Article appearing in The Improper Bostonian on June 9-22, 2004.

HELLO PINK PURSE

Anna William, at 2014 Mass. Ave., Cambridge (617-547-2662), offers ready-and custom-made handbags, and the store is available for booking “handbag parties.” Also at 1 Merrimac St., Newburyport (978-465-2662).

Cheery, wide open and bursting with the pinks of spring and summer, this handbag store offers the custom joys of choosing and mixing your own elements to create a personalized bag. Though you can buy a bag outright-they come in 18 styles-it’s even more fun to custom-widget your own out of Anna William’s sprawling array of styles and fabrics. From books/papers/diaper-holdable biggies with foldover flaps to dainty eensies for your change, each model of bag is displayed on the wall and individually named: Beacon Hill, Wellesley, Hampton ( Massachusetts’ own town, not the snootsville New York one), Lexington and others. Each part of the bag is a candidate for its own fabric, so the largest area might be black, while the flap or strap has another jazzy print and the zip-up part in its secret inner section sports yet another fabric. Further, there are numerous closure options-snaps, ribbons, zippers, pinchers. All these variations make for another deliciously inviting option: handbag parties for gal pals, available at both locations. The store becomes headquarters fro your crew, and the organizer receives a complimentary bag of $74 value. You can bring your own food and drink and have a bag lunch.