Friday Handbag-a-Watzit

As requested by Alex and EMS!

I don't have as many handbags as I have shoes. I tend to think a girl only needs a classic black and a classic neutral (white, cream or beige) bag, and this will be enough to go with any outfit. However, as I am addicted to shopping, I also have a few fun bags (tee hee!) to liven up some outfits.

And so we begin with the one that got away. This black-with-gold-hardware bag was a fantastic bag. It had everything you could ever want in a bag. And it's a very classic shape. However, for some reason, I decided to sell it before I went overseas. I am now constantly searching Ebay to find a replacement for it. I still haven't found a black bag I like as much as this one though.

Mulberry Wilton Black Leather Shoulder Bag (25L x 10W x 20H - two handles, buckle fastening straps at side, a clasp fastening strap in center with a zip fastening central pocket underneath and two open pockets either side.

This is cream leather tote, and is not exactly a classic shape. I think it will date. But it is a very nice bag, and is exceptionally well made. However, it's also very heavy. Even before you put anything in it. And it's not a shoulder bag, so your arm ends up dying if you have to lug it around for more than a few hours. Still, it goes with pretty much everything I own, so I still love it.

Anya Hindmarch Cooper Leather Tote (48L x 3W x 35H - clasp fastening pocket on front, a shoulder strap across top and a concealed magnetic fastening)

This was the first designer bag I ever bought. I loved the colour, the shape, the gold hardware. And it's a very practical bag. There's a pocket on the front, multiple pockets on the insider, a zip closure, and it's a great size. The colour is not really represented well here. It's more bluey-green than it appears. It also goes surprisingly well with a lot of things. But I usually wear it with black outfits, so it stands out more.

Anya Hindmarch Pipa Leather Shoulder Bag (35L x 12W x 22H - two handles, a signature clasp fastening on the front which secures a flap closure pocket, a magnetic fastening pocket on back, zip fastening across the top and feet on base.)

This bag was purchased because I had the shoes in the same colour. They're fabulous T-bar sandals. I don't usually agree with matching shoes and handbags (co-ordinating yes, matching no), but the shoes aren't completely "out there," so it seems to work well. This bag is huge! I carry it whenever I have to go somewhere with a book, or anything else large. It's also very light, even when it has a massive textbook in it. And it has pockets galore! It's sort of a deep burgundy colour.

Jimmy Choo Biker Leather Tote (45L x 18W x 28H - clasp fastening on front, double shoulder strap across top, two side pockets, internal zippered compartment divides bag into two sections, 3 internal pockets)

I saw this bag in a catalogue which had been sent to me, and immediately lusted after it. But I was heading overseas and was trying not to spend money. So I didn't buy it. 6 months later, I got to Paris and went to the store to drool over it. But I didn't have the money for it then either. So I took a photo and caught a plane back home. I have been scanning Ebay ever since, hoping one would show up. And what do you know, a month ago one did! I checked it out for authenticity, and managed to get it for a bargain! I was ecstatic the day it came in the mail. It looks fantastic with a cream outfit. It's more purple than it appears here.

LV Bowling Montaigne GM in Cassis Epi Leather (37L x 17W x 26H - Epi leather discreetly stamped with the LV initials, textile lining and smooth leather trimmings; Silvery brass pieces; Zippered closure with padlock and flap bearing the Louis Vuitton signature; One inside flat pocket and one cell phone pocket; One rear outside flat pocket; Key and matching key holder; Bottom studs to protect the bag)

This bag nearly got away from me. I saw it on the website and loved it. But I let it sit there for a while so I could decide if I really wanted it. Then it sold out. I was crushed. Then it came back! I put it in my shopping bag, but it sold out before I could buy it. Again, I was crushed. And then a week later, it came back again! I pounced on it. It goes fantastically with those bright pink Louboutins, and also the pink Dior slides.

Michael Kors Roslyn Leather Shoulder Bag (37L x 3W x 43H; Handle Drop 8 - two handles and a detachable shoulder strap, exposed zip pockets at front and back, a detachable designer-stamped tag, an internal zip-fastening pocket and is fully lined)

This bag is on my wish list. It's the perfect bag for a business woman. It fits A4, or a small laptop, and is effortlessly classy. It's a grained leather, and I am currently saving up for it. I think I would rather have a nice ivory business case than a boring black one. It will help me stand out in a crowd!

LV Pont-Neuf GM in Ivory Epi Leather (36L x 15W x 30H - Refined microfibre lining; Shiny silvery brass metallic pieces; Zipper closure, flap and press-lock; Three compartments including a central zipped pocket; Hand-held with smooth leather handles)

This is the bag I went shopping for on Wednesday. And in fact, I told Boogey a little lie about where I was going, because I thought if I said, "I have to pick something up from Louis Vuitton" I would have sounded like a pretentious twat. So I said I was going to David Jones instead. And then once we'd parted ways, I ducked out and into the LV store (with furtive glances to make sure he wasn't still around to see me! Haha!). The colour is seasonal, and a limited edition. I loved it from the moment I saw it. It's so feminine and beautiful. The soft pink is just an amazing colour, and I think the shape is really classic.

