In today’s post I
will be talking about one of the great loves of my life…handbags!
We are all aware that
a bag can transform a rather plain outfit into one that is the envy of every
girl in every room that you step into (and even some of the guys!). However we
don’t buy bags as often as we do clothes, and therefore I personally think that
much more thought is required when making that next purchase to make it tote-ally
special! To make it a bag that you will love and treasure and wear forever. So
how do we know which ones to hand over our hard earned cash for…? Well that’s
simple. If you can’t stop staring, if it takes your breath away and you feel
like you couldn’t possibly go on without it, then buy it! Even if you think
that you won’t wear it, or it won’t go with anything you have, if you love it
so much you will make sure that you throw an outfit together to go with it! One
piece of advice though, don’t splurge on a whim. If you are out shopping and it’s
the first thing you see, put it on hold until the end of the day, or better the
day after if possible. Go and have a look elsewhere and then go back, maybe do
a little research online if you are going on a dedicated shopping trip for
which you have saved a lot of money to spend on a designer item, and lastly, do
not be pressured. Sales assistants, friends, boyfriends-don’t let them pressure
you into buying or not buying, ask their opinion fine, but remember it’s you
who has to live with the choice!
My advice comes from
my own personal bag-buying experiences-if you are spending lots of money and
going designer start by buying more practical items that you really will get
the wear out of. Build up your collection gradually, don’t rush it and end up
bankrupting yourself (read on to hear how I know this!) and if you want fashion
pieces then buy high-street to start off with, this way if they go out of
fashion, you haven’t lost out on too much money.
So, one day whilst at
University I was admiring the most beautiful bag I had ever seen, it was a tan mulberry
ponyskin Bayswater that glistened in the light, with red and blonde hues, shiny
and perfect. To this day I have the image of it embedded in my brain. I was in
love, however being a student at the time, the £2000 price tag swiftly and
quite devastatingly tore my poor little heart in two. At this moment I decided
that I must own a Mulberry, even if it meant selling my soul to satan, (or in
this case blowing over half of the money that was to get me through the entire
term in Nottingham)! The one I chose was nowhere near the ponyskin pricetag,
but it was by far the most expensive thing I had bought so far in my life. It
was a fuschia pink, patent leather giant weekend bag and I do not regret it for
one minute…This bag is my go to weekend bag and I think I’ve used it in 99% of
cases involving an overnight stay somewhere; all in all a very tiny price per
wear, a beautiful bag that will last me my entire life and best of all the
intoxicating feeling of pure and sparkling ecstasy at owning something
designer, something Mulberry. I got the bug.
After owning this
heavenly holdall for a few months I came to realise this fact more and more. I
was using this bag quite often and it got me thinking…if I was using a holdall
this much then how much would I use just a regular, everyday bag? The price per
wear of that would be even tinier! Bing, the lightbulb lit up, I’ll spend what’s
left of the only money I have to get through the term on another, more
practical, (but still as beautiful) everyday bag. I waltzed into town thinking
of all the different styles and colours and what I should buy, and I thought of
how much pleasure that Mulberry had given me. It was decided, I had to have
another. I am pleased to say though that I thought about this purchase long and
hard and decided to go for a style that I would wear again and again, that
would fit in all of the essentials: phone, purse, make-up, all of the other random
crap that seems to accumulate in the bottom of a handbag, and there in the shop
I saw the one. A Mulberry across body bag in tan leather, I can’t remember the
name (shame on me) but it is much like the Bella Messenger that is on sale
currently. Gorgeous and practical and again, to this day I do not regret it at
all (even if it did mean having to bite the bullet and get a job, which
actually turned out to be one of the most fun jobs that I have ever had,
working in a bar-The Bag ‘o’ Nails, so I guess this Mulberry has done more for
me than I have ever realised before)!
My next purchase, a
Marc by Marc Jacobs Navy Patent clutch I bought in the summer sale again whilst
still at Uni, I had just bought some gorgeous Navy Kurt Geiger heels and needed
the clutch to match obviously! From then on I made a deal with myself to buy
less often but better quality and this has paid off no end. I have managed to
build up a beautiful collection, including Prada, Alexander McQueen, DKNY,
Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Vivienne Westwood. Sometimes I wish I could just go out
and buy ten bags that are really hot right now, and I guess I could if I wanted,
but this way my bags feel special. I feel like I’ve worked my ass off to get
them and I’m proud to hold them. I started buying practically and now I
sometimes splurge on pieces that I won’t wear as often, but the one thing my
bags have in common? I love them, and that’s one thing I’ll say to you, make
sure that you really love a bag before buying it.
The trends I’m buying
into this season are:
Embellishment. Over-the-top, in-your-face opulence as seen in Balmain,
Louis Vuitton and Dolce and Gabbana. Although the trend this season is more
decadent than we have seen it before (embroidery, rich luxurious fabrics,
jewels and crystals teamed with heavy prints and an array of colours and metallics),
embellishment always seems to rear its beautiful head. Opt for a gorgeously
detailed design in clutch form to really add va va voom to any outfit, and then
if the OTT trend dies down next year you will still own a bit of bling for a
more toned down look.
Androgyny. It’s back again! We can’t get enough of the sex-appeal
that is masculine tailoring and this season I’m loving Paul Smith, Hermes and
Preen. Accessories wise try a structured doctors bag, Mischa Barton does a
gorgeous one called Magnolia in tan.
Gothic Chic. Black is back again for AW12. Add dramatic
silhouettes, lace and leather as seen in Bottega Veneta, Giles and Altuzarra
(my personal favourite). Although this look often makes an appearance in AW
seasons, (think also of the fetish look from last year) this time round it’s
all about gothic glamour with cinched in waists, jaw-dropping gowns and
uber-luxe materials with the appearance of a few nude and coloured hues. Oh-so
elegant. For bags look no further than Alexander McQueen to satisfy the goth
trend!
All Woman. Think cinched-in waists, peplums and rich luxurious
colours as seen on the catwalks of Haider Ackermann, Burberry Prorsum and Jil
Sander. I absolutely love this look, it’s feminine and gorgeous; Sander uses
smoky pinks and creamy coffee colours in curve hugging shapes that define
womanly beauty and Ackermann uses a deliciously rich colour palette with the
infamous draping that he is so well-known for. The thick leather belts in black
and blush pink leather are a must-have! The bag-talk of this trend is all about
berry-colours and luxurious leathers. Oversized clutches (as seen at Chloe)
scream understated chic and large totes, such as the Mulberry Dorset in Forest
Fruit are bang-on!
I hope I’ve given you
some helpful insights on what to look for when buying a bag, I also hope that I’ve
outlined a few of my favourite trends for AW12 to look out for if you’re
thinking of buying a new bag for the new season! As far as summer bags go, I
love anything bright, pastel, white or metallic for SS12.
Bye for now my
Perfectly Presented readers! Have a fabulous evening!
Love, love
x RT @ PP x
Also, everyone needs
to check out the Louis Vuitton collaboration with celebrated Japanese artist
Yayoi Kusama, thought up by creative director, Marc Jacobs. It’s fun, it’s
bright and best of all, it’s all covered in polka dots!
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