All About Gucci: The History Behind Gucci's Designer Bags

photo by Jon Gurinsky / CC BY / resized

Founded way back in 1921, Gucci enjoys a long history as a popular fashion house.

Guccio Gucci (whose name we have to thank for Gucci’s interlocking GG logo) kicked everything off with a single Florentine store. Over the years, Gucci has slowly evolved into a global brand name, with more than 278 directly operated stores worldwide.

I don’t think that I would describe Gucci’s trajectory as smooth – there were some super scandals in the 1980s-1990s – but it has slowly but surely motored its way to the top of the pile.

4 Reasons You Should Buy Mini Bags

Photo by Marianne Chagnon, 'Spy A Silhouette'

Have you been toying with the idea of buying a mini bag?
Are you looking for advice on whether or not they're a good investment?

I've got 4 pretty convincing reasons why you should go ahead and buy the mini bag of your dreams. 

3.1 Phillip Lim 31 Minute Bubble Clutch Bag in Black

Bubble clutches enjoyed a lot of success a couple of years ago, and a few big brands - including 3.1 Phillip Lim and Maison Martin Margiella - produced a take on the trend. As a longstanding fan of 3.1 Phillip Lim's 31 Minute Clutch Bags, this particular bubble clutch is a personal favourite.

10 Must Watch Designer Bag Unboxing Videos

 photo by j-No / CC BY

Designer handbags are often a big investment, so it's an exciting time when you bring a new (or new-to-you if you shop pre-loved) designer bag home. It's a growing trend on YouTube to share "unboxing" videos, where YouTubers will open their new designer bags on camera. I love these sorts of videos because, like myself, these women truly love designer handbags and it's wonderful to witness how happy they are with their new purchases. It's also a great way to see video footage of designer bags, and this can really help you to get a feel for the size and quality or various designs. 

One of the more difficult parts of YouTube is finding new content to watch. It's easy to stick with the channels that you already know and love, but it can be time consuming to find new videos that you like. Today, I've done the work for you and I've gathered together ten unboxing videos from some of my favourite YouTubers. I've also tried to make sure that there are a range of designer brands represented across these videos, so you won't see the same Gucci bag unboxed ten times! 

Furla Metropolis Bag Review

photo by PandaLovePhotography / CC BY

The Furla Metropolis Bag (in the mini size) is an incredibly popular bag.

In London, where I live, it's hard to go a day without seeing one of these bags - and they're worn by all sorts of people. Furla makes the Metropolis bags in a big range of colours, and many limited edition seasonal designs (like the bag in the photograph above). This means that whatever your style or your age, so long as you like mini bags, there's going to be a Metropolis bag that will work for you and your wardrobe.

Akris Ai Horsehair Bag in Cream and Taupe

Two years ago I bought a woman's entire designer handbag collection; it represented decades of collection, and demonstrated an exquisite taste in designer bags. Amongst that collection was an Akris Alex Tote (which I'll be blogging about soon) and I've had that bag in my own personal handbag collection for the last couple of years. That bag was my first introduction to Akris, which you can read all about in my blog post here, and it encouraged me to pay a visit to their Old Bond Street store in central London. 

6 Bags You Need in Your Handbag Collection

Photo by Marianne Chignon, 'Spy a Silhouette'

Designer handbag collections benefit from variety, but as far as I'm concerned there are 6 classic styles that everyone should consider adding to their wardrobe!

Loewe Vintage Shoulder Bag in Textured Brown Leather

This beautiful texture leather Loewe shoulder bag is the newest arrival in my studio. The Loewe bags that feature this sort of textured leather date back to around the early 2000s, so this bag has clearly been very well looked after! When I first received it I was really impressed with its condition - it looks like it might only have been used once or twice, and only demonstrates light signs of wear. 

3.1 Phillip Lim 31 Minute Pop Art Clutch Bag

3.1 Phillip Lim makes some of my favourite designer clutch bags. Season after season, the brand produce fun and innovative designs - and I usually want all of them. The preloved market makes it possible to buy designs from seasons gone by, and that's how I find most of my favourite designs.

Pony Hair: What You Need to Know

Pony hair is most commonly made from cow or goat hides, using the hair side of the animal. The hides are shaved so that the hair comes to resemble that of a horse hide. In this way, the name pony hair simply refers to the look of the pelt and no real ponies are involved in its manufacture. Pony hair is also commonly referred to as hair-calf, calf-hair or hair-on-leather, but the fashion industry uses the term 'pony hair' because it sounds a little bit sexier. 

About Akris: "The Biggest Fashion House You've Never Heard Of"

Akris is a big fashion brand, and it's the largest Swiss clothing producer in the world - but it's possible, even likely, that you haven't heard of them before. Akris don't really do much in the way of advertising, and for a long time they exclusively focused on their target customers - power-dressing business women. But don't let this put you off in the slightest; although the brand's aesthetic is still smart and minimalist, Akris is slowly expanding its design output. In 1996, Akris launched Akris Punto - a clothing collection with a smart-casual sportswear vibe - and in 2009 the brand launched their first collection of luxury handbags.

Rebecca Minkoff MAC & Mini MAC Bag Review

collage made from: photo by Sarah Tirona (left) / CC BY / edited: cropped

photo by Sarah Tirona (right) / CC BY / edited: cropped

Rebecca Minkoff's M.A.C. (which stands for "Morning After Clutch") and Mini M.A.C. have been a huge success for the designer, and she credits the style for propelling her brand into the spotlight. 

What is Suede? How to Care for Suede?

photo by fervent-adept-de-la-mode / CC BY / edited: resized, brighter

Suede (pronounced swayed) is a type of leather with a napped (fuzzy) finish. It is made from the underside of the skin, the part that would have been attached to the inside of the animal.