LV Alma PM in Rose Florentin Vernis Monogram (32L x 17W x 24H - Rounded handles for comfortable hand carry; One interior flat pocket; One interior phone pocket; Double zip opening for easy access; Gold padlock)

I lusted after this bag for a very long time. The colour is very hard to describe. It's sort of grey, but sort of lilac. It's hand-stitched leather. It's a great bag, and very versatile. There's a shoulder strap you can attach, and then fold down the top part to make it more casual, or you can carry it on your elbow for a more classy look. This is the bag I had with me on Wednesday when I met up with Boogey.

Dior Lady Dior Granville Tote in Grey (33.5L x 16W x 29H; Handle Drop 9.5 or 110 - lambskin with hand-stitched cannage detail. Silvertone hardware. Top handles with rings, adjustable, removable shoulder strap. Foldover top; can be carried as handbag or shoulder bag. Hanging "D.I.O.R." charms. Three interior compartments. Metal feet protect bottom of bag.

I thought the metallics phase was going to go away after a season or two, so I didn't bother purchasing anything in it. I was very wrong. It's still here. And while part of me hates it, another part of me thinks it can look very nice when done correctly. And so I recently purchased some metallic shoes, and then didn't have a handbag to go with them. Dilemma. And then I saw this bag on sale - 60% off! The best of both worlds! I get a trend-bag, and it doesn't cost me full price! I wore it yesterday, with a black dress with sculptural sleeves, and the Fendi black and gold swirl suede pumps.

Chloe Bay Gold Leather Shoulder Bag (37L x 15W x 32H; Handle Drop 18 - double structured straps, a quilted panel on front, a signature plaque on front, a zip fastening across the top, double zip-fastening pockets on both sides, a contrast canvas lining, an interior zip-fastening pocket, stitched detailing and feet on base)

This is another one that got away. It's an adorable little pouchette, whose main use is for evening wear. It doesn't fit much in it. The clasp is a pair of tiny shoes. I love it so much! But yet again, I sold it before I went overseas. I rue that day. I have no idea why I sold it. Still, I sold it to a friend, so at least I know if I ever want to borrow it, I'm sure she will let me!

Christian Louboutin Satin Loubinette Pouchette (22L x 8W x 18H, Handle Drop 11cm - stiletto clasp fastening, pleated detailing and a red lining)

This is another bag on my wish list. Two, actually. I really want this in the black lambskin, and another in the white lambskin. It's such a classic bag, and has been in style for 50 years. I doubt it will go out of style any time soon. I haven't previously purchased any quilted handbags, because when I do, I want them to be these ones! It has a double length chain which can be gathered in half for a shoulder bag, or let long for a hip-length bag.

Chanel 2.55 Classic Flap in Black Lambskin (25.5L x 7W x 15.5H - quilted lambskin leather outer, CC turn lock, convenient patch pocket on the back. Interior zip pocket on the back of the flap, an open compartment for easy access and a flap compartment with snap closure. The back of the interior flap is stitched with the Chanel CC logo. The main compartment has one open pocket and two small patch pockets)

And now for the piece de resistance! This bag is my HG (holy grail, for those of you who don't visit fashion forums - so, everyone then!). I am not sure I will ever obtain one. They are so expensive, I would probably need to sell 5 kidneys to buy one. I only have one and a half to spare. I don't mind spending 4 figures on a bag, but 5 is really pushing it. These bags can go up to 6 figures. The reason they are so expensive is because they are completely hand-crafted in a workshop in Paris, which produces only 5 bags across the whole range each week. There are thousands of people wanting to buy them, and there are wait-lists no matter what your name is. The fashion house who makes them has recently said they are going to outsource the construction to another location in France, so they can keep up with demand and abolish the wait-lists (and increase revenue, no doubt), but I don't know when/if this is going to happen. There are numerous variations of this bag. The fashion house basically lets you custom design it, if that's what you want. You can pick from a range of colours, leathers and hardware. Obviously, the basic look of it is still going to be the same. But some of the combinations will set you back more than the cost of a very nice car (which I think is ridiculous). If I ever did manage to buy one, I'd just get a classic black Togo leather so that it would be timeless (and it's also one of the "cheaper" versions).

Hermes Birkin 30 in Black Togo Leather with Palladium Hardware (30L x 15W x 20H; Handle Drop 11 - black togo leather with silvertone palladium hardware. Silvertone hardware on the strap stamped with "HERMES-PARIS". Interior of the bag has two pockets, one with zipper)

And there you have it! Another vapid and pointless post from the Queen of Inappropriate Shoes (and Handbags).