All About Anya Hindmarch

photo by nameless users / CC BY

Anya Hindmarch began her huge handbag empire in a simple but effective way. After a stint studying abroad in Italy she fell in love with the Italian leather bags that she saw women carrying, and she decided to bring them over to the UK and sell them. After a successful first attempt, Hindmarch continued sourcing Italian leather bags between 1987-1992, as well as having her own designs made by a factory in Italy. These bags were then sold in luxury stores in London, New York, Japan, France and Italy. It wasn't until the factory began selling directly to Harvey Nichols - cutting her out of the equation - that Anya Hindmarch opened her own store and the brand was born.

6 More Amazing Handbag Collection YouTube Videos for Designer Bag Obsessives

Photo by Tyler Pruitt / CC BY

Designer handbag collection videos make for compulsive viewing. For me, they fill that void when I'm trying to stay away from expensive purchases, but they are actually also very helpful when you want some inspiration on what to buy next. This is the second time that I've gathered together amazing handbag collection YouTube videos, and I think that I'm even happier with this selection! If you love designer bags, and if you love discovering new YouTubers, then take some time out and dive into the wardrobes of these five amazing women - I don't think that you'll regret it!

Mansur Gavriel's Breakout Success

photo by Anne-Marii / CC BY / edited: resized, sharper

Founded in 2012, Mansur Gavriel might be a new brand but their high-quality Italian leather bags are carried by some of the most fashionable women in the world. Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel came up with the concept for the brand in 2010, aspiring to create pieces with a "casual but elegant" aesthetic that were free from hardware and logos. Additionally, the founders were very keen to make their bags from traditional vegetable tanned leather, a material that they both loved but that is more often associated with men's accessories. Indeed, all of their aesthetic decisions turned out to be spot-on, and their break-out design - the bucket bag - was a roaring success, proving that vegetable tanned leather goods can carry some serious cool-factor.

3 Modern Designer Bag Brands Worth Checking Out

photo by Lauren Beck / CC BY / edited: resized, sharper

As much as I love classic designer brands, sometimes there's something fun about branching out and trying something fresh and new. I very rarely invest in brand new bags, because quite frankly the pre-loved designer bag market is just so good, but I know I can be tempted by special pieces from more affordable modern brands. In fact, there are a couple of bags that I've spied online and am keen to add to my collection - and I'm going to share them with you today.

Just a bit of background on my taste in bags; I'm a real sucker for special (especially handmade) leather clutches. I typically only carry clutch bags to parties and events, but that's why I like wearing special pieces. These bags tend to get a lot of attention and I'll often get asked all sorts of questions about the brands and designs - and where they're available to purchase. If you're anything like me, you'll know that there is a special pleasure in carrying something unique or rare, something that your friends probably don't own. So if you're into being a little bit different then I think you'll enjoy the three brands featured in today's post. They're all great examples of new, modern designers producing interesting and wearable pieces, and the price points are low enough that they don't feel like too much of an investment. 

The Allure of Alexander Wang's Dressed-Up Casual

Photo by mangostar  / CC BY

When you read about Alexander Wang online, the words you'll see everywhere are "model off-duty". This seems to have become the presiding definition of Wang's dressed-up casual style, that effortless-looking brand of chic that's both cool and somehow smart, without actually conforming to what we've come to know as "smart".

The Étienne Aigner/Aigner Munich Split

photo by fervent-adepte-de-la-mode / CC BY

Étienne Aigner (pronounced et-tee-an / on-yay) apprenticed with Christian Dior and Cristóbal Balenciaga before moving to New York to launch his own eponymous brand. In 1950, Étienne Aigner began producing antic red leather bags (which have now become the brand's signature colour) and in 1959 Aigner opened his first showroom in Manhattan, New York. Since then, the brand has grown into a worldwide success with major offices in Munich and New York. Currently, these offices are owned by different companies with their own e-commerce sites, and you can purchase different handbag designs from either site.

Gerard Darel's Easy Charm

Photos by fervent-adepte-de-la-mode / CC BY / adapted into a collage

Compared to some of the other designer brands that I've written about so far, Gerard Darel is a much younger, newer and more French. The brand began in 1971, with their first store opening in the heart of Paris in 1987 - since then, they've charmed French and European women with their classic and chic bag designs and slowly began making more and more appearances on the arms of celebrities. In my home town of London, you can now find not one but three Gerard Darel stores, and I can say from experience that they're most certainly worth visiting. 

7 Must Watch "Best and Worst Designer Purchases" YouTube Videos

Photo by Tyler Pruitt / CC BY

If you're "into" designer fashion then you'll know from experience that it can helpful to get recommendations and read reviews before investing in something expensive. Magazines have been pointing us towards designer purchases for years, but there's something a lot more fun and informative about the YouTube video format - where savvy shoppers talk you through their favourite purchases, as well as their shopping errors. This is what you'll find in "Best and Worst Designer Purchases" videos, a series of in depth recommendations and warnings that give you a much better perspective on those bags, shoes or clothing items that you've had your eye on. 

