Location January 1955:

Leslie of Miami
Miami, Florida

Leslie of Miami specialized in bags assembled of a variety of materials including lucite, wood and textiles. The innivative Crook handle was featured in this story in the "Out of The Bag" column in the January 1955 issue of Handbags & Accessories, page 40.

This example exhibits several distinctive Leslie design elements. The wood body is covered with millinary braid, an unusual use of a matreial with many variations. The lucite lid is hinged about 1/3rd of the way across the top. This bag for Spring was the first produced by the merged Leslie of Miami and Patricia of Miami PatriciaOfMiami.

Crook handle novel on Leslie bags

"Leslie of Miami offers many interesting new treatments in its resort and spring handbag line. Completely different is the crook, half handle that is used on many styles.

A semi-see-through effect is achieved by polished cut glass type lucite in front and plain clear window in back. This is particularly effective in a bag of millinery braid with a rhinestone studded braid bow on lid. Inner hand carving in colors gives a three dimensional look to clear plastic insert on a rope basket. Opaque plastic lids painted with black silhouette figures or colored fish and seascapes are unusual. This is seen on enameled rope or imported millinery braid baskets. New too is a series trimmed with 24 kt. gold plated filigree metal.

All bags this season are made with metal hinged lid. There are unusual scalloped shapes, oblongs, shallow and deep silhouettes in white, black and mouth watering pastel colors." (January 1955 issue of Handbags & Accessories, page 40)

The merger between Patricia of Miami PatriciaOfMiami and Leslie of Miami was announced to the trade in the January 1955 issue of Handbags & Accessories, page 45.

GALLERY

Leslie bags have a whimsical quality and often feature travel of histrical images painted on the top. The clear rotating lucite latch is diagnostic and can be used to attribute a bag whose label is missing.

This Pastel Pink Leslie bag measure 10" long, 5" wide at the top, narrower at the base and 4" high. The tilted handle is an ergonomic design, allowing the bag to sit comortably next to the body. The lid is hinged at the back and the lid is embellishe with an Orential design, trimmed in flat backed rhinestones. The bag is lined in dotted pink tafetta and carried the woven fabric label. The bags sold at auction in 2005 for a mere $31.

!! Mother-Daughter Set!!

C00200A: Leslie of Miami Lucite, wood and braid collage bag A refreshing Lucite, wood and braid collage bag, unsigned but probably Leslie of Miami. This bag coordinates with the smaller version below to make a Mother-daughter set. The white Lucite lid is embellished with an oriental style boating scene. The shiny silver fittings are in excellent condition including the four metal feet. The interior is fully lined in spotless navy faille. The wooden body is bound with pale blue and silver braid. Excellent condition inside and out. Measures 8 1/2 x 5 x 3 1/2 inches.

The bag is available for sale for $185 at The Bag Lady Emporium.

C00200B: Cute as a bug Lucite, wood and braid collage bag, unsigned but probably Leslie of Miami. This bag coordinates with the larger version above to make a Mother-daughter set. The white Lucite lid is embellished with an oriental style boating scene, this one only half the size of the Mother's version. The shiny silver fittings are in excellent condition including the four metal feet. The interior is fully lined in spotless navy faille. The wooden body is bound with cream white and silver braid. Excellent condition inside and out. Measures 6 5/8 x 4 x 2 7/8 inches.

The bag is available for sale for $110 at The Bag Lady Emporium.

A00269: The shape is the thing that’s outstanding about this unmarked Leslie of Miami Gem!. The white Lucite lid and arched strap handle top the wooden body which is covered with iridescent Mother of Pearl acetate, fixed in place with decorative silver tacks. The bag is unlined and attributed to Leslie of Miami by the hardware, especially the rotating solid clear Lucite turn style latch. Measures 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 4 1/4“. Excellent condition.

The bag is available for sale for $185 at The Bag Lady Emporium.

Categories: Makers