“We’re clearing some things out of your grandmother’s house, and we found one of her old purses. It’s still in decent shape. Do you want it?” I’ve always had a bit of an eclectic style and love mixing vintage pieces into my wardrobe, so when my mom asked me this question around the time my grandmother passed, of course I said yes. I figured, if nothing else, it would be a cool keepsake.
When I finally got my hands on the purse, I was surprised by how much I liked it. It was a classic-looking handbag with a hard shell and metal clasp, in good enough shape to wear with a modern outfit without looking out of place. It wasn’t until I opened it that I truly felt the connection back to my grandmother.
Inside the worn inner zipper pocket was a long, thin paper, yellowed with age. It was a pay stub bearing my grandmother’s name and the year 1969. I knew the handbag belonged to her, but holding that slip of paper made it real—made her memory more real. I could picture her leaving the school where she taught and stopping by the teacher’s union bank where she always cashed her check. It made me wonder what else she carried with her. She probably never thought that more than 50 years later, her granddaughter would hold the pay stub she forgot was tucked away in a hidden pocket.
In this Style Issue of TOWN, we explore elements of style as more than just decorative trends, but as timeless pieces of enduring style. In our interview with the author of The Things She Carried, we explore the enduring legacies, politics, and progress carried in purses throughout history. We also take you through a series of modern evening and party looks set inside one of Greenville’s oldest buildings for a truly unique juxtaposition. From elegant cocktails to hand-carved knives to a new downtown shop, it’s all in this issue.
I’ve used my grandmother’s purse quite a bit since receiving it. It’s more than just an accessory. It’s a piece of her. It’s a snapshot of the life she led, and as I continue to use it, inevitably leaving things tucked away, I add my own story for its next owner to discover.
