Black and tan
Nope, not talking about a beer cocktail - as much as I love a cocktail, one made with beer makes me feel every so slightly nauseous. although to be fair, at this point in the holidays, I'm getting to the point where any mention of alcohol has the propensity to make me turn a tad green at the gils - I'm talking shades of handbag. And that's much more exciting no?
After thinking about this for way too long (this is my insomnia cure, which gives you an indication of how boring a subject - it actually sends you to sleep), I have come to the conclusion that the two best colours for a handbag are black and tan.
But which would you pick if you could only have one? Or... if you can find the right ones in the sales, could you justify two? To be fair, I normally only ever buy one at a time as I love love love using a new bag (yes I need to get out more). So I think it would sort of slightly dampen the experience to have two at the same time. Double the joy and buy one at a time (and buy another later.. although if you do see a bargain... oh I'll leave it up to you).
So what have we come up with? Well first and foremost, Net A Porter and Matches have just added some new items to their sale so you need to get in NOW.
Starting with black.
See by Chloe Madie was £345 now £173
Love Power large bucket bag from DVF was £304 now £152
Bucket shape in the sale at Jaeger.
Mini Oxford Cross Body Bag was £125 now £75
Or the larger version, also at Jaeger.
Oxford Leather Bag - was £199 now £125
Classic simplicity at Jigsaw.
Rowan Whipstitch Saddle Bag was £189 now £94
Pared back at Whistles.
Ashland Concertina Bag was £250 now £165
Suede and leather simplicity at Jaeger.
Portland Fold-Over Bag was £199 now £110
Slightly more detail again at Jigsaw.
Anna Pugh Leather Tassel Bag was £250 now £125
Buckles again at Whistles. This is super super cute and definitely a contender.
Bay Mini Buckle Satchel was £150 now £75
In at the top end (totally blowing any semblance of budget) at Chloe. With 30% off.
Chloe Kurtis suede and leather black bag was £1090 now £763
SWOON.
Jerome Dreyfuss Gary Suede bag was £295 now £177
Voyage Boho Disco Cross-Body Bag from DVF was £266 now £133
See by Chloe Collins was £295 now £177
See by Chloe Paige small bag was £410 now £205
Ernestine Leather Shoulder Bag from APC was £340 now £238
Larger again at Jigsaw
Rowan Whipstitch Saddle Bag was £189 now £94
So I am absolutely no nearer a decision so obviously I've prevaricated and haven't bought any but will change my mind in a couple of days when everything has sold out. Anyone else got a bag on their wish list? Mid range, bargain or top end? Or are you waiting for new season?
Love jumper - hush
Faux leather joggers - Topshop
Double faced coat - Jaeger
Glitter Copeland Sneakers - Air & Grace
Hazlemere bag - Village England
We have had an afternoon with the family and are about to sit down, super late doors for a movie with the kids. Ok I am. The husband has decided he's had enough red wine (we may have made him watch half an hour of Gogglebox which he hates more than anything - I've also learnt that despite it being highly amusing, isn't remotely child appropriate. Oops. They clearly now think it's the best thing they've ever seen on television) so he's gone for an early night whilst I plan to fall asleep within the first half hour of Ghostbusters.
Still no idea what day it is. Although did manage to work out that the bin men were coming today which means I'm winning at this week (it's the little things). Tomorrow a long walk is on the cards. If you listen closely you'll be able to hear the massive amounts of whinging from my children from where you are. Seriously, it is just mine who appear to be allergic to any form of outside exercise? I should probably just look for another bag online instead. Or maybe flat shoes. Or jumpers... Or new season. Decisions, decision....
OK, you have some lovely clothes, but really. Clinging on to your Irish heritage by adding 'no?' to the end of a sentence then betraying it calling black and tan a 'cocktail'? Give me a break.
ReplyDeleteWell I don't really think it's a cocktail obviously... it was supposed to be a vague pun on Christmas, cocktails, black and tan as colours... Apologies you didn't find it funny. xxx
DeleteAnd just because I'm still up and am being pedantic, I have just googled "black and tan" and apparently it is a "beer cocktail". Who knew? I was just joshing. But apparently it is. There you go.
