Vlieger & Vandam
December 6, 2012 § 1 Comment
This summer I became a victim of a pick pocket – late evening in Piccadilly Circus while waiting for a taxi. He simply opened my small turn lock shoulder bag and took my phone out. And I did not notice a thing! Since then, apart from avoiding Piccadilly circus I have been looking for safer bags I can take on evening adventures. That is when I stumbled across Vlieger & Vandam’s collection of handbags that will definitely add some don’t-mess-with-me attitude to your look and maybe even keep your belongings safer! But don’t worry, these bags are totally legal as all the knifes, handcuffs and guns are just cool 3D leather designs created by the Dutch duo. They come in various shapes and sizes – from clutches to roomy bags – and have a few colours to choose from. I am definitely in love! And I’m not the only one – a few celebs, including Rumer Willis, have been seen sporting these designs. Plus they are features in permanent collection of MOMA. See the whole range all those practical modern art pieces here.
- Classic Small Deluxe Gun Bag, €389
- Guardian Angel Soft Large Gun Handbag, €339
- Handcuffs Clutch Bag, €224
- Gun Clutch Bag, €224
- Knife Clutch Bag, €224
Everyone Is Talking About: Anya Hindmarch
November 9, 2012 § Leave a comment
Anya Hindmarch is currently the topic of many fashion-related conversations and there are three specific reasons for it.
First it is hard not to notice amazing holiday spirit window displays dedicated to Anya’s handbags at Selfridges London store. If you haven’t seen it, it is an absolute must. I love the creativity of department stores’ windows in general but this specific display now has a special place in my heart: it is a little workshop with factory line filled with handbags by the designer and all you need is a bit of imagination to create a picture in your head of Anya’s elves working on perfect Christmas gift for women all over the world.
Second, Anya Hindmarch presented new boxes that her All I Ever Wanted collection comes in and it is inspired by retro toy packaging. I am in love. I was immediately transferred to my childhood and remembered the feeling of surprise and pleasure that opening a new Barbie doll, which came in similar packaging, would give me.
And last but not least there is a new handbag design that is so special I haven’t yet made up my mind whether I love it or hate it. But that alone gives me plenty to talk to my friends about. Meet Tiny Tim Dancer Clutch that comes in golf crinkled leather and is covered in (brace for it) small battery powered lights. Yep. Your bag will literally light up your entire outfit. Which is great for the upcoming holiday season for making you really stand out from the crowd. There are two further advantages of taking this bag to a party that I thought of. First if the conversation at the party runs dry, just point at your flashing bag and begin lengthy discussion on the topic. Second even if you had a few drinks and misplaced your bag, it would be the easiest thing to find – it will be lying there flashing at you, and who did not wish for that for Christmas! Tiny Tim Dancer has sold out on the official Anya Hindmarch website but is still available at net-a-porter.com for £450.
Exclusive Mulberry
July 23, 2012 § Leave a comment
I love Mulberry. I love it so much that if I had to choose only one brand which handbags to carry for the rest of my life I would easily jump into that monogamous relationship. That is why I always get extremely excited seeing the new Mulberry bag for the first time. And since this new bag range is extremely exclusive, the excitement is only heightened! Meet Maisie, the range that has been specifically created to celebrate launch of Mulberry collection in Japanese location of Dover Street Market. But don’t worry you don’t have to go to Tokyo to get your hands on the bags – they are also available at the London DSM store. The collection consists of 4 pieces (2 totes of different shapes, clipper bag and a clutch) in 3 colours (black, oak and flame) each finished with 3D print of Mulberry’s famous Alexa. And if by the time you get down to Dover Street the range is sold out – don’t threat as the entire range will be available online and in store from September onwards. 
And for those dying to know the price range of the new Maisie collection – here are the numbers supplied by friendly press staff of DSM (from left to right) £1200, £395 and £995.
Pictures taken from British Vogue Facebook page
The Holiday Clutch
July 11, 2012 § 1 Comment
I have been a fan of Jimmy Choo candy clutch for a while and especially this season when it got a photographic print update. And now that I am back from holiday and longing for reminders of sun, sea and all things wonderful, nothing can suit my mood better than those Jimmy Choo clutches. When it is grey and miserable outside – for those who are not used to London weather, grey and miserable is the most suitable way of describing any season and especially this year’s ‘summer’ of ours – the only thing that keeps my spirits high is staring at my cover photo on Facebook where me and my girlfriends are posing for a picture on the beach with sunrise at the background after our last night out of the holiday. All thanks to Jimmy Choo I don’t have to have holiday snaps withdrawal even when I am away from my laptop, all I need is to look down at the clutch to remind myself that somewhere in the world people are enjoying real summer.
But there is yet another reason why this post is currently appropriate. These clutches are still available at reduced prices at Harvey Nichols – thanks to summer sale the price has been cut from £495 to £300! So get yourself down to HN and purchase these desirable pieces of summer!
Love For Books
May 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
I have not read a book for personal enjoyment for a while. And that is one of my biggest regrets in day to day life. A absolutely love reading, experiencing new things through beautiful words of talented authors, sharing lives of wonderful characters. I promised myself to get back to reading good books as soon as I am done with education and the end is indeed near – as soon as I hand in my Masters dissertation in September I will be free from textbooks and assigned reading material for the rest of my life, I hope. But until then my War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, Anna Karenina and other classics are waiting on the shelf.
