Although they take their inspiration from vintage cavalry bags, saddle bags, and mail pouches, Dooney & Burke handbags live squarely in the 21st century. Founded in 1975 in Norwalk, Connecticut, where Peter Dooney and Frederic Burke’s hobo bags, purses, and clutches are still made today, the company has commissioned celebrities to design its products, such as its 2008 collaboration with movie and TV star Hayden Panettiere, who conceived an Italian calfskin clutch for the company, which was savaged by some critics for its distractingly large 24-karat gold-plated lion's-head closure.
More recently, Dooney & Burke partnered with Disney on a line of resort bags, in tooled leather or limited-edition fabric prints. These Disney Dooneys, as they are sometimes called, feature images of Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell, and various Disney theme park “Lands.” But the company’s leather bags remain its calling card, whether it’s an ostrich “Janine” satchel, a crocodile “Susanna,” or a crossbody in suede or patent leather.
Interviews & Articles
Lucite in the Sky with Diamonds

Of all the fashion accessories of the 1950s—Ray-Ban sunglasses, Pucci scarves, Eisenberg cocktail rings—none were more dazzling th… [more]
Purse Perfection: Judith Leiber on Faberge, Rhinestones, and Her Favorite First Ladies

When I was a girl, my mother had a lot of wonderful handbags. My dad traveled often in Western Europe. Every time he came home he … [more]
Abigail Rutherford on the History of Vintage Handbags and the Rise of Women's Rights

Even as a young girl, I was interested in the historical aspect of handbags. I probably started collecting in high school when I b… [more]
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Bag Lady University is the place to learn about handbag makers from Adrian's, which made Bakelite bags, to Whiting … [read review or visit site]
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