DeleteHow is adding "no" at the end of a sentence an attempt to cling on to an Irish heritage? Not sure where you are Elizabeth, but ive never noted that as an Irish thing and have spent my whole life here....black and tan is a beer cocktail as far as I know....black and tans is what you seem to be thinking off.
ReplyDeleteNot gone on any of those bags, maybe the Jerome Dreyfus Gary, but they are so tiny, I had a look at them before, couldn't even get my hand in it!
I did think it interesting to note it as "an attempt to cling on to my Irish heritage". I had an Irish mother and have an Irish husband so feel no real need to "cling on" to any heritage!
DeleteIf I actually give it five seconds of thought (handily I'm at the really crap bit of Ghostbusters), I don't think I've ever heard any of my Irish relatives ever ever use it. I do have an Aussie friend who says it all the time now that I say it out loud. Maybe I'm subliminally yearning for a life down under?
I do love the Chloe bag but at almost £800 I definitely don't like it any more than I like my APC half moon bag, that's for sure. But my APC bag is just a smidge too small for a full day out (if that makes sense...). The search continues. x
Love all these bags and am restraining myself from clicking on them all. Black and Tan are def both super versatile but the black might pip it for me. The jigsaw saddle bag is such a steal, love their sale and their leather bags are such great quality x
ReplyDeleteTheir bags have an elegance to them which just improves with age. And yes, I agree, excellent price!
DeleteSorry, in hindsight was a bit rash to leave my comment without saying much about the actual post, am not a hater as they say, but if you called a black and tan (s?) a cocktail where i am from in Ireland, they might have a word. The no comment was just in context of other posts, it just grates in the context of other posts I've read, but I read often and wish you well. Cheers
ReplyDeleteGoodness me, does it really matter.....? No....? ;-)
DeleteAs my parents have always had Dobermans (Dobermen?) I think of Black and Tan in the context of a Doberman (as opposed to a Chocolate and Tan, the other colour they 'come in'). And I am also of Irish heritage, married to an Irishman and I have never been aware of 'no' at the end of a question as an Irish thing - I always thought of it as a personal affectation and we all have those, whatever they may be. Quite an odd thing to comment especially when, as Kim above has said, the allusion seemed to be a connection to 'Black and Tans' as a group, not to two innocuous colours, or even a beer cocktail. (yuck, BTW)
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about the APC half moon being a tad small - my purse always gets wedged in it but it is very handy around town. Maybe I need a new, smaller purse (Lord knows I have very little of consequence in it!). The Jaeger bag is probably my favourite here, but I'm ignoring it as I need to save some money for hubby's 50th in New York in 2 months' time...
We have a rottweiler, so black and tan is great.
DeleteI'm more of a navy girl, so my vote goes for tan, it's definately a great neutral.
I'm not even going to look and see if the Chloe Kurtis is available in navy....
As I may have mentioned before I'm holding out for one I've got my eye on to be reduced, I have a feeling I'll be paying full price!
Nothing haunts us like the things we didn't buy....!!
DeleteThis blog is free and full of great hints and tips. Griping about the writing style is mean spirited. It's not an official publication for goodness sake!
ReplyDeleteI disagree, Kat says it's her occupation; she gets paid for me to read in a roundabout way so I think it's fine to appraise, (and while I'm at it suggest she looks up the word prevaricated, did she mean procrastinated?). Anyway, not really like me to get on like this, probably too much sugar over Christmas so will just vote with my feet and see if I can find my own way to the Finery sale ��. Enjoy.
DeleteWow. I thought this was going to stop but the level of passive aggression in your first comment, then your 'no apology apology' and then your final response, indicates that you need to take a breath before you hit send.
DeleteChannel your aggression into something that matters.
I don't like the way some tabloid newspapers write, d'ya know what? I don't read them. If I didn't like Kat's blog, I wouldn't read it either!
DeleteAs it is I love her blog, and I like her writing style, so I'm voting with my feet and am going to carry on reading for the foreseeable future. And I apologise in advance if I occaisionally misspell, or use the wrong word, I recon most people will be able to work out what I mean.
