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Location July 1935: LuJean Inc. Moved From: 172 Madison Ave. LuJean Bag Co. made bags designed by Miss Jean and Miss Lucy. In 1935, high fashion was dictated by Paris, and Miss Jean had just returned "from a visit to European style centers." The trade publications are full of reports of these trips by bags designers and manufacturers. In the depths of the Depression, this was a political issue, effecting perception and employment. US bags were considered inferior to European goods and designs. The July 1935 issue of Luggage & Leather Goods features this display ad on page 57, announcing the company's move to a larger facility. These bags were part of the LuJean Fall 1936 line, illustrated on page 40 of August 1936 issue of Luggage and Leather Goods. The same issue carries this interview article with Miss Lucy and Miss Jean! WE MAKE EVENING BAGS IN RELATION TO CLOTHES Thus say Miss Lucy and Miss Jean, feminine partners of Lujean, Inc., one of the most individualized enterprises of the handbag industry. We 'believe that what they have to say about their own bags is so fundamental for all good evening and afternoon bags that we are quoting it here for the benefit of our retail buyer readers. "Fashions will be gay for evening. Women like to appear dramatic, light hearted completely different from their daytime selves in their evening clothes. We have made each of our handbags an expression of this idea. Evening dresses are apt to be simple. Accessories therefore, the handbag especially, can afford to be ornate, precious. We watch the development of evening fashions closely. For period influences, for color, for the fabrics used for design themes. We believe that evening handbags must be definitely suited to the evening mode. There is an end-of-day costume which demands its own soft, luxurious handbag. It must be light weight, gay, frivolous. We think velvet belongs here as long as the velvet hat season continues. Then we will follow up with metal threaded velvets, a little more formal. Every store can sell finely made crepe black satin bags, mounted on fine jeweler frames, if they show them. Women want them for more formal costmes which they wear to formal luncheons, bridge, cocktail hours. We believe that brocades will again be accepted toy the very smartest women for evening handbags, just as brocades have been accepted for several seasons past. All-over patterns will be most important. We are showing beaded bags. Solid bead treatments and bead embroideries in open, spaced designs on fine material backgrounds. (The beaded bags they show are beautifully designed. Many of them are tiny repeat patterns which make the bags look as though they were made of amazing materials. One reason why the Lujean partners like beads is that they give the opportunity for work, and work which they believe is a pleasure to do.) We are showing gold kid and silver kid evening bags. We believe in metallic kid as a material for evening accessories. We are planning a few vanity bags to show later. We want to make them light in weight, yet complete. We are showing no sequins . . . yet. Too many dresses are trimmed with sequins and the women who wear them will want handbags of other materials." A summer vacation spent in Bermuda inspired many new designs which they have incorporated in their beaded bags. The passion flower, which they have worked out in colors, and the star fish which they have interpreted as a pattern are two of the ideas which they brought back from the island. February 1942 brought changes to every aspect of American life. LuJean moved with the times, as explained in this news story from February 1942 Luggage & Leather Goods, page 61. Dinner Bags Spotlighted "Because of the new trend for uniforms during the day there will probably be a greater demand for dinner clothes than in former seasons. This is the opinion of Miss Jean, of Lujean, Inc. Accordingly, the handbag collection at this house will stress small dressy types that will complement daylength dinner costumes. This lovely example of LuJean's work was sold at auction in 2004 Doyle New York for $600. Sale 04CT02 Lot 3676 In 1955, Miss Jean left the company to become a designer at Bobbie Jerome. "Bobbie Jerome has moved to new home at 33 East 33rd St., New York. At the same time the firm announces the appointment of Miss Jean, formerly of Lujean Bag as designer. In this capacity Miss Jean will create many new and original bags for this house." (Jan 1955 Handbag & Accessories, page 58) scan Dec 1935 L&L pg 39 Paris Driven Design Categories: Makers |