Luggage style bags

We are seeing bags get a lot boxier in shape. These miniature luggage style bags are nostalgic and quite practical at the same time. Here are a few examples.

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.

CLEAR CLUTCH

You can have a bit of fun with fashion. Check out this clear clutch with a bit of a child-hood twist. Fashion meets fantasy. I really love it and the current trend towards transparent materials in accessories. You would hardly want to put anything inside though. Just a few crucial fashion items.

Goodordering back pack

Kickstarter project by East London bag designer Jacqui Ma is funding right now. Don't miss out on getting yourself one of these cool back packs at a really amazing price.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jacquima/goodordering-bags

WANT LES ESSENTIALS de la Vie

I love this brand - WANT Les Essentials de la Vie. They continue to make classic, amazing quailty products which also manage to have a really contemporary edge to them. This is a favourite of the moment, not so much the actual shape of the shopper but the fact of the exposed iPad case on the front. With a massive trend towards transparency and translucency in bags as you may have seen in some of my previous posts, this pocket is all about exposure.

Every time i open their website, i am completely overwhelmed by the striking beauty and quality of the products they make. They have a masculine but refined feel and from a designer's perspective a real focus on details which make leather goods absolutely sublime.

WANT LES ESSENTIALS de la Vie

CAMO AND SPOTS

Spots and camo merged together here in harmony. Its all about the classic prints at the moment.

GHONGJORD BAGS

I have discovered this new bag brand which i really love. their website is amazing cool and clean too. I am jealous of this company! they do some nice stuff.

Take this simple ruck sack for example. it is clean and sharp and it looks very comfortable. Its the perfect balance between fashion and function. It also has a bit of a 70s flavour about it.

I really also love that it has nice shiny brass hardware and a nice structured back handle to grab it by and sling over one shoulder. I thought the brand name sounded a bit chinese and i was right, it is a buddhist saying which is about something sustainabity - check it out yourself on their website: http://ghongjord.com

I think it is a japanese, germany based designer. Talk about some nice design genes!

WILLIAMS BAGS

These extra-ordinary bags by Williams British Handmade are by Sarah Williams. Generally the pieces are artworks inspired by vintage bags and made into strange shapes. They utilise traditional craftsmanship techniques and translate them into ultra-modern abstract pieces which seem to tell a strange, fantastical story.


See more of these amazing pieces at: http://www.williams-handmade.com/collections.html


I'm not sure what this bag is designed to carry, maybe a piano accordian?

SIDE BAGS

I have come across a sort-of trend where bags look like they are being carried on their sides. They have handles on their sides which allow and encourage new ways of carrying the bags. I like it.




From rucksacks to sports bags, its something really interesting. I saw once a girl crossing the road with almost all the contents of her bag spilling out almost falling onto the floor, and thought "why doesn't she hold her bag properly" well i guess she was trying out a new way of carrying her bag.

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/

WOVEN BAGS

Fashion seems to be heading back to the crafts. We are loving all things with a hand made feel and in this case its basket weave, raffia and woven details. These are best done with a nice modern contrasting touch.


This spring/summer 2011 Hermes bag combines the iconic Hermes style with a boxy basket weave topped off with some luxury leather trims.


These top loading baskets look thoroughly modern and chic even though they are made with old, crafty techniques. I love the raffia embellishments and the colours.


London based Jackson twins did this fun twist on a knitted bag. I love the light and airiness of this style and the innocent little message woven into the front panel.


This bag is from the Kaufmann Mercantile Store online which is one of my favourite places at the moment. It is a market and fruit picking bag with an added modern twist, the cotton backpack straps. It has a thoroughly peasant feel about it. Made from rattan, its original function is in harvesting and fruit picking. I think it would make a perfect market bag, and i absolutely love it!

This one is from etsy, it reminds me a bit of the chanel bags. I think the chain in combination with the basket weave gives the normally casual material a playful night time feel.


This one is the Fendi peek - a-boo bag done in raffia. It comes in three different colours and looks like it has been crocheted. I absolutely love this one and the blue leather trim adds a luxury but still understated touch.

AIRLINE 70S BAGS

I like this shoot showing the jet age, aviation fashion and airline travel uniforms including the bags. The glamorous age of travel was accented by some very nice uniforms and travel bags. Mostly made from leather and vinyl, the shapes are rounded, simple and futuristic.

RUSSEL'S BAG - SCHOOL BOY CHIC

This is Russel and his backpack.


Its like a briefcase with backpack straps which convert when unhooked into a shoulder bag.


The inside is decked out with lots of pen holders which comes in handy when you want to be organised.

BACK PACK BRIEF CASES

These vintage style bags are a bit like children's school cases. Satchels are definitely the flavour of the month right now with boxy being the new slouchy.



Japanese school bag with ye oldy worldy plastic moulded handle which i adore.


These backpack straps convert to a longer shoulder strap when they are unhooked letting the user choose between a shoulder bag and a backpack... how very convenient.


I have one a little like this in purple which i like but i have had trouble using it as its so stiff, but i love it all the same.

EXTREME HANDBAG BAGS

THESE ARE EQUISITE, thought-providing and beautifully made. Nothing else to be said.
Crafted Fashion collection by Williams British Handmade www.williams-handmade.com

VINTAGE JEWELLERY CONTAINERS

I came across these vintage containers on etsy recently and love them. The colours, the shapes and the scratches all add a little je ne sais quoi.



The peachy pinks and salmons are so lush. I think maybe they are pocket watch boxes.