Amity Cooper, owner of Star 50 Handbags, shares her love of fashion and sense of whimsy through
her collection.

I founded Star 50 Handbags in 2002. Shortly after 9-11, I spent a lot of time thinking about what made this nation great. It was such an emotional time and many of my feelings came to me in images; some translated into designs. While I originally set out to create a unique design for each state, it soon evolved into something more. If the bags wind around your heartstrings, that’s intentional.

Modern Heirlooms

I think of my bags as modern heirlooms, because they will trigger a fond memory or impression about a place or time, sort of like your grandmother’s china brings back Thanksgivings gone by. So when you see the Colorado Lodge Tote, you think, That is so Colorado!

I’ve driven across the states several times, and I love seeing what makes each one tick—what it’s like to live and work there, to travel its roads. If you slow down and take a look, there is so much there! Driving also brings up that nostalgic souvenir collecting of the 1940s and ’50s. After World War II, Americans were thrilled to be home, but even more excited to hit the road to adventure. The second boom to move West was a reflection of newfound prosperity and a sense of appreciation of all this great land has to offer. It was all about discovery. I mean, if you went to Niagara Falls or the Statue of Liberty or the Golden Gate Bridge, you came home with something to show you were there. It was a way to preserve that moment.

It’s Still about the Discovery!

Although the kitsch element was high then (think snowglobes and tiny metal statues), the impulse that spurred those purchases is timeless. With the Star 50 collection, you might be inspired by your love of a state to acquire that bag, but it works the other way, too. You might just love the bag for its form or function. Because the designs range from classic to practical to whimsical, there’s really something for everyone.

Why handbags? I was looking for a medium where I could express myself and tell a great story. In the 1930s and ’40s, a woman’s hat was the accessory that carried the day. Today it’s the handbag. As it’s turned out, the handbag has been a perfect fit—it’s compact, a small blank canvas really, and as the line has unfolded, it has enabled me to be the storyteller/artist/interpreter in one. Last, with the Star 50 collection you can literally Choose your state of mind™ every day. Enjoy the trip!

Amity’s Faves

State: Colorado
Vacation spot: Hawaii
Historic spot: That’s really tough. So many great ones, but today the plaza in Sante Fe, New Mexico, is at the top of the list.
Clothing designer: Katharine Maladrino
Shoe designer: Way too tough!
Must-have accessory: A Star 50 handbag, what else?
Childhood memory: Road tripping with parents up to Vermont.

Fun Facts: Amity has a degree in Art History and English Literature, and in an earlier life completed internships with Christie’s Auction House, The Piermont Morgan Library, and St. Luke’s Orchestra. She once lived in Italy, where she traveled the length and breadth of that glorious land.