FLORAL PAISLEY SHOPPER

Its a beautiful summer's day and i'm feeling floral. I love this vintage floral shopper. The proportions of this are just perfect and i love the simple clasp detail in the centre.

The floral paisley is embroidered onto this heavy fabric and finished off with simple red leather binding.

The shape is wide at the base and narrows to the top. I also really love the flat zip pocket with metal zip on the front panel.

The inside of the bag shows where the handles are lovingly attached and the additional inside pocket.

The bag has a home made feel about it, even though it probably is not home made. Even the little metal corner details are very dinky and cute. This is the kind of bag i can imagine a cool grandmother with oversized round sunglasses wearing slung over the forearm on her way to the shops in West London.

PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS

I have seen several high end interpretations of these iconic styles, done in leather and other luxury materials. They have a shabby, grunge feel about them. My fascination with these disposable shopping bags, especially when i first came across them in China town in NYC.

Someone else shares my fascination. As featured on trendland.com

JACK SPADE PRINTED WALLETS

Jack Spade always has little quirks in products which bring a smile to the face. Using latest technology in photo printing onto leather are these little wallets or card holders. As seen at Capsule tradeshow in Las Vegas last week. I particularly like the gaffer tape printed wallet, a clever take on the DIY version. I also posted this on my tape blog for those of you who haven't seen it, click here: http://ilovestickytape.blogspot.com/

Jack Spade AW12-13

Jack Spade AW12-13

Jack Spade AW12-13

Alexandra Cassaniti

This bag is by Alexandra Cassanti available to buy from Creatures of Comfort.  It has a hand drawn paisley print which looks like it has been painted once the bag had already been made.  The rustic veg tanned leather combined with the drips and splatters make this bag pretty special and unique. This is art meets bag in a big way.

SPOTS GALORE

Everywhere i look i see spots. Well thats an exaggeration, but i love spots, its like a neutral but a print at the same time. But gone are the days where spots are just retro and fade into the background a bit, the new spots are bold and have something to say for themselves.


These dalmation-style spots are graphic but have a sort of natural, random feel about them. They are certainly not random as they are clearly hand /computer generated but made to look imperfect. Some of the spots on the gloves are a bit more like splodges.


Here we have Marc Jacobs putting spots on unexpected surfaces like this shagpile rug bag for example. The spots are spread quite messily over the bag and they are interrupted by the seams, this, i like, its sort of a rebellion again perfect spots.


And then Marc Jacobs again, putting playful spots on serious bags, serious leather. The bags are almost graffitied by spots, and i love how they match in with the models hoisery.


Cute but granny at the same time, a fresh combination for winter.

THE 90s

Did you have a stud machine in the 90s? I didn't. But i wish i had. I'm not sure why but this bag takes me back to the era of DIY decoration, the be-dazzler and such. The ultra cool, new thing about it is the wierd orderly fashion in which these little studs are arranged. It makes me imagine that some designer had received a swatch card of available studs and embellishments from the factory in china and decided to re-create the level of excitement faced when one comes across a sample swatch card.


Its like a little fishing tackle box where you have all your hooks and flies arranged in the little compartments OR some kind of wierd board game where you have to collect a certain number of stars or dome studs in order to progress to the next level.

Either way, this bag makes me feel happy. Happy in order. Happy in options. Happy in 90s embellishments.

CAMERA BAG KATE SPADE

A very cute little bag by Kate Spade called Pocomo. It has a SLR camera embossed onto the front flap. Its a little different to lots of Kate Spade's other bags, but probably one of my favourites.


I love the combination of the boxy-ness and the tan colour with the simple outline of the camera.


A beauty of the moment. But comes at quite a price at $225, you can check it out here: http://www.katespade.com

CHILD LIKE BAGS

These bags from the autumn/winter 2011/12 catwalks are larger than life. The below clutches by Louise Gray are definitely lots of fun and look like they have been designed in some kind of dream state. Puffy handles, patch work materials and paintbox colours which swirl and clash are lots of fun on the catwalk.



The proportions of the handles on this bag combined with the narrowness of the bag makes me laugh.


Its like craft day at kindergarten, but in a wierd way, i sort of like it.


This one here is a real doozy. Its by Jean Paul Gaultier and its basically a fur lined shopping trolley, the kind you see old grannies wheeling around the high street. The bag has been edged with fur in a way which almost looks like it has been edged with pieces of steak - sloppy and shoddily done which gives it a very strange, almost barbaric feel.

