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On a recent visit to designer outlet United Apparel Liquidators, I was immediately drawn to a gold mesh handbag with a dark chain strap. I had just been researching 1920s handbag styles and as luck would have it, I stumbled upon just the thing—send a thought into the universe enough and the universe will respond. I discovered it was made by Whiting & Davis, and after some quick Googling on my phone, decided I wasn’t leaving without it.

Whiting & Davis: The Oldest Handbag Company in the U.S.

Whiting & Davis was founded in Massachusetts in 1876 as the Wade Davis Company by William H. Wade, Edward P. Davis and Louis Heckman. The company made sterling silver accessories that were fashionable at the time, including jewelry and stickpins, which are long, straight pins with an ornament on one end that were worn on ties and scarves.

Then a 16-year-old boy named Charles Whiting began working for the company in 1880. He eventually moved up to a management position and designed the first mesh bag in 1892; the bag was made of plated ring mesh and had a twist closure and leaf motif. He and Davis would join forces to buy the company in 1896, renaming it The Whiting & Davis Company.

According to the website, it’s the oldest handbag company in the United States. Initially, the bags were made of metal in different colors joined by rings and decorated with metal fringe. They were made by hand until a machine invented in 1912 automated the process.

Mesh Handbags: The Must-Have 1920s Fashion Accessory for Flappers

During the 1920s, Whiting & Davis bags were being painted with colorful Art Deco and geometric designs and became a popular accessory for flappers, starlets of the silver screen and fashionable ladies of the time. Artists and designers like Paul Poiret and Elsa Schiaparelli lent their creative touch to the collections. Poiret was a well-known couture designer in France and created a Parisian-inspired collection of Art Deco handbags lined with silk.

What I like most about mesh handbags is how the metal captures the light, giving off a mesmerizing shimmering effect. Generally speaking, I am drawn to shiny things. I can see how stylish women of the 1920s and 30s would be fans of these glittering evening bags, adding another glamorous touch to their already standout ensembles.

Catherine Calvert, an American silent film actress, was featured in an advertisement for the brand in 1922 with the quote, “I adore mesh bags… Even were they not the accepted thing among modish women, I confess to the fear that I would possess one simply to revel secretly in the fascination of its gleaming silken-textured mesh.”

I’ve saved a few photos of 1920s advertisements for Whiting & Davis bags on my 1920s Fashion Pinterest board.

Since the one I purchased is really about the size of a clutch, it is a tad small compared to my typical choices. How did flappers fit all of their essentials into such tiny bags? What were those essentials? Of course, they weren’t carrying around cell phones the size of their face. Still, with one hand lotion and a lipstick it’s already pushing capacity. This will definitely be reserved for evenings out when I’m not feeling as dependent on the 20+ things I usually tote around.

Modern Vintage-Inspired Mesh Handbags

While I snagged mine for a deal at just $39, there is a similar style online. The Whiting & Davis “Gibson Girl Crossbody” retails for $115. It’s available in Black or Pewter (mine is in the shade Penny) and has a kiss lock clasp closure, while mine has a zipper closure and foldover top. The description reads that the Gibson Girl Crossbody is “inspired by the feminine ideal of the late 19th and early 20th centuries” and “is a tribute to the strong, independent, confident woman of every era.”

You can shop vintage-inspired mesh bags at whitinganddavisbags.com, Saks Fifth Avenue and Amazon. I especially like the Heritage Collection, which includes handbags at a higher price point printed with city skylines and Deco designs.

In addition to clutches, wallets and crossbody bags, today the company makes jewelry, accessories like mesh lipstick cases and clothing made from mesh fabric that has graced red carpets, advertisements and pages of magazines including Vogue Germany, Cosmopolitan and Shape.

You can find vintage Whiting & Davis items on Etsy, Poshmark and eBay, and Nordstrom has its own line of mesh crossbody bags.

What’s your favorite 1920s fashion accessory? Let me know in the comments!

This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.