London - Susan Handbags
May 18th 2014, 3:09 pm
#1
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London - Susan Handbags
Okay, this might appear to come out nowhere... but is anyone familiar with this shop? Specifically, I'm trying to track down it's history, owners, etc - especially as it pertains to the mid-1960s. All leads welcome!
Oh... it's a great story if anyone is curious - and involves the rich and famous!
Ian
Oh... it's a great story if anyone is curious - and involves the rich and famous!
Ian
May 20th 2014, 10:35 pm
#2
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
Okay, it appears that Susan Handbags closed years ago. More's the pity... it was a very popular store on Bond St. back in the day, and counted amongst its clients some very high profile people. Thanks anyway!
Ian
Ian
May 20th 2014, 10:44 pm
#3
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
I think I found out as much as you did, in that the store was in Bond Street. I did find a website that had a photograph from Vogue in 1957 (I think) and the model had a "Susan" handbag.
I've contacted a friend that deals in Vintage clothing (mainly bags and scarves) to see if she's heard of them. I'm also going to ask my mother as my parents (especially father) were into the whole Soho jazz scene of the 50's and early 60's. My claim to fame is that dad was briefly moved in the same circles as Francis Bacon and he and mum were invited to his studio. When they came away, dad asked mum what she thought (meaning the artwork) and mums reply was "Well did you notice the state of his curtains!).
I've contacted a friend that deals in Vintage clothing (mainly bags and scarves) to see if she's heard of them. I'm also going to ask my mother as my parents (especially father) were into the whole Soho jazz scene of the 50's and early 60's. My claim to fame is that dad was briefly moved in the same circles as Francis Bacon and he and mum were invited to his studio. When they came away, dad asked mum what she thought (meaning the artwork) and mums reply was "Well did you notice the state of his curtains!).
May 20th 2014, 10:47 pm
#4
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
I think I found out as much as you did, in that the store was in Bond Street. I did find a website that had a photograph from Vogue in 1957 (I think) and the model had a "Susan" handbag.
I've contacted a friend that deals in Vintage clothing (mainly bags and scarves) to see if she's heard of them. I'm also going to ask my mother as my parents (especially father) were into the whole Soho jazz scene of the 50's and early 60's. My claim to fame is that dad was briefly moved in the same circles as Francis Bacon and he and mum were invited to his studio. When they came away, dad asked mum what she thought (meaning the artwork) and mums reply was "Well did you notice the state of his curtains!).
I've contacted a friend that deals in Vintage clothing (mainly bags and scarves) to see if she's heard of them. I'm also going to ask my mother as my parents (especially father) were into the whole Soho jazz scene of the 50's and early 60's. My claim to fame is that dad was briefly moved in the same circles as Francis Bacon and he and mum were invited to his studio. When they came away, dad asked mum what she thought (meaning the artwork) and mums reply was "Well did you notice the state of his curtains!).
How cool.
May 20th 2014, 11:01 pm
#5
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
We have a poster at home that Francis gave to dad. It was just a run of the mill poster advertising an exhibition he was having, but it's our "heirloom"! He also came and visited mum in hospital when she had my sister. In fact, he actually held my sister. Mum had some interesting stories about parties that they attended during that era.
Two other claims to fame: Dad built the desk that the Two Ronnies sat at when saying "And it's goodnight from me/him" at the end of the show.
Dad also worked on the sets for "Oliver" and was mainly responsible for "Fagin's Kitchen". You can only imagine how many times we had to watch the blooming film whilst growing up
Two other claims to fame: Dad built the desk that the Two Ronnies sat at when saying "And it's goodnight from me/him" at the end of the show.
Dad also worked on the sets for "Oliver" and was mainly responsible for "Fagin's Kitchen". You can only imagine how many times we had to watch the blooming film whilst growing up
May 20th 2014, 11:05 pm
#6
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
We have a poster at home that Francis gave to dad. It was just a run of the mill poster advertising an exhibition he was having, but it's our "heirloom"! He also came and visited mum in hospital when she had my sister. In fact, he actually held my sister. Mum had some interesting stories about parties that they attended during that era.
