I'm Friends With Mark Cross
Welcome back to another blog post on this great Tuesday, I hope that all of you are doing well and had a great weekend.
As many of you lovely people know, I have an obsession with 50s fashion. I've been a fan of Mark Cross handbags for the longest time after I saw a bag of his in a magazine that I was reading at the time a few years ago. Mark Cross was established in Boston by Henry W. Cross, who affectionately named the company after his only son. Cross founded his company on a simple passion: to create the finest leather goods for the horse and buggy rider. Mark Cross later expanded its range of products and quickly became the quintessential American luxury lifestyle brand.
In the late 1800s, the house was acquired by Patrick Murphy who was instrumental in expanding the Mark Cross business and opened shops in New York, Boston, London, Paris, and Milan. Expansion overseas translated to first-time access to luxuries yet unknown to the American market. Beyond leather goods, Murphy brought the finest china, crystal, and other delights from abroad to the States.
In 1921, Patrick’s son, Gerald Murphy, and his wife Sara moved to Cap d’Antibes, France, and established themselves in Villa America. They entertained many of the celebrated characters of the Lost Generation; Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Cole Porter, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, who were all enchanted by Murphy’s bohemian way of life.
F. Scott Fitzgerald notably modeled the main characters in “Tender Is The Night” after his frequent hosts and friends, Gerald and Sara Murphy. By 1934, Gerald officially took over the Mark Cross brand. He expanded its offerings to include luggage, cigarette cases, and even jeweled evening bags, some of which he collaborated on with Seamen Schepps. In Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary film Rear Window, it is none other than a Mark Cross overnight case in which Grace Kelly packs her clothing.
The Murphy family eventually sold the company, although Gerald stayed on as president until his retirement in 1955. Mark Cross continued to flourish under new ownership and changed hands again in 1961. Subsequently, the company closed its doors in the 1990s. Mark Cross was reestablished in 2011 and now produces pieces in the same Italian factories as the celebrated originals. The current collections are inspired by the vintage archives, dedication to fine craftsmanship, and use of the finest leathers in the world, devoid of excess hardware and logos. Mark Cross continues to champion Murphy’s artistic legacy while maintaining a modern aesthetic. Today, Mark Cross handbags and accessories can be found in over 130 luxury lifestyle stores worldwide.
The Rear Window Leather Day Case absolutely screams the 1950's, The Rear Window Mini Overnight Case is a smaller version of the bag that Gerald Murphy designed in 1954 for Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”. This top handle case continues to be one of our most sought-after items. The asking price for this case is $3,590.00.
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