A Beautiful Mary Frances Purse

Today, I thought I’d share a little Mary Frances handbag I bought a few years ago. It’s the only Mary Frances bag I own. I always carry a small purse because I don’t like the weight of a heavier one. This Mary Frances bag is my favorite for an evening out. You can dress it up or down. It looks great with an evening dress or with jeans…I’ve carried it with both.

Front view…I love all the little details…like the beading.

Back view… This little bag is covered in a wonderful mesh-type fabric, under which appears to be a silk fabric. I fell in love with it when I very first saw it because it has the look of an antique or vintage piece. (Click to enlarge.)

Mary Frances purses are especially known for their intricate detail work…they are usually covered up in beading…and I do mean, covered up! This bag actually has less than most. I love the pink beads you see here. The other beads you see running all over it are a gorgeous green…they are the same color as the fabric, with which this bag is lined.

More details…do you see the pink in the darling iridescent butterfly? I love the soft colors of all the fabrics used to make this bag…like the little pink flowers under the butterfly.

 

Isn’t this just the cutest clasp? (Click to see the little “diamonds” down inside the clasp.)

 

This bag reminds me of Mary Poppins’s bag because it looks like it wouldn’t hold very much, but it’s actually very roomy down inside.

 

It’s lined with a beautiful deep-green fabric…hard to capture in a photo. Each Mary Frances bag is a little different since so much of it is hand-made.

 

Mary Frances bags are available at some Macys stores, Neiman Marcus and on eBay. I bought this one from The Addison Collection online. (Just click on their name to go to their website.)

All the Mary Frances bags have style names, but I can not remember the name of this one for the life of me. If someone recognizes it and remembers, let me know, and I’ll add it to this post. I’m sure it’s been retired by now since it was about to be retired when I purchased it. I normally remove the dangly ‘Mary Frances’ name thingy when I use it…I just like the look of the bag without it.

Do you own any Mary Frances bags?

 

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Comments

  1. You are right. You need to look at those pictures up close to admire all the details.

  2. cedwards55 says

    I love Mary Frances purses. The detail is amazing. I’ve known to “borrow” the detail for pillow designs. My niece once took a job in a little boutique just to get a discount on their MF purses. Silly Girl.
    I vote for wearing the purse with jeans. What an instant signature look!

  3. Such a lovely purse! I have seen a few of these in the past. Beautiful work. Happy PS!
    Lorri

  4. I love the purse it is so pretty, I usually carry one till it falls apart, I love purses just don’t like switching from one to another, I did when I was a teenager thought, you know a different purse for every outfit, now my purse is just used to transport my worldly belongings

  5. Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) says

    I guess I must leave in a “huge” shell. I had never heard of this bag..definetly going to check it out though..hugs ~lynne~

  6. Oh these really are gorgeous bags, I would never have thought of carrying it with jeans, but I think that’s a fabulous idea. It is just stunning. Hugs, Marty

  7. IF LIFE COULD DESCRIBE ME IT WOULD BE A MARY FRANCES PURSE…I DREAM OF OWNING ONE….THEY ARE SO INDESCRIBABLY WHISMICAL AND DETAILED AND BEAUTIFUL AND SO ONE-OF-A-KIND. WE HAVE A BOND WHEN IT COMES TO HER PURSES.
    BOY DID THAT LIVEN MY SATURDAY EVENING…I HAVE NOT POSTED MY PINK SATURDAY YET BUT I WON’T DO ANYTHING BUT DREAM THE REST OF THE NIGHT ABOUT HER PURSES…….
    LOVE YOUR POST
    BLESSINGS
    debbie

  8. Very beautiful bag, very beautiful. 🙂
    Health is the Greatest Happiness & The World at The Present

  9. Stunning! What a lovely purse!
    Happy Pink Saturday!
    Hugs,
    Angela

  10. That is a beautiful little handbag, you are right, the detail deserves a closer look. I love purses, and this one is really gorgeous!

