Judith Leiber, Handbag Designer, Passes at 97

Judith Leiber passed away on April 28th, just hours after the death of her husband Gerson Leiber.

Judith Leiber created whimiscal handbags frequently displayed as objets d'art, in permanent collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the Chicago Historical Society. 

Her luxury handbags are beautiful and eye-catching, shaped like animals, flowers, fruit, egg shapes, even boxes and shell-shapes with antique Asian motifs on them. Leiber created five collections a year, with a total of 100 designs. She found inspiration in viewing paintings, museum pieces, artifacts and nature. 

Many of the people who carry Leiber bags include first ladies, queens and princesses, and various celebrities, including Greta Garbo and Diana Ross. Leiber recieved most of the fashion industry's major prizes, including the Coty Fashion Award in 1973 and the Neiman Marcus Winged Statue for Excellence in Design in 1980. 

See more of Judith Leiber's obituary here.