The Trouble With Glass: The Gold Purse
Glass beads can twinkle so beautifully as they catch the light that they can make clothing and accessories irresistible. The trouble is that glass is both substantial and heavy. I know one woman who wore a dress decorated with glass beads sitting through a long marriage service on a hard church pew. Ouch! It seems best to opt for glass beads on accessories, but they can still pose a problem.
For example, this lovely vintage purse, a recent gift, sparkles with a kind of start or flower pattern in the middle. It isn’t clear when it was made, but it may date back to the 1950s or 1960s. In both eras, women’s purses were important accessories and choosing them to last was considered part of wise shopping.
So a beautiful evening bag, but it weighs almost 2 pounds. Now, for a certain kind of dinner, where you sit down most of the time or can park your purse, you are good. But I cannot imagine taking it for a moonlight stroll and not finding it a burden.
So weigh--a pun!--the advantages and the disadvantages of a glass beaded garment or accessory before you opt for one whether to buy or to make. Nothing takes the shine off a perfect evening than having to fuss uncomfortably with your ensemble.
