Bag it up baby: luxe goes practical
NOTHING makes a female mouth water quite like a beautiful bag. And, as the City fashionista will know, practicality must merge with style for maximum wearability – after all, what’s the point in having a beautiful tote if you can’t show it off? With fashions changing like gusts of wind, it’s important to choose a bag that’s on trend but has lasting power.
Luisa De Paula, buying director of online boutique my-wardrobe.com, says: “This season we have seen the return of sophisticated classic lines and understated styles with the bag collections. Bags have become smaller in size with simplified structure, moving away from the shoulder ache-inducing super-size totes of a few seasons ago. A great example of this is the MySuelly collection, which takes inspiration from the iconic vintage bag styles. Take the DVF, D&G, Anya Hindmarch, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Mulberry collections – key sellers have been the Mulberry Carter and Polly Push Lock tote.”
We like the new satchels, which are both elegant and extremely practical. And – who would have thought it? – the backpack as made a re-entry into the luxury market with an elegant leather twist.
WHAT THEY ARE AND WHERE TO BUY:
1 Leather backpack, The Row, £2,635, www.netaporter.com
2 Desert shoulder bag, Barbara Wiggins. £99, www.barbarawiggins.co.uk
3 Stone Large Leather Romilly, Lulu Guinness, £425, in the Royal Exchange and at www.luluguinness.com
4 Carter Double Handle Bag, Mulberry, £995, www.mulberry.com
5 Tel Aviv studded base leather satchel, Sara Berman, £354, www.my-wardrobe.com
6 The Classic satchel, Cambridge Satchel Company, £74, www.cambridgesatchel.co.uk
7 Louise Enna Arrow Lock bag, Mysuelly, £360, Carolina Herrera, £404, www.my-wardrobe.com
8 Large Matroshyka, CH Carolina Herrera, 120 Mount Street, W1K 3NN
9 Colour block tote bag, Top Shop, £34, at One New Change and www.topshop.com