Seriously, how hard can it be?

To find the perfect black bag. 

You would be forgiven for thinking I've completely lost my marbles as I clearly do have black bags.  I will admit I have more than one black bag.  But suddenly they're not quite right.  

Ok so that's a blatant fib.  I have all of a sudden a hankering for a new black bag.  I was looking at nude.  I was looking at burgundy.  As I already had black bags so couldn't justify another. 

However then I got to thinking.  What do I use all the time?  What do I wear all the time, especially coming into Autumn and Winter.  Yup, that will be black.   I've got the very well used Chloe in whiskey (that's a tan to you and me) and the divine red Gucci Soho Disco.  So for coloured bags, I have it covered. 

Before someone mentions it, yes this year I did buy the APC half moon bag which I love.  But if anyone else has it (and would like to back me up), it's the tiniest bag on the planet.  It's the opposite of the tardis.  I also have the fringed Jerome Dreyfuss which again I love but it randomly seems to work so much better as a Summer bag.   

And my beloved Village England Haworth which I therefore use all the time.  So clearly I have no official need of a new bag, but the amount I use a black bag.. and now I'm bored of the justification and am just going to blame all those other people who have asked me for a black bag blog.  This is for you.  It *may* help Christmas research.

Or let's just call it bag porn... I started this blog sat watching my boys play football so with one eye on the action, I'm easily able to drum up some bag beauties.  Price wise, there are some ridiculously expensive ones here, as well as some more affordable ones.  And some in the middle (which don't seem quite as expensive if you put them next to an eye watering, sell a kidney priced one.  Everyone does this, right?)

Two of these have been the recommendation of the lovely lady in Libertys earlier on today and who am I to argue with an expert?

Purely in the interests of research and bag porn, may I present... 

The daddy of bags.

The Medium PS1 in black leather from Proenza Schouler £1250.  The complete classic.  It comes in many different guises but to me, I would always plump for the original and what I consider to be the best.  None of the others I saw today came even close.  This is the one that will last the test of time and one that you will have forever.

Then there is good old Gucci.  With a nod to the old school.  The bamboo handles have been around forever - another classic that you can use on any occasion.  Except that these seem to be not available anymore.  WHAT???  I have searched and searched but nope, these are yesterday's hero.  Which is plain wrong diddly in my (clearly wrong) opinion.

In that case, I would go for the Givenchy Nightingale in black £1290.  Super classic.  Although I think I want gold hardware not silver.....



Or the Givenchy Pandora in washed black.  Nope, now I am sure, I would want it with gold hardware.  And not silver.  When you're paying this much, every detail counts.  Plus it's very similar to my beloved Haworth, which means that at the moment, the PS1 is winning. 

Givenchy Pandora medium £1,155


So moving onto some other options. Not as slouchy as the ones above but very usable in classic styles and perfect for that Christmas list.

DVF Love Power bucket bag from Matches £227



LOVE this one.   Not remotely slouchy but just sublime all the same (not like me to go off piste is it?!).

DKNY Crosby Ego black leather bag £265




And then another version of the larger classic - the PS1.  For me, this has to be in the black like it's bigger brother (or should it be sister.. it should be sister, shouldn't it?  It should be mine, that's what it should be).  And maybe this is a better size than the medium?  Although on second thoughts, it's actually about the size of an iphone.  That's probably too small...

PS1 Mini leather cross-body bag from Proenza Schouler £625



This is the sort of leather I'm after, above and below.  A slouchy, lived in, looks like butter leather.  Which normally is expensive.  

And this bag is still expensive but it's not on the same level as some.  Beautiful quality bags.  Plus if you sign up to Zalando, you can always get a discount.

Liebeskind Kumamoto bag from Zalando £204.99



But my best buy has to be the Suede shopper with clutch from H&M.  Gucci inspired with the bamboo handles (see above) but for a fraction of the cost. 

Suede shopper with clutch £79.99


So I am bagged out.  I won't lie - I have looked at about 20 sites and found really not that much.  This is it folks.  The current bag trend is structured.  But I'm not really a structured girl.   Therefore this is all you get today.  I will be seeing black bags in my sleep.... And top of the pops at the moment is definitely the PS1.  What if it sells out.....??

Today, it was the turn of the good old Jerome Dreyfuss.  Always useful and perfect for a rock chick French day.  The only reason I say this is because I had my new Zadig & Voltaire sequin blazer on ergo I am vaguely French.  Ok someone call the men in white coats... 



Grey tee - Zoe Karssen
Phoebe jeans - MiH
Sequin blazer - Zadig & Voltaire
Gold Superstar sneakers - Golden Goose
Fringed Mario bag - Jerome Dreyfuss

Great day in London today with the best friend - a day off from work just shopping.  Although of course inspiration everywhere and I shall be back tomorrow with what I've decided none of us can have enough of.  Ok - one of the things I don't think we can have enough of... in fact, I may start with my Must Have Winter List which means I can include everything I think we can indulge in this A/W.  Good idea?