ralph and fred








i really love these ralph lauren handbags, who wouldn't? 
they were inspired by native american indians.
















i recently found this authentic fred harvey handbag at an estate sale for $30.  and the matching wallet for $5. i couldn't believe my eyes when i spotted it.  fred harvey is credited for creating the first restaurant chain in america.  he employed native americans to make handbags and jewelry to sell to his customers.  so while ralph's handbags were inspired by, this handbag was made by a real native american indian sometime during the 1930's or 1940's.   
once in awhile i get lucky.


xo
janet



45 comments

  1. You are a lucky girl. That's a lovely bag as well; I love the color.

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  2. Very cool! I like that yours has an authentic vintage look.

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  3. Oh that's fascinating, I stayed in South Dakota with the Lakota Sioux for 6 months year ago. I would love to go to an estate sale for a rummage and if I found a treasure like that it would be even better.

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  4. Hi Ralph! Hi Fred! Janet you're always a lucky girl.

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  5. That is a great find!

    I don't buy things with indigenous designs unless they were made by indigenous people. Too often, fashion designers aren't just "inspired", but rather they directly copy the designs without compensating the original creators (or at least employing them, as Fred apparently did). I'm not saying that Ralph copied the designs on his bags; but I don't know, so I won't be buying it.

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  6. Yours looks soooo authentic and Ralph's look SO like copies. Can NOT believe people pay that kind of money for a purse; all I can think about is the antiques/plants I could buy with that $$$! So happy for your find!!

    xxj.

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  7. A lesson today-thank you! I never heard of Fred Harvey, but after reading the link to him, he was worth reading about! What a beautiful little piece of history you have there, Janet! A treasure--just like you.
    How did you realize that the estate bag and wallet was truly authentic? I would think after one's heart skipped a beat, there were NO second thoughts! :-)
    -Suzanne in Illinois

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  8. You seem to luck out quite a bit actually! You always amaze me with your deals and details. :)

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  9. I have never heard of Fred...you learn something new everyday in blogland.

    I think between shrinking the blue blazer and this find, you are lucky more than once in a while...or maybe it's not luck, but cleverness. I'm going with cleverness.

    Great bag with tons of character. It goes perfectly with your denim shirt.

    You rock, Janet!

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  10. Well done Janet!

    Did your heart start pounding erratically? Mine always does when I find a deal/steal.


    I always want to shout it from the rooftops.

    Guess this blog is your rooftop.

    Love the purse. mean it.

    xo jane

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  11. Oh what a keen eye you have Janet!
    You've got an authentic one which is much finer than RL's versions.
    This is a happy find...

    I'm off to google Fred...

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  12. love it! love it! love it! I will have to look up Fred Harvey - thanks for sharing your find. that red color is divine. just curious, when you go estate shopping - do you look up where you are going, or just drive around? have a great day :) Alicia

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  13. I love the bag, and it's so much better to have a vintage authentic one than a new designer copy. And those designer prices!!!! OMG - I could pay my mortgage for a couple of months with what they cost!

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  14. Janet, you scored again! Beautiful handbag!

    Linda

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  15. You really are one lucky girl!
    I'm green with envy ;)
    Miranda
    SF Bay Area

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  16. Love yours best! Looks awesome :)
    -Jessica & Holly
    Etsy.com/shop/chezjolly

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  17. That is an amazing find!! And a fascinating story to go with it (I had never heard of Fred Harvey, so of course I had to read up on him). Your purse looks so much better than the Ralph Lauren one.

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  18. I love when you show us your classic items without the huge pricetags!
    That purse looks better than the Lauren ones!
    Marge

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  19. Ooh nice bag Janet, v nice indeed

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  20. The perfect lunch bag for glamping. Hang THAT in your teepee!

    Such a cool thing to have!

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  21. I wonder if Ralphs ones are Made in China/Vietnam/Macau/etc like everything else these days. If so, probably not made by Native American Indian hands.

    Janet, I think your 'good luck' comes from keeping your eyes open, going places others don't, being interested and many other good things. A lot of the time we make our own good luck.

    You have fabulous legs too Janet. You're the whole package!

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  22. That's a great find, Janet!

    xo
    Claudia

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  23. Wonderful handbag!! Well done!

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  24. Janet,

    What a great find! I think that's definitely something I would have paused for and taken a closer look, but like Adrienne said, you learn something new everyday in blog land. I have never heard of Fred Harvey either. It looks great with your white and chambray!

    xo
    annie

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  25. You taught me something new today too! :)

    I admire your style and the way you share it with your readers.

    All the best!

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  26. Ooo, you lucky, lucky girl! It appears that you have major thrifting talent for clothing and accessories. I am sorely lacking in that area. This post is so apropos -- while on vacation I've been ogling my mother and brother-in-law's Native American rug collection from around the same era. Beautiful, beautiful designs.
    Camille

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  27. A woman after my own heart--vintage rules!! I love your fabulous find. Nicely done! xxBliss

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  28. F A B U L O U S.... ralph would love yours! xx pam

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  29. LOVE that bag! Also love hearing great find stories like this! Keeps me active on the search, haha! Enjoy!!!

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  30. Oh my goodness, that bag is some find. If you didn't live on the other side of the ocean I'd be tempted to pop round and borrow it. x

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  31. YOUR bag is beautiful! the story behind it plus its workmanship.
    what's not so beautiful ...
    people who actually spend $3000 dollars on a PURSE?????
    i just can't help but think of how that money could save a child who's starving or non-schooled... or hundreds of abused animals that need care.
    our priorities in this country are ridiculous!
    you, on the other hand are a true gem!
    love,
    tammy j

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  32. I've never met Fred. What a great find.

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  33. Yummy yummy yummy Janet. That indeed is an authentic piece of treasure.
    Going great guns here, I know I'm bragging, but I am beating all the other (male) patients here in the Spinal ward, whizzing around doing laps of corridor shuffles (then ringing nurses for painkillers to recover from the whizzing).
    Love
    Louise

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  34. so fantastic too that the red picks up the rest of your 333 colour palette. I think they call it serendipity. Well done for shrinking the blazer by exactly the right amount too. I know how you felt but it was a RISK WORTH TAKING.

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  35. What a fantastic find. It's SO exciting when we stumble across a rare find. Thanks for sharing about Fred - I'd never heard of him. All the best.

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  36. Great bags, but great price tags! Viva la vintage.

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  37. I can't believe that no one remembers the Harvey Girls. I guess Judy Garland movies that aren't "The Wizzard of Oz" are not watched anymore. If I were inclined to feel old, this would do it.

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  38. What a lovely bag. I used to have a rug like that, seeing the bag brought it back to me - I hadn't thought of it for years. I really liked that rug.

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kindness is never out of style.

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