The perennial classic
The black handbag. Simply something that everyone needs in their wardrobe. And is it wrong that I may have found the first item for my (hilariously hypothetical, I am at great pains to point out) Christmas list. Ok, let's just call it a Wish List.
I'm blaming insomnia. The other night, I could not sleep. The husband was out at drinks in London and I never sleep particularly well till he comes staggering in. Even reading wasn't really working so the obvious next choice of activity was perusing Matches etc. With the idea of ordering something for the party next weekend. And a dress was duly ordered which I will report back on (with hindsight, the following morning, impulse purchases made at 1.30am are not always the wisest.. we will see. To say it's a ringer, is a slight understatement).
Then I thought, a quick look through the bags is bound to send me off. Into bag heaven, that's where. I am loving my red Gucci one I got for Christmas so much and have been surprised at how useful it's been for during the day - even though it's small.
Surely a black version would therefore make infinite sense (bear in mind this is a 2am thought process... clearly not the most logical at all).
To cut a long story short, this is the one that I need. (that's need with a very very small N, I will acquiesce).
Saint Laurent Universite monogram leather bag £1295
Which is a pretty scary price for a bag, especially in January. Even more so considering I got the red Gucci Soho Disco for Christmas. I will admit, it did (fleetingly at about 2.27am) cross my mind that I haven't had a birthday present from the husband. It's the same every year. Zilch, nada, nothing. He does a great job at Christmas and you can see the exhaustion on his face come my birthday in January. I can almost hear the cogs working saying "are you KIDDING me? I've just done a present. I'm done, I'm over it. Brain. Can't. Compute". But even I'll say I'm pushing my luck with another very expensive bag so soon. DAMN a January birthday.
I have found other options which are pretty darn great but it's a bit like having a Babybel after you've had the best Roquefort ever. Doesn't quite compare.
The Lulu Guinness' though are a great option.
Black Polished Leather Medium Verity from Lulu Guinness was £295 now £118
Another great mid range brand are some collections from Radley. I know, I know, everyone rolls their eyes at Radley but honesty, they have moved on so far from the little dog tag days, I promise. They have some super cool offerings at great prices. Especially when you bag a bargain (oh my lord, I apologise, that is woeful) in the sale.
Leadenhall Small Zip top cross body bag was £129 now £90 from Radley (and the leather is amazing)
Slightly larger Leadenhall Medium Zip top cross body bag was £159 now £110
But I think this might be my favourite (although I'm not going to lie - not compared with the YSL...). For the price though, as a Spring treat, this is a great great great buy. Instant wardrobe lifter (as are any of the Leadenhalls actually)
Leadenhall Large Zip Top Backpack was £205 now £149
However it doesn't have to be expensive. Great suede and leather options, some which are also in the sale.
But starting with new season from Warehouse.
Black Suede and leather cross body bag £28 The perfect day to night bag that could also be a clutch bag.
River Island Black Saddle Bag with Snaffle Front was £55 now £27.50 Really drawn to this. For less than £30. Leather and suede bag. With not a hint of big bling branded logo in site (which is ironic when my bag of choice would have a massive YSL gold Mr T style badge on the front.. hmmmm).
Bucket bag from Urbancode was £149 now £60
Moving onto some totes (I need to look at these in more detail another day but a) I have become obsessed with all things Saint Laurent and b) there are a couple of bargains I've found - not the Saint Laurent alas...).
Large Leather Tote from Saint Laurent £590 This is what happens when you spend too long looking at sites where bags cost four figures. Suddenly £590 seems reasonable. Wrong.. but a lovely bag. A really lovely bag. In fact, you get TWO bags... "talks herself into a Saint Laurent tote...".
A far more palatable price point.
Black Grainy Leather Medium Tote from Lulu Guinness was was £350 now £105
And another bargain from Matches.
DVF Voyage large leather tote bag was £238 now £142
And then the Leonie Lux Tote Leather Shoulder Bag from Jigsaw which is new season but absolutely amazing. A tote with a real difference.
Leonie Lix Tote from Jigsaw £169
But finishing two perennial favourites. Blow the budget, feed the kids beans for the next ten years, sort of bags.
