The Bag Lady

Splurge or Save: The bucket bag

2012-05-16T17:00:13Z

Okay, so we've found it. Everyone, I mean everyone, including myself, has been lusting after the chic simplicity that is Zara's £80 bucket bag. You just have to look at it to realise its appeal; from the super fashion crowd to paired back practicals, this bag has been a hit success and received an unrivalled uptake from the masses. Unfortunately, "the masses" don't include me. I just can't justify such a simple design (which is in itself the reason why I love it so much), from a high street shop for nearly £100. So when I stumbled upon boohoo.com's look-a-like I had my debit card at the ready.

This Zara number is actually an update on the formally more simple design, but we're enjoying the new detail and features. Channelling super cool sport luxe, the mesh effect adds another dimension without taking away from the minimalist aesthetic which is the bucket bag's ultimate appeal. This boohoo.com look-a-like rivals it super closely and at nearly a third of the price (£28!), it's super tempting - don't you think?

Boohoo Savana Lazer Cut Detail Structured Shopper £28 >>
[left]
Zara Die-cast Pleated Shopper £79.99 >>
[right]

(I know which one I'm going for...)

Make Your Own Bunting Necklace at Tatty Devine

2012-05-16T10:36:35Z

To celebrate the Jubilee, Tatty Devine are holding a workshop on the 30th May here you can create your own bunting necklace. It will take place in their Covent Garden store, and will cost just £20 (a bargain consider the necklace itself is worth £29).

You can choose the colours of your necklace to create whichever flag you like - although we think it's perfect to go for red, white and blue given the occasion. You can also customise the length and style of the necklace to your liking.

You'll then get 10% off the jewellery in store, which includes the famous Tatty Devine 'How to make Jewellery' book

It's a nice way to get a taster of jewellery design and how to do basic designs. If you're going to learn how to design jewellery, we can't think of a more fun place to do it!

Ticket are £20, and are available from the Tatty Devine website.

Yay or Nay: Feather Crown Headband

2012-05-16T07:29:18Z

I love ASOS. Really, I do. I've invested a fair amount of my income in pretty dresses from there.

But seriously guys, what the fudge is this?

This Feather Crown Headband is part of their summer capsule wardrobe - a collection that will give you another mix and match outfits for the summer. Fabulous idea. But I think I'd struggle to come up with one way to wear this outside a fancy dress party, no matter numerous occasions.

I fear even the adventurous Lady Gaga would struggle to pull this one off.

I'm not doing a particularly good job on remaining impartial on this one (although I have to admit - the feathers are very pretty). So I'd love to hear from you - could you see yourself wearing this on a day to day basis? If you can, vote below and then buy it for the princely sum of £30. Then let us know what you'd wear it with!

Wedding wear: Daisy Pearl Clutch

2012-05-16T05:51:02Z

Dear Coast,

I'm a big fan of your work. I love your formal dresses, sparkly jewellery, killer heels and grown up glamour attitude. You're my first stop for any kind of fancy occasion where an Oasis dress won't cut it. I'm even ok with the fact that I have to wear spanx for most of your dresses.

But can you please stop tempting me with your bags? This Daisy Pearl Clutch for instance. It's beautifully embroidered with tiny daisies and, like the cherry on top of a cake, has a tiny pearl on the clasp. It's all kinds of pretty and romantic and I want it.

The trouble is, if I arrive at a wedding with this clutch bag, it might just outshine the bride. Which won't make me very popular.

Still, at £60 from Coast for such a detailed bag, I think I can justify it.

Lots of Love.

Emma, The Bag Lady

Unusual accessories: Topshop London Flask

2012-05-15T20:15:12Z

If any high street shop was going to make London tourist products fashionable, it was going to be Topshop. While we wouldn't normally show you a flask designed with visiting holidaymakers in mind, this Topshop London Flask is perfect for carrying a big vat of tea or coffee on the commute to work. Especially on a Monday morning when a huge shot of caffeine is a must. Plus, think of the money you'll save taking your own coffee in!

It's designed by Disaster Designs, and has the cutest phrase on the box - "Oooh look at this flask! 0.5 litres of gorgeousness!"

If you're not a tea fan, you could fill it with soup for that 'must get into my bikini' diet. Or (my favourite idea) cocktails for a day on the beach.

The London Flask is just £12 from Topshop.

Are you tempted to swap your Starbucks habit for a whimsical flask like this?

Tech Tuesday: Swatch new collection

2012-05-15T11:15:01Z

Bicoloured Collection

It might be a bit dark and miserable outside, but these bright and colourful watches have put a big smile on our faces this morning.