LIBERTY SUITCASE HANDBAG

The Liberty collaboration with Merci store in Paris was very cool. Here is one of the little suitcase style bags that resulted. It is the perfect marriage i think- beautiful graphic print in soft cotton coupled with a classic 'globetrotter' style case with wood details.


The price was really great too, i think it was less than £30 or something like that. The Merci store is definitely worth a visit... or 10. I go there every time i go to paris, and i get slightly lost getting there every time too.

http://www.merci-merci.com/

PRINTED BAGS

These bags are a clever idea that i bet has been thought of loads of time, but someone has now actually done it, and done it quite well i think. Its the classic designer handbags such as Hermes Birkin and like printed onto the relatively disposable and super cheap but iconic canvas shopper.


I particularly love the quality of the print and the vibrancy of the colours that has come through.




And the printing of the base is pure class!


You can find out more about this on this fab site i found these bags at: weareselecters.com

CHALK BOARD BAGS

You don't have to worry about getting pen on these bags. They are made from chalk board type fabric that you can personalise using chalk. I saw these bags a couple of season's ago in Paris at Tranoi.


The designs are by a couple of friends Luisa and Tine, and launched only a couple of season's ago. I love the stripped back style of these bags. They are part vintage influenced but also explore new and interesting materials and material combinations.


You can see the rest of their range here: http://www.tl-180.com

JC DE CASTELBAJAC

You've got to love Bambi.


Woven carpet bag with embroidered Bambi and friend. This guy is seriously mental... in a good way. I met him at Bread and Butter a few seasons ago. Check out his website, but don't do it if you have epilepsy. http://www.jc-de-castelbajac.com/

80S VINTAGE TAPESTRY BRIEFCASES

I have been at it again on etsy... and i got mildly obsessed with these highly 80s briefcases. I imagine when working women started hitting the pavement ala Melanie Griffiths... the bag designers out there had to come up with something equally as striking.


The designer had obviously just got back from a holiday in Egypt when this bag was being designed.


No, this one is not strictly a briefcase, and in fact, its not really 80s but a bit more on the 70s side... But i like it anyway.


I do actually love this solid briefcase. Its like some person has thought... what do you get if you mix a 'normal' mens briefcase with pretty flowery things that women like... i know... its a cross between aunt mildred's sofa and a standard work case.


This one above is a sort of american aztec meets bed linen design. It definitely provides some good clashing pattern to ensure full impact clash with any other elements of the outfit.


This one, i actually want for myself... but its a shame i don't really have any important business meetings to attend on a regular basis.

KARL WHO: CANVAS BAG

From Paris fashion week, i really love this bag. Total fashion whore look, but it rocks.


Low fi fashion... does this signal the end of the ridiculously expensive 'it' bag?

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART...

This image doesn't really need a caption.


Its a love-hate relationship.

D&G SHOPPER

I don't really like floral clothes, but i like floral bags. I'm not sure why. I like this bag. Its rich in colour and texture but then the richness is constrasted with the humbleness of construction and choice of materials.


The lovely photo from the selby also helps to make this bag look really nice

TAPESTRY BAGS

They are kind of grand-ma-y (or mad aunt-y) and a little bit mary poppin-sy. I like them. They remind me of your favourite arm chair at home that is really comfy and you sink into and spend hours and hours of your life in watching tv and eating high cholesterol food in.


This one is from etsy, for sale if you are tempted! Its description is:

Garden / Tapestry and Faux Croc Jumbo Shoulderbag / 80s

Buy it!! go on, its only US$16... but don't tell me as i will get jealous. i'm broke!

HAND BAG

One of my favourite time-wasting sites to hang out at. http://blog.theblakewright.com/ Great if you need a bit of cheering up. This is a classic.


Great. Maybe Balenciaga can do this... or maybe its a bit more down the track of Westwood.

POLKA DOT BAGS

I just love polka dots. They are geometric, perfectly round and repeated in the most elegant understated way. Just like mini-mouse, they are timeless and ageless. These are some of the polka dotted accessories that have been around recently from Commes Des Garcons (wallets) to Luella (shopper). Not to mention the Japanese Cult brand Porter - whose sub brand 'Head Porter' has this cute little digital camera case.

Comme des Garcons


Luella


Head Porter

CAT BAGS

Its no secret, i love cats, and more than that, i love realistic painted cats painted on canvas shoppers.