handbags

Every season, new handbag trends make their way into the street style world, and each season, we eagerly scout said accessories. Despite fashion weeks not taking place IRL, there are still a load of new bags coming in with Gucci’s Jackie the Prada Cleo being two of the most popular styles. They’re fashion-forward and have a serious street style star backing. Sometimes, though, it’s the classic designer handbags you simply can’t say no to because they are just that—classic. If you’re unsure about which luxury piece to splurge on, consider turning to the most popular designer bags ever. It’s no easy feat to earn such a title, and though many come attached with a pretty big price tag, they’re worth the splurge and deserve a spot in your collection. Th...

The luxury resale market has seen a massive boom in the past few years, with companies like Vestiare Collective and Xupes asserting that the Hermès Birkin bag retains around 130% of its retail value at resale. The reasoning behind this? Scarcity. It’s widely known you can’t just stroll into any Hermès shop and expect one of the pristine shop assistants to lift the red ropes and present you with a with a selection of Birkin bags to choose from. As Vestiare co-founder Fanny Moizant succinctly puts it, “Anything that is hard to get is highly coveted, and there’s a mystery around the bags, which makes them even more sought-after.” On 12 June 2019, Christie’s London hosted a handbag auction featuring some of the world’s most exotic finds, including...

Distinctly at odds with our voracious buying of tracksuits, puffer coats, pyjamas, track-soled boots and house dresses, the past year has also seen a sharp increase in the volume of über-luxurious designer and heritage handbags being invested in by style-conscious consumers. It was an unexpected result considering handbags have been of little-to-no use for so many people of late, but the message from high-fashion stores is that shoppers have used this time to finally take the plunge and pick up their “forever” bags. Where contemporary handbag brands had previously been flourishing thanks to their cool trend-led designs at equally cool mid-ranging price-points, 2020 has led many to really think about purchasing even more sensibly in order to secure ...

Welcome to our series, Survival of the Chicest. Here, we’ll look at the world’s most iconic fashion items, from Chanel pumps to the Breton top, charting their rise to fashion fame and decoding their allure. Ultimately we’ll be investigating what it is that’s made these pieces so popular and allowed them to stand the test of time. Today we’re looking at the Hermès Birkin bag and how it continues to appear on the arms of fashion editors, celebrities and influencers alike. From Hollywood to the FROW, the iconic Birkin bag has become a global symbol of status and wealth. Its easy-to-recognise shape and hardware can be customised in countless exotic materials, and it’s handcrafted in a six-phase process over the course of 20 hours. Even with its jaw-dropping ...

A firm French girl favourite, Polène has been the under-the-radar buzz word in bags this year. The Parisian brand’s minimal yet elevated aesthetic has unsurprisingly caught the eye of many an uber-chic influencer recently, and we totally get why. As you know, we’re fans of most French exports, but this lesser-known handbag brand is yet another we’ll be adding to our holiday wish lists this year.  Searching for the perfect bag can sometimes feel like a herculean task, especially with such a crowded marketplace to sift through. However, if you’re a fashion girl after something extra special that won’t blow your life’s savings, we’d highly recommend checking out Polène’s bestselling ‘Numero Un’ collection.  The signature sumptuous envelope style feels pleasingly original whilst still maintain...

If you didn’t manage to get your hands on an Alexa back then (some of us are still sore about it, ok) you’re in luck. In the lead up to the iconic British brand’s 50th anniversary next year, they have relaunched the signature silhouette this week. The updated design is instantly recognisable but has been refined for the modern day— in line with Mulberry’s commitment to responsible innovation, notable sustainable changes include the use of leather from gold standard, environmentally accredited tanneries and crafted at the brand’s carbon neutral UK factories. The result is a timeless design that now epitomises a sustainable approach to luxury. Plus, there’s a whole new range of colours, from earthy neutrals to joyful brights, as well as the brand’s classics...

Bags, I’ll admit, probably aren’t on everyone’s shopping lists right now. But I still think they’re a real practical item to own—even if you’re not making the trip to the office or a brunch out with friends, they’re still useful for stashing your antibacterial gel, face masks and holding the usual keys, money and mobile. For this autumn/winter 2020 the emphasis is on classic trends that you’ll love for a long time to come—which is particularly important when we’re considering our budgets more than ever. For me, when applying this to bags, a great investment tote is all about finding one that a) you love and b) is so classic that when you wear it years later, it won’t look dated.  You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating shoul...

At the beginning of the year, we already knew which designer bags were going to dominate in 2020. How did we predict correctly? Well, it’s a lot more than just guesswork. We spend time speaking to brands and buyers and looking at what’s trending in the fashion industry to see which bags are going to come out on top during the year. Of course, cult buys and new brands can emerge at any moment, surprising even the most seasoned of fashion buyers and editors, but there are certain new styles that I guarantee we’ll be talking about as hero buys this December.  That said, we didn’t know the pandemic was coming and the financial implications of that on the fashion industry and personal budgets. However, despite this, global fashion search platform Lyst reve...

At the beginning of the year, we already knew which designer bags were going to dominate in 2020. How did we predict correctly? Well, it’s a lot more than just guesswork. We spend time speaking to brands, buyers and looking at what’s trending in the fashion industry to see which bags are going to come out on top during the year. Of course, cult buys and new brands can emerge at any moment surprising even the most seasoned of fashion buyers and editors, but there are certain new styles that I guarantee we’ll be talking about as hero buys this December.  That said, we didn’t know the pandemic was coming and the financial implications of that on the fashion industry and personal budgets. However, despite this, global fashion search platform Lyst revealed...

Introduce our readers to your brand. When did you start it, and why? I’m Natasha, and I’m the woman behind Roop, which is also my nickname, I started making the bags last September while I was off work with a bad back (it’s a glamorous story). I was inspired by a shoe strap I saw on Instagram and the beautiful art of furoshiki. Roop is a beautiful mix of everything I love! How has social distancing and stay at home orders affected your business? How have your priorities shifted? I feel guilty saying this, but it kind of made Roop into what it is today. Firstly, it gave me the time to focus on and execute what I wanted to do with the business, and secondly, the rise in support for small businesses put me in front of more people. Lastly, my brand is happy, colourf...

For many, a designer handbag is an item that will always be at the top of their wish-list, although sadly they aren’t necessarily the most wallet-friendly of purchases. Often retailing for hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds, luxury handbags are an investment, to say the least.  And although a handbag of that quality is something you can carry for years come—generally meaning it can being quite reasonable when you take into account cost per wear—often the purchase can still be difficult to justify. Though, if you’ve been in the market for a new bag and have your heart set on a design by Valentino, Fendi, Burberry and more, you may be in luck as several lust-worthy designer bags are currently reduced as a part of this year’s summer sales. You Deserve to Make Mo...

Most of us won’t have touched a handbag since lockdown began, instead sticking to a bag for life for our groceries and pockets for our credit cards. But now that we see signs of things slowly reopening and can visit garden centres and take a book to the park, many are in need of a chuck-it-all-in practical handbag. If you want something a little jazzier than a basket bag, then I’ve just found an under-the-radar French brand that creates the most beautiful striped tote bags. Rue de Verneuil was founded in 2014, however, it’s a new name to British shoppers as has just been stocked by MatchesFashion. The 1950s-inspired tote bags have a Riviera feel to them, as they have a thin elegant pinstripe, a tan leather strap and come in the colours you typically see lining the French ...