Class City Giant 12 Leather tote from Balenciaga £1125
If money were no object and bags grew on trees, I think I *might* go for the small YSL and a large Saint Laurent tote. But then the Nightingale has been on my wishist forever... Handily it's a decision I don't actually have to make. Purely theoretical but it's certainly brightened up my Saturday...I'll be frank.. I've chewed my way through the day (and it wasn't anything really to do with my insomnia from the other night, if I'm being completely honest).
It may have more to do with my birthday lunch yesterday. (I'm stringing it out this year. It has been a birthday week) Great great day, lunch followed by drinks at The Hamyard, finishing with cocktails at The Light Bar. And obviously a Burger King on the train on the way home. The class continues at 43.
Dress was slightly more casual than I would usually go but I was in a dress down mode and not wearing heels was a lovely change. Comfort (even though it was ever so slightly ambitious with the bare legs. And yes, I had obviously just shaved and fake tanned the bit you saw...). Finished outfit off with a fitted, quilted jersey biker jacket and brown Gucci scarf.
Black silk knit polo neck - Jigsaw
Pleather culottes - River Island
Mira Chelsea Boots - Ash
Grey cuff - DVF
Tan leather cuff - Mulberry
Red Soho Disco bag - Gucci
And the hair. I went short. The back is shorter than I've had it in seven years (which will be the disastrous asymmetric bob with fringe I had after baby number 3. In my head I was Anna Wintour. In reality I was a poor Lego man imitation. Not good). This is so much better I can't tell you. Let's see how it works when I try to recreate it though.. hmmm.
So we have had the laziest day today. I have battled with a tax return. And won. The level of satisfaction I got from that was second to none. So much so I've ordered some more dresses for the party next weekend. Clearly there has to be another dress blog this week. I'm hoping that there are more coming into stock all the time. Sod's law that by next Sunday the shops will be full of them. We'll see what's around this week.
But in the meantime, black bags? Big or small? I'm thinking you need both... What would be your ultimate black bag choice?
This is a very timely blog post as I literally ordered this bag https://www.theoutnet.com/en-GB/product/Versace-Collection/Leather-shoulder-bag/662240 about an hour ago! Love the new hair xx
ReplyDeleteWow. That is amazing! (and thank you...)
DeleteI have a black Mulberry Mini Lily and I can honestly say it's the most useful bag I've ever owned. It's tiny but I've used it literally every day and night out since I bought it. There's something liberating about not lugging round everything and the kitchen sink, usually all I really need is cards, keys, lipgloss and phone. Love the blog Kat x
ReplyDeleteIsn't there something lovely about just having a tiny bag? I should probably also invest in a slightly smaller purse so I don't have to shoehorn it in every time..! (and thank youxx)
DeleteMy everyday bag at the moment is my Michael Kors black one which was a random "just because" present from the husband just before our wedding, love gifts like that don't you? I alternate it with my leopard print pony skin bucket bag from Mango. I think when it comes to black bags you need several in different sizes, finishes and from different price points. My go to small black bag is currently a "Chanel" style quilted one from Accessorize ... Total bargain and very useful as it can be worn across the body. I'm also looking for a high street version of your red Gucci one. We can never have too many bags especially black ones! Glad you had a great birthday x
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE presents like that. But I won't lie, mine have never been that good..! Especially as you can never have too many bags. You really really can't!
Deletemy favourite black bag has to be the tom ford one jennifer aniston is regularly seen with, http://www.laineygossip.com/Content/images/lifestyle/aniston%20bag%2020jan12%2001.jpg way out of my price range so i went for a fossil one, http://m2.squaredesaccessoires.com/6817-14317-thickbox/petite-besace-flap-fossil-preston-noir-cuir.jpg closest i could find with the big zip look to it.
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed an amazing amazing bag. In fact it is called the Jennifer and is so scarily expensive! Lots of great tributes out there. The Fossil bags are also brilliant. x
DeleteLucy I also bought the Fossil Preston Flap (large) as I wanted a Jenifer!! It really is a great bag. I have Mulberries, Marc Jacobs and Anyas etc but I honestly think the Fossil is the best leather and my most versatile bag.
