Her couture handbags are regarded as fashion accessories by the rich and famous.

Her couture handbags are regarded as fashion accessories by the rich and famous.
Knight Ridder Newspapers
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- 12:45 p.m.: Hands folded serenely, ankles crossed, Judith Leiber sits in the fine-handbags section of Neiman Marcus and waits.
The word is out: Her hourlong appearance, slated to begin at 1 p.m., made the society pages of The Shiny Sheet, aka The Palm Beach Daily News. One by one, they gingerly approach, as if in the presence of royalty.
In a way they are.
Born in Budapest as Judith Peto 83 years ago, Leiber is one of the most famous -- oh, heck, the most famous -- couture handbag designers in the world.
If it's legacy that lures you: Leiber's been accessorizing first ladies since Mamie Eisenhower, while with New York jewelry and clothing designer Nettie Rosenstein, who was widely credited with coming out with the first "little black dress." The Bag Lady from Budapest has since dolled up a handful of first ladies -- Nancy Reagan; Barbara Bush, who remains a good friend ("Whenever she's in New York, we go to the Four Seasons for lunch."); Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose bag was modeled after Socks the cat; and most recently, Laura Bush.
Going fishing
A hip, blond grandma enters the inner sanctum. "I need a fish," she whispers as Leiber takes her hand. "Years ago, I passed on the fish. It was a huge mistake," says the fan, Phyllis Reisman. "I've got the frog, dog, cat, monkey, though."
"Well, you must get a fish, then," Leiber says soothingly.
Reisman was referring to the one-of-a-kind 1978 multicolored Fantasy Fish minaudire that appears in "The Artful Handbag," a 1995 photograph-rich book that covers Leiber's career -- from the very first handmade crystal-encrusted metal evening bag, the 1967 chatelaine.
"I have 12 of your skin bags," says a sharp-looking brunet who doesn't look a day over 50, but surely is. A pink alligator purse emerges from a felt package. It's in pristine condition. "I don't wear them, just look at them." For the price tag, from $325 for a flower compact up to $96,000 for an 18K-gold clutch, who could blame her?
"Oh, no. You should wear them," Leiber answers.
The Raquel Welch look-alike backs away. "I won't take any more of your time. I just wanted to tell you what a genius you are."
A handsome older gentleman, who would look more at home on a par-12 than in a chichi department store, strides boldly over with "The Artful Handbag" for an autograph.
"Are you a fan?" someone asks.
"My wife is, that's all that matters."
Signature phrase
Leiber signs the front of the book and writes, "All a woman needs is lipstick, a mirror and a $100 bill."
She explains the origin of her signature phrase. 'Someone asked me once, 'Your bags are so small, what can you put in them?' This is what I told them. God forbid you have to go home alone."
And God forbid, at her age, Leiber stand still for a minute. Although she retired a few years ago (she still oversees production), she and her husband, Gus, a painter, are working on starting a museum at their country home in East Hampton, N.Y.
"He says I do too much already," Leiber says. "But I feel good, that's the main thing.'