Bonwit Teller

Sadly, Bonwit Teller has gone the way of many of New York's department stores (think B. Altman's, Gimbel's, and Orbach's), but at least we still have that iconic violet pattern to remind us of what once was. Not only do I remember my mother's violet-covered charge card (or charge plate as they used to be called) for "Bonwit's" as we used to call it, but I remember endless violet-covered accessories in our house (cosmetics cases, drawer-liners, etc.) and every other house in 1970s New York. (I have to admit I feel a pang of guilt writing this as I also remember rejoicing when it was announced that Galeries Lafayette would take over the vacated space.) I've heard rumblings about BT making a comeback, but in this economy that seems unlikely.

BTW, hidden in one of the ribbons on this bag, is a small marking that says: "BT1966."