Complete luxury

Firstly - well Happy Christmas! 

And secondly - I hope Santa was as good to you as he was to me.  Thanks to my 11yr old and one of my best friends, my more than amazing husband came through and Merry Christmas to me, I got the Gucci Disco Hoho bag which was top of my wish list. 

We had a lovely day.  Very laid back and relaxed which is how we love the day itself as we have a chaotic lead up and New Year is a frantic affair .

But enough about the joys of a Hallmark Christmas (although frankly ours is less Disney and  a lot more Royle Family) - sod this, today I am happily writing about the shallow, and the alternative joys of an expensive handbag. 

This isn't the first time I have waxed lyrical about this and I am more than aware that those of you who are able to contemplate buying these, even in the sale, are very lucky.  And no it isn't the be all and end all "obviously" but when things are good, one of these is lovely and when the chips are down, it's the smallest things that give you a lift. 

And the sales is the best time to have a little look at those bags that are normally out of your budget.  

Straight off the bat I will say, these aren't cheap.  They are a treat and they are an investment.  Whether or not you think they're worth it - well, one man's meat and all that.  This is a total treat, throw it all to hell, kids will be on beans for the rest of the month, blog. 

Normality and the best of the rest of the sales will be back tomorrow. 

Starting with a little monochrome number from Marc Jacobs.  I love this.  I am going to be embracing either the small neat bag or the slouchy carry it all around sack, this season (well - Spring/Summer....  This clearly falls into the former.

Lip Lock x Body bag by Marc by Marc Jacobs was £295 now £206

A very different Marc by Marc Jacobs number and if you're planning on neutrals next season, this is the perfect accessory to add that bit of interest. 

Mini Marc by Marc Jacobs Natasha bag was £355 now £213



And a plain black version with a snakeskin strap was £355 now £248




Adore the clean lines and structure of this Sandro one. 

Ashley Leather shoulder bag was £420 now £252




Black again at DKNY and texture with ponyskin.  

DKNY Riverside Triple Zip Cross Body Bag was £200 now £160



Speaking of texture - this leather from Alexander Wang is amazing. 

McQ Alexander McQueen Ruin Shoulder Bag was £375 now £262


And I mentioned big and slouchy... look no further. 

Sutra Crescent Textured Leather Shoulder bag from DVF was £248 now £149




I love a minky/camel/neutral bag and this one from DKNY is a really great price. 

Leather Shoulder bag in mushroom from DKNY was £210 now £105



This is the brown version of my black one which I have used so so much and will do so well into next season.  The perfect added bit of interest in the fringing.  This is from Matches and there's an extra 10% off Sales prices tonight with the code EXTRA10.

Mario Fringed Suede Shoulder bag by Jerome Dreyfuss was £475 now £332



But hang on... call off the dogs.  A grey calf hair version.  This would be my choice. 

Mario calf hair and suede was £625 now £437 again from Matches.




Speaking of Jerome Dreyfuss - adore this grey flannel one.  Looks very formal but also has a long cross body strap which makes it automatically school runnable.

Edouard flannel cross body bag was £545 now £381  That'll be Matches..




Then there's blue.. I've never mastered the navy bag.  Maybe this year?

DVF 440 Gallery mini leather satchel was £208 now £124 Go Matches!



Or there's this an alternative shade of blue at Sophie Hulme in the not going anywhere bucket bag shape. 

Fleetwood small leather bucket bag at Matches was £495 now £396



Now this next one.. I have to say, if I hadn't had the red one for Christmas, then I would have bought this one for my mum's funeral and happily worn navy and black with this to tie it all together.  Actually I may even have bought the All Saints ink and black coat as well.  There's still time.. 

Sugar leather shoulder bag from Lanvin was £1400 now £980  10% off at Matches mind you.. *does maths.. still weeps*.




And then of course, I have The Red Bag collection.  I am so excited to use my new one, I very nearly wore it for a dog walk this morning.  Then came to my senses, obviously.  But I may have to leave the house in the next day or so as I NEED to use my bag. 

Red bags rock.  You will never get tired of one, I promise.  I will be using mine so regularly, I cannot wait.  A whole new chapter for me (yes, that will be one and a half glasses of wine in...) 

Leather Shoulder bag from See by Chloe was £311 now £217



Really love this more raspberry tone to the See by Chloe bag. 

See by Chloe Mini Delia Cross body bag in Cherry was £365 now £219



Or a little red leather number from Lanvin.

Sugar Stitch panel leather Shoulder bag was £1650 now £1555.. with 10% off at Matches though.. (snort)



And here is my bag of beauty.  I can't wait to use it.




Outfits from the last two days.  Am embracing the red it seems... 




Charcoal Adele jumper - hush
Black leather leggings - hush
Leopard coat - M&S
Red Superstar sneakers - Golden Goose 

Finally the outfit from Christmas Day.  Casual was the name of the game.  After a very swift successions of Bucks Fizz.  If you don't want the room to spin after three, don't (DO!) add Cointreau.




Red 1970 Jumper - Bella Freud
Black coated skinnies - New Look 
Superstar sneakers - Golden Goose

I did attempt to drag all three children for a walk today.  Oh FAT chance.  The moaning - dear lord the moaning and whinging and whining.  As we only had my sister in law and two cousins pop in for tea and cake this afternoon (all coming over for lunch tomorrow) and I capitulated (ie wept and gave in) and let them wear their jamas all day.  I did tell you more Royle Family and not a hint of Hallmark.

I spent a  lovely 30 mins on my own in the fresh air - ya boo sucks to them, I now have wine and carpaccio and a fridge of canapes to wade through this evening with the husband and a movie.  Christmas bliss. 

(I've told them are they are coming for a walk tomorrow on pain of death.  If I have to drag them out in wellies, jamas and coats, I will.  Alternatively I can threaten to throw the xbox into the bin... I did once when they were really small - and I could be found rocking in a corner most days - cut the plug off the tv in the playroom.  Literally.  Turned it off.  Scissors.  Snip.  HA.  Joke was on me of course when I had to rewire the sodding thing... )

Hope Santa was good to everyone else.  I will be back tomorrow with my favourite picks of the last season and their sales equivalents (I think....).