On a more positive literature related topic, if you like me do not have the time to read the most influential books out there, you can now show your love for good old book by carrying one around with you thanks to Olympia Le-Tan and her beautiful book-clutches. I can not believe I have not blogged about them before! Quirky and interesting yet somehow absolutely elegant and classic these clutches are to die for. And if you follow celebrity fashion you must have seen them on various occasion in the hands of Chloe Moretz, Natalie Portman, Clemence Poesy and especially Michelle Williams who has picked those handbags for various red carpet occasions. Choose from a wide selection available on olympialetan.com with starting price of €1140 (£925).
This Is Not Chanel 2.55 Flap Bag
April 11, 2012 § Leave a comment
Most (and when I say most I mean 99.9%) of fashion wish lists out there all include at least one Chanel item. And that item is more often than not a Chanel 2.55 Flap bag. I have to admit that while I am a big Chanel fan, 2.55 is not on my list – there are so many copies and interpretations of the bag I would rather find other Chanel gems to salivate about. And that is never a problem! 
This season I have two favourite pieces from the new Chanel collection: Canvas Tote with Calfskin Trim and Logo (above) and Python Embossed Leather Evening Clutch with Clasp (below). Tote is a perfect modern twist to the classics – still so Chanel with the trims and handles. But at the same time the material choice is a paradox: ordinary canvas has never had a higher price tag all thanks to white Chanel logo stamped on its side. The second bag is on the other hand pure luxury – an evening clutch worth saving for special occasions. Beautiful spring/summer colour, python leather, silver logo and the most classic box shape: there is nothing else one can wish for in a perfect evening clutch.
Pinky Swear
March 27, 2012 § Leave a comment
The fashion world this seasons swears by pink handbags: both designer and high street items in the girliest of colours have flooded the market. I could not help but wonder why? (Just had to use Carrie Bradshaw’s favourite quote, excitement for Sex and the City prequel Carrie’s Diaries is in the air.) Maybe they are just giving consumers exactly what they want – a colourful and hopeful break from daily worries that have been brought on us with this long-lasting economic crisis. Maybe it is simply an outcome of different shades of pink proving suitable for two of the biggest seasonal trends: pastel and bright colours. Maybe 2012 is all about love (let’s just assume pink is the colour that represents love) since the rumored apocalypse is looming and we need to find shelter in the most meaningful of feelings. Or maybe we should stop reading into it and enjoy our childhood’s favourite colour making a big comeback to a fashion scene. Below I picked out the most desirable pink handbags to suit any budget for you to enjoy!
- Emilio Pucci Python Shoulder Bag, £1735
- New Look Faux Snake Skin Clutch, £12.99
- River Island Laser Cut Clutch, £28
- Michael by Michael Kors Jet Set Leather Shoulder Bag, £105
- ASOS Laser Cut Zip Top Clutch, £20
- Miu Miu Mini Matelasse Clutch, £670
- Marc Jacobs Single Quilted Leather Shoulder Bag, £530
- Anya Hindmarch Valorie Matte-Rubber Clutch, £250
- Mulberry Bayswater Candy Pink Quilted Dyed Denim, £595
- New Look Jelly Bowler Bag, £15.99
- Mulberry small Bayswater Satchel in Hot Fuchsia Spongy Pebbled, £695
- Mango Shopper Bag, £29.99
Things I Love
March 9, 2012 § Leave a comment
I love Alexander McQueen collections. I love Sarah Burton’s creativity. I also love the idea of diffusion lines: there are so many successes (Miu Miu, D&G, See by Chloe to name a few). I also love colourful accents and I love love love studs. Those five reasons should be more than enough to explain why I am drooling over McQ Spring Summer 12 bag collection. I must admit some of the shapes will require getting used to (saddle bag is an exception) e.g. you will need to work out exactly how to fit all the essentials into that clutch, but it is worth it: you are getting a top notch design, quality and trendiness for much lower price. Who would not want a few of these McQ fashion rock chick accessories? Available in surprisingly large range of colours, here are my favourites: 
- Studded Clutch £140
- Clerkenwell Studded Shoulder Bag, £425
- Amwell Studded Leather Saddle Bag, £370
Love for Studs
February 7, 2012 § Leave a comment
It is not like I don’t already have a collection of studded accessories. Yet for some reason whenever I see anything with studs on I am immediately drawn to it. Plus my subconsciousness is even more affected if there is any colour selection for those studded pieces. This is why when I came across those sweet little wrist bags by Rachel Ruddick on my leisurely stroll through Selfrgidges, my heart skipped a beat and I immediately knew: that is what love at first sight feels like.
Rachel Ruddick collection arrived at Selfridges early last year and caused a massive stir straight away with many items selling out within a few weeks. The buyers were ecstatic, and so was Rachel – with no design experience she just went there and did it. This went to prove that sometimes a business approach and experience of the industry is all you need to achieve success: Rachel worked in management at Christian Dior and after a while noticed that Australian leather that is often used for crafting luxury leather goods was not a central piece in any brand – so in 2008 she went off to establish her own accessories label.
Long story short, in 2011 she came up with a range of studded wristlets in various colours and materials, which made it into Selfridges shop floor in early 2012, which lead to me walking past them and immediately falling in love. Pick your colour, at £160 this high quality leather item is to die for!
The Only Clutch You Will Ever Need
October 6, 2011 § Leave a comment
Well it is not the only one you will EVER need, but it is probably the most adaptable evening bag ever made. And it has been on my mental wish list for a while but it keeps selling out too fast each time it is back in stock.
This is Charlotte Olympia Pandora Clutch with three exchangeable pouches that fit inside a see-through plastic case. The brand is super famous for outrageous and extremely stylish shoe range, but this bag is proving to be a competitor for the most inventive Charlotte Olympia item ever made.
For £439 you get three different clutches – definitely worth it! The only bad thing about this clutch – it will be hard to make up your mind about which one to wear today!
MY FASHION WISH LIST 