Shades of Liz Claiborne

"80s Covergirl" Kuler Motif

Liz Claiborne purses took the ’80s by storm with their geometric motifs and vast range of colors. Whether the triangles were raised or printed in dark outlines on the purses, the effect was equally fabulous. And now these little gems are back! With the help of Etsy friends and color schemes from Adobe website Kuler, we celebrate the multi-hued possibilities of Liz Claiborne.

We start with the 80s Covergirl motif from Kuler member letskulering, shown above. Can’t you just see the shades of foundation on a Cover Girl ad featuring Christie Brinkley? If beige and taupe are in your wardrobe, or you want to go retro tan, pick up a vintage Liz Claiborne purse in an earthy tone. It will go with everything! Below we see two amazing selections. On the left is a vintage envelope purse from Etsy shop Fishing for Lions. On the right we see a grey crossbody bag from Etsy shop Amy Vintage Treasures. A special thank you to both shops for the use of their images for today’s post.

Liz Claiborne purses in shades of beige and grey

If boldness is your game, whet your appetite with the Knight Rider color scheme from Kuler member matthepworth. Can’t you see the gradient visuals from supercar Kitt’s voice box? Plus, who doesn’t love a red and black palette?

"Knight Rider" Kuler Motif

To extend this powerful color combo into the realm of purses, we spotlight four striking Liz Claiborne finds from four stylish Etsy shops, shown below. First we feature the black cross body bag from Floria Vintage (below, top left). For a slightly lighter look, check out the navy blue monogram cross body bag from The Speckled Perch (bottom, left). We move into red territory with the burgundy cross body bag from Vintage Arm Candy (top, right) and steer into fire red with the red vintage purse from Betsy.Etsy. A special thank-you to all four Etsy shops for the use of their images.

'80s Liz Claiborne purses in shades of navy, black and red

We end with a duo of vivid brights. As you may remember, Liz Claiborne veered into the world of neon hues with her purse and handbag designs. Perhaps you owned one of these eye-catching essentials, or maybe you were like me and felt too shy to purchase something so saturated. Well it’s not too late… To set the mood, we take a look at the 80s Surf Skate color scheme from Kuler member lorenzo.perez:

"80s Surf Skate" Kuler Motif

Now we bask in the glow of two unforgettable purses. Check out the kelly green bucket shoulder bag from Etsy shop SilentCulture (below, left). Though the piece has sold, we couldn’t help but feature it as a reminder of Liz Claiborne color possibilities. And we can’t forget the berry tones! Enjoy the fuchsia pink handbag from Etsy shop Dahlila Found (below, right). Not only is the piece an amazing color, the shape is ultra unique. A special thanks to SilentCulture and Dahlila Found for the use of their images.

'80s Liz Claiborne purses in green and fuchsia

If today’s post has reignited a passion for Liz Claiborne, keep in mind that these collectible purses are often found in the $30-$40 range, making them an affordable addition to your vintage wardrobe. With a myriad of styles and colors reemerging, the rainbow sky is the limit! Have a colorful Monday…