  11. Diane @ Four Paws and Co says

    Wow, this is a gorgeous handbag. It reminds me a vintage formal gown. Just beautiful!
    I haven’t heard of Mary Frances but will check out her website. ♥

  12. Kathy's Red Door Welcome says

    I checked out the official site for these bags and I still think yours is my favorite!

  13. I have never seen a Mary Frances purse but now I am a real FAN!!!!! Thanks to YOU! I will have to go and check them all out NOW!!! Yours is just beautiful and I could see it with evening wear OR jeans, like you said! How lovely and versatile! I just love it! Have a GREAT weekend….we are supposed to have GREAT weather! YEAH!!!!! I am SOOOO ready for Spring! Love, Pinky

  14. tardevil says

    That is a beautiful handbag & it looks so vintage. Although I've been in Macy's, I've never seen them, but I bet I'll look now. It's very pretty!

  15. Oh, Susan, this little bag is precious! I did click and it is wonderfully detailed! It’s just so girly girl!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

  16. Penny @ The Comforts of Home/Lavender Hill Studio says

    What a beautiful handbag! I love all of the wonderful details.
    Hugs,
    Penny

  17. What a beautiful purse. Yes, enlarging it did help me appreciate the details. 🙂

  18. Oh that is gorgeous!

    ~Liz

  19. prof en retraite says

    Hi Susan…What a gorgeous purse! I did enlarge…amazing! Love it! Have a great weekend…no snow, only beautiful sun this time!! 🙂 …Debbie

  20. Cherry's Jubilee says

    HEllo there…I don’t mind at all..I got the pitcher at Michaels…they have several diff. styles…and with 40% off it was only 10.00. Love the details on your purse. cherry

  21. wow, the details of this little beauty is absolutely gorgeous. I have just discovered pink saturdays, i thought i was the only adult woman who loves the color pink…amd im thrilled to see that im not.
    hugs
    janet

  22. TattingChic says

    That purse is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing it. 🙂

  23. Very pretty…lots of beautiful detail! Happy Pink Saturday

    Susan

  24. That is like the most fabulous bag I have ever seen! Love it! Those butterflies and all of the other embellishments are amazing!!!

    Jen

  25. You can tell I lead a sheltered “purse life”. I have never heard of the Mary Francis line. HOWEVER, I will forever have my eyes open for that line of purse, thanks to your wonderful Pink Sat. Post!! That purse is certainly an interesting one!

    Have a Merry Pink Sat! Dana

  26. Cindy J. says

    Our Macys carries a large collection of Mary Frances’s purses and every time I go there I spend so much time just studying the details.. so creative, this one I really love..you lucky girl! Love, Cindy

  27. Life on Bonnie Lane says

    Now that is one gorgeous purse! I love all the little details and the frilly, girly stuff! I went to the website and just fell in love with those bags.

    I bet that a very creative person could take an old purse and fashion something similar to these for much less. That would be a fun project! That would be the only way for me to afford one, lol.

    Kady

  28. Love the purse. I hadn’t heard of Mary France’s purses before, but now I’ll check them out.

    Happy PS

    Kris

  29. fitty's pinky rose cottage says

    wow.. that is one beautiful bag.. I like it too.. we don’t have that brand name here.. but by looking at yours.. I think I need to get one too.. hehehehehehehe.. hoarder me!. thanks for sharing! have a good weekend!..

  30. Hi Susan…this purse is something I could just sit & look at it…it is a beautiful work of art. I think I should scale down to a smaller bag too, because purses can get so heavy! 😉 Bo

  31. WOW! What a gem. You sure have a beauty there and I bet you get lots of comments when you carry it. Heading over the her web site to see more.
    Happy pink Sat, Candy

  32. what a lovely purse. Very special. Happy pink Saturday

  33. Sandra~Romantique Inspirations~ says

    The handbag is so beautiful, I absolutely loooove it. This is my style all the way. The colors are perfect with the amazing details.