English is, and has always been a fluid language, I'd hate it if words had to be 'officially approved' before they were accepted as part of the lingo, and I'd hate it even more if our dialects and accents became a thing of the past!
Forgot to say that criticism is fine, as long as it's positive, anything else comes across like you've got a chip on your shoulder!
DeleteElizabeth you are absolutely right, I have been fortunate enough (with a lot of hard work) to develop a career from this blog. However, as mentioned, you are not charged to read it. And hate to disappoint but I did mean to use the word prevaricate, in that I acted in an evasive way and didn't purchase a bag! Enjoy your sugar free Jan!
DeleteAnd culturally specific lexicon is much less bound in geography now that we all have so much immediate access via rhe Internet.
ReplyDeleteMy yr9 English class sounds like a group of Valley Girls. Like, they like, drive me crazy.
Language is supposed to be fluid. Keep up the good work Kat and show us a pic of your new watch.
Axx
Pics of the watch coming up on Insta....!
DeleteNo arguing that black and tan (who knew a throwaway phrase could be so controversial!?) are v handy colours to have bags in as they go with anything but I'm finding that cos I seem to live in black and grey and navy more and more that having a red or blue (not navy) bag is now on my radar to brighten up my outfits and add a bit of contrast/colour - any recommendations??
ReplyDeleteNow funny you should say that as I'm currently eyeing up a pair of yellow trousers... I'm thinking yellow could be a great colour for a bag (perhaps not together.. although each to their own!). I do use my red bag loads - it has been a heap load more useful than I ever anticipated. But then I did get a metallic bag which I thought I'd use loads more than I actually have done, so go figure. I will say, it's the leopard bag that I find my favourite though. Would that be an option?
DeleteGoing off on a slight tangent here, but do you think there's a slight colour difference between camel and tan? Does tan have more orange in it? Or are they the same colour.......?
ReplyDeleteNow I would definitely say that tan is generally more of an orange and camel is akin to a dark beige. But there are always exceptions that break the rules. Having said that, I would definitely say either are as useful. I have a "whisky" one from Chloe that is definitely on the orange side of tan and I have been shocked by how versatile it's been!
DeleteBit mean there Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed you say no at the end of sentences a lot. I had, ,however, never, given any consideration as to why. Up here in Scotland we're prone to very odd things at the end of sentences. Who am I (or anyone else) to judge ;-) But, more importantly, you have an Irish husband. How did I not know this? :D Also, whilst I might not want to drink a black and tan - some beer cocktails are rather delicious. IF you're passing - I'll pour you one :D Was always a black bag girl until I got old and moved a little into the navy spectrum and so bought a tan bag and don't seem to have looked back. They always look more expensive and wear in really well. I'd like a black one for a change now though so have ordered that Chloe one at the top. Although like Honor above, I also make use of coloured bags to brighten things up so if you see anything nice and bright - give me a shout :D Not that you are my personal shopper or anything :-( You so should be :D Hope you are having lovely holidays. xx
ReplyDeletehmm you can keep all sorts of beer cocktails thank you. (memories of snakebite and black still haunt me!) Although I'm never one to turn down a beverage so I would indeed try it. But I do tend to avoid beer and whisky like the plague. But on a far more exciting night, fear not about the handbags, I will be on the look out for coloured ones. The perfect antidote to a miserable January!
DeleteI find I am the same.... wardrobe is mostly black, grey amd blue so often find I want to add a bit of colour with my bag!
ReplyDeleteWatch this space....
DeleteWhy are some people so bitchy! My son has dyslexia and Aspergers and pragmatic language disorder. He writes some fantastic stories and has been compared to Stephen king by one teacher. A lot of his words are spelt wrong or the wrong one is used but so what? We know what he means. Some people just don't have a sense of humour obviously "no?"
ReplyDeleteI guess I have a rather specific writing style - those who know me in real life say I write exactly as I speak. It's a very conversational form of writing which isn't going to please all the people all of the time. And there are times when I've had a vile day and the odd thing slips by on the proof reading. But I did mean prevaricate (avoid and didn't purchase) as opposed to procrastinate (delay purchase - as there has been no purchase ergo I prevaricated and didn't procrastinate!)