They're part of a new collection launched by Swatch called the Bicoloured Collection. I love the idea of these eye-catching watches, as an alternative to the classic silver or gold watches.

These are certainly fashion watches, designed to match your outfit rather than simply tell the time.

Special London Edition Swatch Watch

Swatch have also designed a special edition watch for 2012, to celebrate the Jubilee and Olympics. In fairness, this is probably a style that's aimed at tourists rather than resident Londoners, but the Underground-style clock face and London landmarks make it a nice collectors item.

And I love that they've added an umbrella too - a must-have for anyone living or visiting London!

The London Swatch watch is £44.50 from Swatch.

What do you think about these bright and fun watches? Do you prefer your timepieces to be classic or fashion-concious like these? Let us know in the comments below!

Primark Pick: Pink statement necklace

2012-05-15T08:46:18Z

Primark's latest summer collection has been announced, launching in stores at the start of June, and there's plenty to choose from for the summery weather. Y'know, when the sunshine actually makes an appearance.

This pink necklace stood out as a hero piece from the range. The glossy pastel pink will look stunning layered over a cotton dress for the summer, or worn to add a finishing touch at weddings or for a day at the races. Pair it with a white shirt and suit to add a bit of femininity to a work look.

A lot of the other pieces in the range take an art deco angle, in statement styles, so if the pink is a little too girly for your liking there are plenty of alternatives.

The Pink Necklace will be £6 in stores from June.

Are you loving this pretty pastel accessory? Let us know in the comments!

Sarah Jessica Parker shares her love for Fendi's Baguette bag

2012-05-14T16:44:47Z

We've heard a lot about Sarah Jessica Parker's love of shoes over the years, but her handbag loves have been less well documented. It seems she takes some inspiration from her character, Carrie Bradshaw though. The Fendi Baguette Bag, a bag worn by her character throughout the show, is one of SJPs favourite bags. In fact, up until the loan of the Fendi, stylist Patricia Field had to make do with vintage clothing.

She explained "Having the Fendi Baguette was a very big deal, and the gateway to everything else,"

"It really opened the floodgates and influenced the storyline - especially Carrie's habit of spending more money on fashion than her home. The Baguette became a staple of Carrie's wardrobe and character... I recently archived both [my original] Baguettes to keep them in pristine condition. Now that I have two daughters, they can each have one."

She spoke about the bags for a part in the book Fendi Baguette. To celebrate the launch of the book, the designer brand will launch six classic Fendi Baguettes on the 1st June.

Are you a fan of Fendi's Baguette?

For sale: Private collection of Hermès handbags at Bonhams

2012-05-14T13:29:10Z

If you happen to have a spare few thousand pounds burning a hole in your pocket perhaps you should pay a visit to Bonhams auction house in Knightsbridge on the 16th May 2012 where a private collection of sixty-four Hermès bags will be sold off. Included in the auction are a number of 'Kelly' and 'Birkin' bags in a variety of colours, plus a selection of other Hermès handbags dating from the 1950s to 2008.

The stars of the collection are a 2003 Hermès black patent crocodile Birkin bag, a 2008 Hermès dark brown matt crocodile Birkin bag and a 2003 Hermès dark brown matt crocodile Birkin bag, all estimated to sell for £8,000 - £12,000.

Last week attending the photocall at Bonhams I don't think I've ever stood in a handbag filled room worth so much money. My dreams are made of this sort of thing. It got me thinking about the person who owns this collection... Maybe when she noticed she had 11 tan leather Hermès bags and two matt brown crocodile leather bags she decided it was time for a spring clean. Or perhaps her friends forced her to have handbag hypnotherapy to cure her Hermès problem and it worked really really well? Either way, it's a beautiful collection and I have no doubt each and every bag will find a new loving home.

Click on the image above to check out the gallery of beautiful bags for sale at Bonhams on 16th May 2012.

Would you pawn your designer handbag when money is tight?

2012-05-14T09:38:20Z

We've all had times when money is a little bit tight and we could do with a money boost. But would you consider pawning your favourite designer bag for a little extra cash? Apparently more and more of us are.

The National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA) has a reported 15% growth in business last year, and many pawnbrokers are now happy to take high value fashion items like Hermes or Mulberry handbags as collateral against a loan. With pawning, you can get your collateral back within six months as long as you pay off the loan - so it's not like losing the item forever (if you had to sell it).

The trouble is, you'll only get about half the value of the bag as a loan - and if you can't keep up with repayments, you do lose your bag for good.