  34. carolinajewel says

    Beautiful purse! You are right – I could almost be a vintage purse. Thanks for sharing it! 😀 Jewel

  35. I am a purse girl! I bet you get lots of compliments on that one. It is beautiful.

    Have a great day, Denise

  36. Susan, I would be in love with this handbag, too. It is just gorgeous.

    Happy Pink Saturday.

  37. Light and Voices says

    When you said “look inside” there is room for stuff. Nice purse! Happy Pink Saturday.
    Joyce

  38. Gabriela says

    Happy Pink Saturday!

    Lovely purse!

    ~ Gabriela ~

  39. Your purse is beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

  40. Gorgeous purse. Purses are one of my many collections!

  41. Just BEAUTIFUL! Very vintage looking. Thank you for posting the website.

  42. Raggedy Girl says

    That is so beautiful. I went out and looked and they are pricey but it would be so neat to own just one perfect one like yours. I love it!

    Clocks Spring Forward Tonight
    So Here Comes Spring
    from Roberta Anne

  43. I’ve just come from her site, and yours, Susan, is by far the prettiest one! The detailing, colors, and style are so ME! It bridges different styles, as you said-from fancy to jeans. Too bad it is retired. oh oh- those coveting thoughts are coming out again and the nuns from my childhood catechism classes would not be happy… 🙂
    All the best, Sue

  44. That is one gorgeous handbag! I really like the vintage look to it as well. I am a purse junkie and you can tell a lot about a women by the time of purse she carries. I see you are a “fun” person with an appreciation for the finer things and not afraid to blaze her own trail.

  45. She'sSewPretty says

    That is a beautiful purse. Now I know why Sheila was raving about it!
    ♥Happy Pink Saturday♥

  46. ~CC Catherine says

    Hi Susan! Love the purse! I believe Kathleen Ellis once sold purses very similar to this when she owned her shop, Cottage Pleasures, in PA. This bag is exquisite and well worth a doubleclick! Just wanted you to also know the FIBWOIF button is catching on and some have taken the button and put on their blog and wrote their own disclaimer similar to mine. It’s nice to know we’re not alone! 😉 You have a great weekend! I’m going out to catch a few yard sales! 😉 ~CC Catherine

  47. Fifi Flowers says

    FAB purse! Handmade… WOW!
    Happy Pink Saturday… ENJOY!
    Fifi

  48. Teacup Mosaics says

    The purse is soooooo pretty! I am on my way to check out the website.
    Happy Pink Saturday!

  49. Alisa Lucas-Brown says

    Happy Saturday Susan,
    I adore your little purse. I was not familiar with Mary Frances but this bag is absolutely gorgeous. The craftmaship that must go into sewing all those little beads on is tremendous. Thanks for sharing the post and the links :-). See ya for Met Monday. Have a great weekend. 🙂
    Alisa

  50. This purse is incredible!!!

    Thanks for sharing it!

    Happy Pink Day!

  51. Elizabeth says

    The attention to detail on that purse is amazing! I loved the hardware even before you showed us the sparkle, but now I have to have something similar!

  52. The Quintessential Magpie says

    Hi, Susan… I am fascinated by that purse! A lot of work obviously went into making it! So much detail, and I love the pink and blue on it. Neat find! 🙂

    I am thinking of doing Tablescapes with you on Thursday, but is there a theme for this Thursday? I thought I would do Thursday this week because I’m tied up traveling on Friday and with a party on Saturday. Is that okay to just join in for one, not being one of your regulars? I hope to do more later after the insanity of March dies down.

