off the wall, wear them for a while and then pick a different one when I’m bored. The precious ones I keep for special occasions, like parties. There is something almost safe about vintage fashion. It is nostalgic, more ethical and holds value. Some of them even go up in value over time. If I need a little cash, I can sell them online. My daughter isn’t into handbags, but one day it would be nice to pass them down or give them to someone that loves them as much as I do. For now, I’ll continue to hunt for quirky and over the top gems. Shh, don’t tell my husband! Follow Kate’s collection on her style blog www.katebeavis.com.