Today I've gathered together 7 of my favourite "Best and Worst Designer Purchases" videos, from some of my favourite YouTubers. Whether you're a die-hard designer shopper or just wanting to live vicariously, these videos are all fun to watch as well as giving you some much needed advice on what items to avoid altogether! 

What Makes a Classic Designer Bag?

Photo by Marianna Changnon, 'Spy a Silhouette'

What makes a classic designer bag? I think that's a good, juicy question - with a lot of room for interpretation. Today, I'm going to try and tackle it, and in the process you'll hear some of my thoughts about what I think it takes for a designer bag to reach "classic" status.

A Loewe Love Affair

Photo by Jun560 / CC BY

My first ever designer handbag was a vintage Loewe clutch – and I stumbled across it completely by accident. It was a weekend and my dad had asked if I’d mind picking up a vintage clock that he’d bought online, and by a stroke of luck I said yes and headed out the door. Once I got to the sales venue I discovered a room full of gorgeous antique furniture, and a wall of designer bags on consignment.

Pre-Loved Smythson Bags & Why They're Worth Buying

Photo by SteveDexterUK / all rights reserved, used with express permission

Smythson is a British designer brand, with their flagship London store located on New Bond Street. Founded in 1887, Smythson have over 125 years of experience in producing high-quality leather goods and their general style is simple and classic, with the occasional pop of colour. From my experience, the quality of Smythson's designer bags is pretty good as I've handled models with over fifteen years of regular use that still look and feel pretty fabulous. 

5 Amazing Handbag Collection Videos for Designer Bag Obsessives

Photo by Tyler Pruitt / CC BY

Whether you have one designer bag or twenty, once you're on the designer handbag bandwagon it's hard not to become obsessed. If you're anything like me then you'll positively love having a nose around other people's collections, especially when they're inviting you in! 

There are countless designer handbag collection videos on YouTube, but they're not all made equal. There's something pleasing about seeing a variety of brands and colour and, of course, the YouTuber themselves can make or break a video. 

Today I've gathered together give of my favourite handbag collection videos, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Is Pre-Loved Designer Fashion The More Sustainable Choice? #30wears

Photo by Rawle C. Jackman / CC BY

I don’t know about you, but I’ll often pick up a glossy magazine at the beginning of the month and then not find a solitary moment to sit down and enjoy it until the next issue is already on the shelves. That, certainly, is what happened last month when I bought Elle, and only this week did I finally make my way through its pages.

Somewhere in the middle of the magazine I found a piece by Jess Cartner-Morley where she identifies and examines a high-fashion shopping trend of ‘dressing for you’. In contrast to years of shopping designer fashion for elaborate and often un-wearable pieces, Cartner-Morley explains that she has now discovered the pleasure of spending that same money on everyday designer items, such coats or shirts. For her, this represents a movement away from curating a museum-esque collection of dramatic high-fashion that barely sees the light of day. This shopping culture is replaced with something more suitable for her lifestyle, with a sustainable edge that fits with Livia Firth’s mantra of ‘will you wear this a minimum of 30 times?’

9 Must Watch "What's In My Bag" YouTube Videos

Photo by Tyler Pruitt / CC BY

I am a self confessed YouTube fanatic. Whatever you're into, there is a YouTube channel that will cater to your interests; and if you're into handbags then you'll be glad to know that there are dozens of great options!

In the world of YouTube, the "What's In My Bag" video has become somewhat of a cult classic. Many YouTubers will show you their handbag (and only pretty designer options have made it into today's collection) and they'll walk you through what they typically like to carry around with them. Not only is this a great way to snoop inside fashionistas' handbags, but it often also gives you a great close-up of designer bags, as well as highlighting just how much, or how little, can fit inside.

So, find somewhere comfy to sit and take a browse, hopefully there will be a designer bag (or YouTube personality) that clicks with you.

Delvaux's Luxury Leather Bags

Photo by Mark Florquin / CCBY

Operating since 1829, Delvaux is the oldest fine leather goods house in the world, and I discovered their incredible handbags during my very first commercial purchase as a bag dealer. As first opportunities go, this was one pretty incredible; and I found myself excitedly buying up the majority of a wealthy New Yorker’s handbag collection. I am pretty sure that any woman I might have shown – regardless of their knowledge or interest in designer handbags – would have swooned at the leather goods that were now in my possession. It was my first time handling brands such as Loewe, Céline, Bottega Veneta and Delvaux – and I was immediately obsessed.

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