    Happy Pink Saturday…

    XO,

    Sheila 🙂

  53. That, my dear, is a work of art! Congratulations! Its beautiful, Susan! I just adore my visits to your porch!

  54. Susan, your purse is lovely…so delicate and fragile. Very sweet!

    Barb/Bella Vista

  55. I couldn’t believe the detail when I enlarged your photos … WOW!!!

  56. Those purses are insanely beautiful! I may have to shop there for a bag for my son’s wedding this summer. Love, love it!
    Kathy

  57. Cute, cute, cute!!! Happy Pink Saturday!

  58. Very beautiful handbag.

  59. imjacobsmom says

    I am not familiar with Mary Francis handbags, I’m glad you posted her website. I think I still like your purse the best – just enough embelishment but not too much. I bet it looks great with jeans. Happy Pink Saturday. ~ Robyn

  60. The purse is divine and clicking to enlarge it for the detail was even better. I can see where you could either dress it up or down. Lovely Susan! Have a grand weekend, I am off to Palm springs next week….Hugs, Jan

  61. It is just too lovely

    Happy Pink Saturday

  62. That purse is amazing! The details are stunning. Happy Pink Saturday.

  63. Ohhhhh your purse is a work of art!! I have a “thing” for purses and I clicked and enlarged every pic! Too pretty! 🙂 L~

  64. Pink Saturday is so much fun for me and especially fun when sites like yours participate. Thanks so much for sharing with me today! I ♥ your blog!

  65. That is an amazing Purse! Thanks for sharing your Pink!
    Happy Pink Saturday!
    Jennifer

  66. TRES BELLE says

    Well, so this is the blog where the Mary Frances purse is. Someone, mentioned (forgive me for not remembering who..so many blogs so little time) how she looooooved this purse and I have to admit it is gorgeous. I checked out the place you mentioned and they are having a great sale on discontinued purses, compacts, etc.. great prices.

    Happy Pink Saturday.

    Kris

  67. Sit-N-Chat says

    Oh I did, I did enlarge. And it was worth it. How very pretty. I am not a purse person, at least not like my friends, but I really do like this one.

    Have a wonderful Sunday.

    Jennifer

  68. Tales From My Empty Nest says

    I have never heard of these purses. I will certainly be on the lookout for them now. They are beautiful!!! Have a great weekend. Love & blessings from NC!

  69. Florida Sue says

    What a special purse! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I am very honored to receive your comments. I will be back for M Monday!

  70. Dena ~ swaddlecottage says

    I have never her of these before! It looks so magical! It makes me think of Mary Poppins too 🙂

    Hugs,
    Dena

  71. Terri and Bob says

    Whoa, that is gorgeous!

    I am having to make my blog private, what a pain! If you would like to be a part of my readership, please send me an email at [email protected]

  72. English Cottage in Georgia says

    What a BEAUTIFUL purse. Uhoh, I feel another want coming on…just when I was giving up ebay 🙂

  73. lvroftiques says

    Susan your Mary Frances purse is soooo pretty! Like a romantic victorian era purse! I love all the delicate details!It’s sooo pretty it’d be a shame not to display it! And I know just what you mean about looking for the “perfect chandelier” It needs to speak to your heart……As well as accommodate your pocketbook…and that’s no easy task I know *winks* And the chandy in your DR is chandylicious!! Vanna

  74. I’ve never heard of these purses before, but I am a purse frenzy person! I love to buy them on sale. I love clicking on photos to enlarge them; I do it all the time! I adore your blog. It’s one of my all time favourites. Your pictures are just stunning. Happy PS!

  75. Hi Susan,
    the bag is just beautiful. I love girly bags!

    ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*´¨)
    (¸.·´ (¸.·´ Happy Pink Saturday!
    Deanna 😀

  76. The American Homemaker says

    I absolutely LOVE it!

  77. That bag so totally matches you.It is special and so lovely,just like it’s owner,awwwwwwwwww…Ann

  78. Miss Janice says

    Susan, I am arriving a bit late…but I just love your Mary Frances bag.

  79. Glenda/MidSouth says

    Wow – that is so pretty. Don’t know that I have ever heard of Mary Frances bags.
    Glenda

  80. HI, I am totally addicted to MF purses. As of today I have 16 and 3 0n the way, plus one on order to come in June. ☺️ I love how each one is so unique and have such great detail. I feel like they are a piece of art. I love yours. And I agree how you can dress them up or down. Totally makes your outfit. Stay safe and healthy!

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