DeleteYour St Laurent bag reminds me of my Sophie Hulme mini envelope crossbody (but mine's smaller and not great for daywear). My black go-to bags are my Mansur Gavriel bucket (either mini or regular depending on outfit). Love your red Gucci though, really makes your black outfit pop!
ReplyDeleteAha - yes they are GORGEOUS. I missed the boat on those somehow. I am now obsessing about the St L one though.. I really think it would be a classic you'd have for years. I'm just not a Chanel bag girl At All but I think there are other classics that can easily rival them. The red though is also one I will have for years and years. I am surprised at how versatile I've found it. So much so that i'm going to do another colour bag blog as I've been asked so many times!
DeleteI bought three black bags last year looking for The. Perfect. One. I now have to carry reading glasses all the time and all my small black cross body bags won't hold everything. I also wanted something I could carry a full sized iPad in for work. I started with a Milly bucket backpack. The iPad fits, but it made me hate bucket bags. Everything sinks to the bottom of a giant black hole... But it is nice when I'm someplace I don't want to deal with a shoulder bag. Then I bought a Coach bag. Much better for day to day, but doesn't hold the iPad. I finally bought a Tory Burch tote and LOVE IT. There is a center zip pouch for valuables. The rest is open, which is kind of a pain, but the center pouch is padded and holds the iPad, PLUS it's big enough to hold a laptop at the same time AND all the other junk, so great for traveling but not so huge that it's ridiculous for daily use. Wish I'd bought that one first.
ReplyDeleteNow that's normally what happens to most of us. With bags, shoes, boots, coats everything. We kiss a lot of frogs before we find our prince. It's the rule of shopping! But you've found one at last. Sounds amazing!
DeleteI have an Osprey black hobo that I love. But it isn't the most practical, as it can slip off your shoulder. I tend to use it when sans children. I mostly use a cross-body messenger bag with no logo from a local leather boutique.
ReplyDeleteMy main bugbear with bags is when the lining splits, I'm looking at you Grey Pierre Cardin bag!
Love the hair, is that after olaplex?
Aha, now I haven't had any bags where the lining has split but oh my lord that would be annoying!
DeleteNo I haven't had Olaplex yet, I've had most of the dry ends cut off from when my hair was butchered with colour at Easter last year. (you live and learn) It also does look great after a blow dry though. In an ideal world, I would have it blow dried every week!
The hair look great, I know what you mean about recreating what the hair dresser's done!
ReplyDeleteThe black bags are great, food for thourght. In recent years I've become more of a navy person, I've never really been comfortable with the all black thing, too harsh for my colouring. But all the magazines push it, so you think it's the way to go.
My current work bag is however black, bourght before my black revolation! It is a black tote from osprey, with room for all my junk when I take the train, and has been used on work days every day for the last five years.
Osprey bags are indeed v popular. Great quality. But i know exactly what you mean about navy bags... But they are so so hard to come by!
DeleteTotal hair envy!!! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the Saint Laurent bag. I treated myself to a Louis Vuitton Louise bag last year which I use for nights out. Have a Marc Jacobs cross body bag for the day. So many beautiful bags out there...I need to find a classic that will do me for years as I have too many 'it' bags that are amazing at the time but don't last the distance.
I know exactly what you mean!!
DeleteInterestingly about Mulberry, I'm off to see a British leather bag company on Tuesday who have got an ex Anya designer on board so can't wait to see their A/W16 collection. Will keep you posted....
ReplyDeleteOh so so pleased you like your jumper - I should have gone for the medium but it's fine in the larger size - means I can wear with skinnies... and I don't have many tops I can wear with them! The KM culottes are amazing - great bargain!
http://www.tkmaxx.com/view-all-womens-new-in/black-leather-across-body-bag/invt/11241736
ReplyDeleteI saw this, and thought of your search! Love the blog Kat!
That is indeed GORGEOUS!
DeleteI just got a FREE BURGER KING GIFT CARD, claim yours, while this promotion is open...
ReplyDelete