Two other claims to fame: Dad built the desk that the Two Ronnies sat at when saying "And it's goodnight from me/him" at the end of the show.
Dad also worked on the sets for "Oliver" and was mainly responsible for "Fagin's Kitchen". You can only imagine how many times we had to watch the blooming film whilst growing up
Two other claims to fame: Dad built the desk that the Two Ronnies sat at when saying "And it's goodnight from me/him" at the end of the show.
Dad also worked on the sets for "Oliver" and was mainly responsible for "Fagin's Kitchen". You can only imagine how many times we had to watch the blooming film whilst growing up
May 20th 2014, 11:11 pm
#7
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
Here's the link to the Vogue photo: http://barefootvintage.wordpress.com...usan-handbags/
It's the fifth photo down.
It's the fifth photo down.
May 20th 2014, 11:35 pm
#8
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: 31 miles from Cool (California)
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
We have a poster at home that Francis gave to dad. It was just a run of the mill poster advertising an exhibition he was having, but it's our "heirloom"! He also came and visited mum in hospital when she had my sister. In fact, he actually held my sister. Mum had some interesting stories about parties that they attended during that era.
Two other claims to fame: Dad built the desk that the Two Ronnies sat at when saying "And it's goodnight from me/him" at the end of the show.
Dad also worked on the sets for "Oliver" and was mainly responsible for "Fagin's Kitchen". You can only imagine how many times we had to watch the blooming film whilst growing up
Two other claims to fame: Dad built the desk that the Two Ronnies sat at when saying "And it's goodnight from me/him" at the end of the show.
Dad also worked on the sets for "Oliver" and was mainly responsible for "Fagin's Kitchen". You can only imagine how many times we had to watch the blooming film whilst growing up
May 20th 2014, 11:46 pm
#9
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
Since we are coming out of the closet about handbags, my US ex was nuts about Radley in 2003, and the little dog motiff. I never knew if Radley was a special brand, somehow unique? I just remember being dragged to out of the way stores where she spent what I thought was a fortune on handbags
May 20th 2014, 11:55 pm
#10
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
Tell us the story Ian!
May 21st 2014, 12:01 am
#11
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
Since we are coming out of the closet about handbags, my US ex was nuts about Radley in 2003, and the little dog motiff. I never knew if Radley was a special brand, somehow unique? I just remember being dragged to out of the way stores where she spent what I thought was a fortune on handbags
May 21st 2014, 12:11 am
#12
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,535
Re: London - Susan Handbags
Okay, this might appear to come out nowhere... but is anyone familiar with this shop? Specifically, I'm trying to track down it's history, owners, etc - especially as it pertains to the mid-1960s. All leads welcome!
Oh... it's a great story if anyone is curious - and involves the rich and famous!
Ian
Oh... it's a great story if anyone is curious - and involves the rich and famous!
Ian
If you want to buy a Susan handbag, there appear to be some on ebay.
May 21st 2014, 12:23 am
#13
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Posts: 38,612
Re: London - Susan Handbags
Okay, this might appear to come out nowhere... but is anyone familiar with this shop? Specifically, I'm trying to track down it's history, owners, etc - especially as it pertains to the mid-1960s. All leads welcome!
Oh... it's a great story if anyone is curious - and involves the rich and famous!
Ian
Oh... it's a great story if anyone is curious - and involves the rich and famous!
Ian
I have the shop's address as 68 New Bond Street. circa 1965. Phone number was Mayfair 8673.
If the company was registered it may be possible to find out details of this via UK National Archives.
Last edited by BEVS; May 21st 2014 at 1:06 am.
May 21st 2014, 1:57 pm
#14
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
Since we are coming out of the closet about handbags, my US ex was nuts about Radley in 2003, and the little dog motiff. I never knew if Radley was a special brand, somehow unique? I just remember being dragged to out of the way stores where she spent what I thought was a fortune on handbags
May 21st 2014, 2:06 pm
#15
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Re: London - Susan Handbags