The reality is, in this current recession, we're all looking for ways to earn a little extra money. Whether it be cashing in gold jewellery we don't use, doing an eBay upload or pawnbroking.

Could you part with a designer bag for a few months if it helped pay some bills?

Source: Daily Mail

Dream On Monday: Twisted Sister Swarovski crystal collar

2012-05-14T08:00:54Z

Every girl needs a Twisted Sister silver-plated Swarovski crystal collar, right? OK, 'need' might be a bit strong, but I know quite a few of our readers will be adding this to their lust list. Even if for most of us it's not really affordable anytime soon.

Fans of serious luxury will be unsurprised to hear this is a Erickson Beamon design. I keep zoning in on their ultra-sparkly designs before seeing the brand or price tag. It's certainly a collection of designs that caters to the fashion magpies, especially with their close relationship with Swarovski.

The detachable collar Swarovski crystals, glass pearls can be worn over the collar of a shirt or to add a glitzy colour to a t-shirt. Or, with the £1,605 price tag, you could just have it on display in your home.

You can buy the Erickson Beamon Twisted Sister silver-plated Swarovski crystal collar from Net-A-Porter.

River Island Press Day AW12 Press Day: Royalty and Madness!

2012-05-11T13:00:27Z

River Island is always known for pulling out the stops when it comes to stocking the more creative side of fashion. And their AW12 is certainly full of some nice surprises.

Our gallery from the AW12 Press Day is full of some beautiful pieces that appear to take some inspiration from the Royals - lots of silk scarves, short gloves and the kind of hats we can picture Kate Middleton in. There are some beautiful bejewelled bags and costume jewellery too. Ladylike is back in a big way...

..and then a little further on in the gallery, you'll see the bags that look like they've been created either by the Muppets, or from the Muppets. Have a look at the last bag in the album for an example of this fuzzy, furry, multi-coloured style. While that's a style that only the brave can pull off, the white fuzzy bag before that is a definite hero piece.

What do you think about River Island's AW12 range?

Frugal Friday: Matalan Summer Block Clutch

2012-05-11T10:42:23Z

In my mind, Matalan and Primark are close competitors in the UK budget-buy fashion market. Both are quick to take catwalk fashion and recreate it for pocket money prices on the high street.

However, while Primark has the edge on speed and price (a little faster to turn over trends and a little cheaper), Matalan wins my heart for selling online. Primark has relatively little coverage online as they don't have a website or even anywhere we can check out their new collections (possibly because they turn over their stock so quickly).

So this week's Frugal Friday pick is another Matalan bag. This Summer Block Clutch is part of their new season, and would be perfect for summer weddings or BBQs. Especially as it's only £8.

I tend to buy more from Matalan as I don't tend to brave Primark's stores often. Would you shop with Primark more if they sold online?

Rosie Huntington-Whitely wears House of Harlow to the Met Gala

2012-05-10T13:08:14Z

Rosie Huntington-Whitely was undoubtedly one of the best-dressed of the night at the Met Gala, pulling off a stunning full-length Burberry dress, flawless make up and a sleek bun.

Seriously, she's so pretty we don't even want to look directly at her.

But our attention was drawn to her clutch bag, which is from a favourite designer brand of The Bag Lady - House of Harlow 1960. It's from the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. Rosie went for the 'Marley', a snakeskin clutch with a big cat perched on the clasp.

It's just the right amount of understated for the whole look, and colour matches the dress perfectly.

Keep an eye on the House of Harlow 1960 for the Marley clutch as part of the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection.

Are you a fan of Rosie's sleek look and choice of clutch bag? Let us know in the comments, and then pop over to Catwalk Queen to see the rest of the fashion highlights from the Met Gala.

Is this the strangest bag ever? 2D bags

2012-05-10T11:56:11Z

We see some strange bags here at The Bag Lady, but this has to be one of the strangest (and yet, the cutest) we've ever seen.

At first glance, this bag might look like a 2D drawing. In fact, it's a cleverly designed bag from the suitably-named Jump From Paper. Rika and Chay, the Taiwan designers behind the brand, are inspired by cartoons, comics and animations - which is reflected in the designs in their collection. It's hard to believe you can actually use these bags, thanks to the clever optical illusion, but they really are all useable!

Apparently there are plans to extend the range to clothing and shoes, so we could be seeing them on Shoewawa and Catwalk Queen soon too!

You can order a Jump From Paper bag from their website. I've got my eye on the First Date bag.

Can you believe this is a real bag?