#Mary #Frances #Buy #Handbags #WorthPoint
My introduction to Mary Frances handbags came about 25 years ago when I attended a conference where door prizes were being handed out. Someone sitting near me won a handbag, and all the ladies in proximity were raving about it. When I took my turn looking it over, I understood why they were enamored. Beads, sparkle, luxe fabrics—what’s not to like?
Not long after that, I went to Florida and discovered a boutique with some amazing Mary Frances bags on display. Although it wasn’t an easy task, I picked one I liked the best and splurged on a souvenir to remember a fun long weekend with friends. I still have it, and I’ve picked up a few others in like-new condition in antique malls and at estate sales over the years. When I bring one of them out for a special occasion here and there, it’s like visiting with an old friend.
After I carried one of these beauties to lunch with some of my besties not long ago, I decided to learn a bit more about the company that made these bags I’ve been holding onto for decades. Just as I surmised, I’m not the only one who’s collected them. Building a stash of artsy bags to carry essentials is great, but there are other good reasons to support this business beyond ending up with a pretty little purse.
A Bit of Background on Mary Frances Handbags
As I read about the company, I learned that Mary Frances Shaffer founded her accessories business in 1989 in the San Francisco Bay area, where a vibrant art scene had influenced her as she grew up. She first gleaned ideas for her purses from the faraway cultures she’d explored and natural elements ranging from flora to fauna. As time passed, pop culture also played an essential role in shaping the handbags. Some styles she’s designed are overflowing with quirkiness, while others are simply elegant.
The Mary Frances brand has made Inc. magazine’s list of 5,000 fastest-growing companies several times. Mary Frances also cracked the 500 list a couple of times, back when the business was getting a firm footing in the accessories marketplace. The company has also been recognized as one of the top 100 women-owned businesses in the Bay Area and has received design awards both internationally and regionally.
As the firm has evolved, it has become committed to supporting other women by contracting global partners to produce hand-made accessories in a socially responsible way. As a supporter of Kiva, Mary Frances Accessories also helps extend loans to women worldwide so they can better serve their communities. The business also plants a tree for each bag sold now, with 6,000 planted in 2022 alone. For those looking for socially conscious companies to shop with, this one is certainly an alternative.
More on Collecting Mary Frances Bags
While my own little collection of vintage Mary Frances bags is quaint, there are others out there who’ve amassed dozens of them. One of those ambitious individuals was the late Cecelia Stevens, who was honored by her husband, John, when her collection was donated to the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. The 99 embellished purses were featured in an exhibit called “A Fancy Flourish: Mary Frances Handbags” that ran from January 2023 through May 2024. Among those, I noticed a familiar one and learned the name “Bombshell.” That’s the round, heavily beaded bag in earthy brown hues I purchased in Florida all those years ago.
Recently, I’ve been seeing ads for Mary Frances bags on Facebook, and, in my humble opinion, they’re just as amazing now as they were decades ago. Some of the designs are even more clever than the pretty bags I’ve held onto, including those shaped like owls, sugar skulls, and champagne bottles. The difference is that they’re heavily decorated with tiny seed beads, whereas the older bags were embellished with larger beads and more fabric accents like roses and ruffles in addition to varying quantities of smaller beads.
However, those up-to-the-minute Mary Frances bags can run in the $150-400 range, so that can cause a bit of sticker shock whiplash. Purchasing one does some good in the world, though, so that’s a consideration. Nevertheless, my budget-minded inclination to keep focusing on the vintage ones is less painful to my wallet. I’ve always been a fan of making a personal statement by using unique vintage accessories that no one else is trotting out at the moment anyway.
Values for Secondhand Mary Frances Bags
Bringing things back down to reality for the secondhand shopper, most vintage Mary Frances handbags sell in the $45-85 range, and you can find them for even less when thrifting. This includes examples that are hard-bodied and those made of slouchier fabrics. These older ones often have fancy beaded handles or wrist straps rather than chains like the newer crossbody bags. Picking up one for yourself is a nice treat, or you can buy them to sell online. Always make sure your price is in line with what you can get for the bag using the Worthpoint Price Guide as you shop.
You can also look for the newer bags secondhand as well. They turn up in thrift shops or in arenas like Facebook Marketplace from time to time. You might have to pay more to get those, but you can still flip them for a profit if you buy wisely. It’s a safe bet that I’ll be looking for a couple of those to add to my secondhand Mary Frances stash, too, since I’m apparently always going to be a sucker when it comes to kitschy, blingy bags.
Pamela Siegel is a freelance writer and author who has been educating collectors for more than two decades. In addition to three books on topics relating to antiques and collectibles, she frequently shares her expertise through online writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Chic Antiques by Pamela.
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