DeleteYou definitely write as you speak and don't ever stop doing that 😚 I think Elizabeth may have got out of the wrong side of the bed today x
DeleteKat, just get a Bella Freud style jumper in brown and black, replacing the 1970 with no.
ReplyDeleteKat's Protection League, I think you have done a fine job of showing your support for the lass but I suspect she'd rather answer questions about the bags now. Can we just move on?
ha ha ha!
DeleteI love reading your blog Kat, and actually read it specifically for the writing and humour. As it happens, It's just as well you have a sense of humour! The 'no' sounded rather French to me (the French often end their sentences with a 'non?') and the word prevaricate was used appropriately. Shall we move on to the Oxford comma? ;-)
DeleteThat's so funny as I spend a lot of time with French people and I think it is something I do probably say a lot in real life. Like I say, my writing style is very much just a stream of (un)consciousness that some people will like and some won't. Let's swerve the Oxford Comma, shall we?!
DeleteWell thank you my love. And I am getting round to the wide leg trousers and more midi skirts (I'm thinking of lace... how does that sound??) I am also definitely nowhere near the end of the Christmas party season. Dresses lined up and into Jan too, as it's my birthday. Although the husband is having an op the week before which means he will be housebound and not be able to walk. EEK. On the upside, I should be able to supervise therefore, the online ordering of a gift which usually never ever ever happens as he peaks at Christmas and then has Gift Fatigue until next Dec!
ReplyDelete"Go figure" and "no?" I wouldn't say or write them but does it make it wrong? I don't think so, does it really matter? Probably not. I can't afford half the things on most blogs but it doesn't stop me reading and enjoying them. I think negative comments sometimes stem from something other than dislike of writing style....
ReplyDeleteThere's no pleasing some people unfortunately! And luckily there are squidillions (yes a made up word so it appears) of other blogs for them to read. Wouldn't it be a dull world if we all liked the same thing....
DeleteNow this blog exactly one year ago helped relieve my bank account of around 300 euros for a Marc Jacobs bag which I love love love. But like your APC it's a tad on the small side. How happy I was to see the DVF bucket bag here, but it's already sold out, I'm too late. They have grey left - what goes with grey?
ReplyDeleteAnd for what it's worth, I like your chatty, cheerful style of prose, it keeps me coming back to this blog. You're not overly precious, you convey a healthy, suitably cynical attitude to the often nonsensicle world of fashion. Black and tan, cocktail, no? Fgs who gives a toss when the blardy dvf is sold out? Jac
Grey is one of my much loved colours, and is second only to navy as a neutral in my opinion, so for me a grey handbag would probably go with 70% of my wardrobe!
DeleteHave I got a handbag in grey, no. Silver, yes; taupe, yes; but proper grey, either light or dark, no. Big gaping hole in my bag collection...maybe! (It'll have to wait until after I addressed my latest obsession of a navy handbag)!
I'm trying to convince myself of the grey. Another couple of glasses of red and I might be there especially as it's half the price of the other bag I've got my eye on. The black came back into stock at 4 o'clock this morning, for about 20 seconds probably. Maybe I should hold an all night vigil...
DeleteJac
Wading in here... I love your conversational style & sense of humour. I also love your take on fashion, and it is alarming how often I click through to order something I've read about here. My wallet may have suffered since I started following you, but I have never once been offended by your colloquialisms. I think that the differences in speech and writing are part of what charms me. As a Canadian woman, I am aware of my own speech foibles, eh? And as a francophone, we do often use 'non' at the end of a sentence. So what? I don't think it means I'm pushing a Canadian agenda, and I certainly don't think that you are "clinging to your Irish heritage". It's just the way we speak. Vive la difference, non?
ReplyDeleteAs far as handbags go, I have been on the hunt for a tan/camel bag for the last few months. I have a few black ones already, but a tan one would contrast well with all the black I wear. I do have several brighter bags as well, which I love in our long, cold winters. I did buy a yellow suede one this fall, which I have found amazingly useful.
Carry on Kat! I'm always impressed with your gracious response to criticism, as well as your wit(Irish or not).
Nancy
The only thing it would also be great to see on this blog is some pics of women bags. Lightweight Handbag for Laptops
ReplyDelete