Okay, so I stumbled across some 70s fashion pics last Thursday while cleaning my attic, right? Found my mom’s old photo album stuffed behind cobwebbed boxes. Those purses she rocked? Total fire. Got me thinking—why aren’t we still wearing these? Decided to dig through thrift stores and my own closet to match vintage purses with modern outfits. Here’s how it went down.
Phase 1: The Treasure Hunt
Hit up three thrift shops downtown with a coffee in hand. Wasn’t just looking for ANY purse—hunted specific 70s vibes: crochet, metal clasps, those awkward trapezoid shapes. Found a chunky brown leather satchel with buckles ($8!) at the second spot. Almost tripped over a rattan basket-style purse near the shoe aisle. Score.
- Crochet round purse – fluffy yarn, smells like grandma’s attic but in a good way.
- Faux-croc clutch – gold clasp barely works, but looks expensive.
- Belt bag – actually just a fanny pack, but we’ll call it “retro chic”.
Phase 2: Outfit Experiments
Dumped all the purses on my bed Saturday morning. Picked seven regular outfits from my wardrobe: jeans-tee combo, floral dress, office slacks, etc. Rule: No buying new clothes—only work with what I own. Started pairing:
- Rattan purse + sundress: Looked like vacation mode. Added flip-flops? Instant beach babe.
- Crochet circle + ripped jeans: Weirdly cool. Threw on a band tee—boom, Coachella 1975.
- Faux-croc clutch + black slacks: Felt fancy till the clasp popped open mid-test. RIP dignity.
Phase 3: The Frustrations
Got cocky. Tried matching an orange vinyl purse with polka dots to a striped shirt. Big mistake. Looked like a clown car crash. Learned fast: 70s patterns fight modern patterns. Also, those tiny metal-chain purses? Can’t fit my phone. Had to downsize to lip balm and a single key. Felt naked.
Final Takeaways
After two days of outfit changes:
- Earth tones win: Brown leather + neutral outfits = timeless.
- Bold shapes need simple clothes: That trapezoid purse? Only works with solid colors.
- Fanny packs rule: Yeah I said it. Hands-free wins.
Bottom line? You don’t need 70 purses—just 3 good ones. The clutch for pretending you’re fancy, the slouchy leather bag for daily errands, and the ridiculous fringe piece for when you wanna confuse strangers. Mom knew what she was doing.
