I LOVE VERA BRADLEY HANDBAGS, particularly some of the older, now retired handbag patterns. Are these patterns gone forever, or is there still somewhere I can find them?

It seems that when a pattern is retired it’s almost impossible to find the pattern at an official retailer because they stop making them. You may find a few here and there, and when you do it will be best to pick it up right away because you never know when you will see it again. It is this kind of strategy that has led to their exclusiveness in it’s design and style of purses and handbags.

One place you can find retired handbags, purses and patterns is at garage sales. It seems far-fetched but there are some people who just do not realize what they have and will be willing to part with their Vera gem for a few dollars. I have a friend that picked up a $.50 cent Mesa Red Hipster like this. These opportunities may be more rare than actually finding the purse in a novelty shop but at least it will be much cheaper.

But to me, the best option is simply to buy the retired handbag patterns online. This saves both gas and time in your search. There are many stores that have been popping up online lately and some of them are very poorly put together. Make sure you find a trustworthty store to do your business with and one that has a great variety of patterns and accessories.

Try an eBay store that sells only Vera Bradley. What’s great about eBay is that you will find people who are looking to sell there old purses so that they can afford the new one they want so badly. You will find a huge selection of over 5,000 items at one time on one of these stores. You will see Vera Bradley retired patterns that you probably never even new existed. Most people don’t know that the company started in 1985 so that is a lot of history in making purses. The styles were much different back then and probably not to the tastes of most people today, but sometimes it’s just nice to enjoy the nostalgia.

Good luck in your search for retired Vera Bradley handbag patterns. There are a slew of them out there so don’t give up if you can’t find them right away. Just don’t expect to find them at a dealer. (source: J. Souza)

SEE ALSO:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL VERA BRADLEY HANDBAGS AT THE HANDBAG DESIGNER SHOP

Check out all Vera Bradley handbags available on EBAY (below)

NWT Vera Bradley Handbag Mediterranean Blue Free Ship US $24.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 15:31:02 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley "Greenbriar" Handbag Retired Rare Bag Tag! US $39.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 15:42:59 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley KNOT-JUST-a-CLUTCH handbag in Paprika nwt US $48.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 15:48:52 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley KNOT-JUST-a-CLUTCH handbag Simply Violet US $48.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 15:48:52 PDT   | Watch this Item

New with tags Vera Bradley Green Purse or Handbag US $9.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:03:45 PDT   | Watch this Item

NWT VERA BRADLEY Night Owl Bucket Tote / Handbag US $39.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:11:10 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Cupcakes Pink Gabby Handbag Purse Tote New US $39.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:12:55 PDT   | Watch this Item

SUMMER 2010 VERA BRADLEY MON CHERI KHAKI HANDBAG NWT US $45.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:15:54 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Morgan Handbag / Purse- Puccini - NWT US $18.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:16:05 PDT   | Watch this Item

VERA BRADLEY Little Betsy Handbag MESA RED Excellent! US $45.95 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:17:20 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Frankly Scarlet Maggie Purse Handbag US $5.50 (7 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:18:09 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Botanica Handbag US $14.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:21:03 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Katherine Betsy Handbag Purse Yellow US $9.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:22:12 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Maggie handbag in Capri Blue NWT US $15.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:34:02 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley ALICE - Handbag in SIMPLY VIOLET nwt US $66.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:34:54 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley ALICE Handbag in Call Me Coral nwt US $66.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:34:56 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley OLIVIA handbag in PUCCINI nwt US $33.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:35:53 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley OLIVIA handbag in YELLOW BIRD nwt US $33.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:35:54 PDT   | Watch this Item

SUMMER 2010 VERA BRADLEY MON CHERI BLACK HANDBAG NWT US $45.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:45:17 PDT   | Watch this Item

SUMMER 2010 VERA BRADLEY NIGHT AND DAY MORGAN HANDBAG US $34.05 (14 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 16:45:29 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Handbag Purse US $39.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:21:30 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Original Handbag in Mesa Red US $2.75 (4 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:23:26 PDT   | Watch this Item

NEW NWT Vera Bradley Bucket Tote Poppy Fields Handbag US $34.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:24:22 PDT   | Watch this Item

VERA BRADLEY APPLE RED ELITE HANDBAG/RARE/HTF/ NWOT US $29.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:40:37 PDT   | Watch this Item

NEW VERA BRADLEY BETSEY LARGE PUCCINI PURSE HANDBAG US $45.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:41:11 PDT   | Watch this Item

VERA BRADLEY Side By Side Hello Dahlia! BAG NEW handbag US $37.99 (12 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:46:38 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Hand Bag/Tote - Classic Black US $15.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:49:06 PDT   | Watch this Item

VERA BRADLEY Java Blue KATIE PURSE Bag Mini Handbag NWT US $24.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:49:15 PDT   | Watch this Item

NWT Vera Bradley Audrey Handbag YELLOW BIRD US $5.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:50:43 PDT   | Watch this Item

NWT Vera Bradley LITTLE BETSY Handbag NIGHT OWL US $15.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:55:14 PDT   | Watch this Item

VERA BRADLEY HANDBAG/SHOULDER BAG, GREAT CONDITION US $9.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:56:56 PDT   | Watch this Item

VERA BRADLEY HANDBAG SHOULDER BAG PURSE PINK US $55.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 17:59:55 PDT   | Watch this Item

NWT Vera Bradley LITTLE BETSY Handbag RASPBERRY FIZZ US $14.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:00:20 PDT   | Watch this Item

VERA BRADLEY Madison Handbag CLASSIC NAVY Excellent US $28.95 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:02:22 PDT   | Watch this Item

NWT Vera Bradley MORGAN Handbag FRANKLY SCARLET US $14.99 (2 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:02:59 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley MINI HIPSTER BLUE rhapsody New Bag Handbag US $15.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:05:10 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Cupcakes Pink Alice Handbag Tote Bag New US $65.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:06:55 PDT   | Watch this Item

Vera Bradley Cupcakes Green Alice Handbag Tote Bag New US $65.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:06:56 PDT   | Watch this Item

NWT Vera Bradley HANNAH Handbag NIGHT OWL RETIRED $45 US $7.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:09:27 PDT   | Watch this Item

Never Used Vera Bradley Hello Dahlia Alice Handbag US $41.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Jul-29-2010 18:09:46 PDT   | Watch this Item

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