3.1 Phillip Lim Mini Pashli

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

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

The 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli is available in three sizes; mini, medium and large. The mini and medium sizes are the most readily available to purchase, and they come in a wide range of colours. In London, which is where I live, I often see the medium Pashli being used a work bag. In contrast, I spot the mini Pashli a lot more on the weekends when I'm out shopping in central London.

About Coach: Stuart Vevers' New Direction

photo by scion_cho / CC BY / edited: resized, cropped, brighter

Founded in 1941, Coach recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Heritage is important to the brand, and Coach's current headquarters are located on the very same street where the business started - 34th Street, Manhattan.

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. 

Smythson Maze Clutch Bags

Pre loved Smythson bags should be on every frugal fashionista's radar. 

Smythson is a very well known, and highly regarded, British designer brand that produce handbags, small leather goods and some seriously lust-worthy stationary. First-hand, Smythson prices are big - nearly Mulberry big - but if you're willing to shop the pre loved market then suddenly the brand's luxurious products are a lot more affordable!

Smythson Virginia Shoulder Bag in Cassis

Smythson's Virginia Shoulder Bag was released in 2010 (during Samantha Cameron's reign as creative director of Smythson) and had a good reception, including a recommendation as a must-have autumn/winter accessory by Elle UK. Smythson's Virginia Bag was available in two styles; a shoulder bag (pictured here) and a strap-free clutch version. Both of these models were available in a range of colours, including black, grey, cream and the deep raspberry colour that is pictured above and below.

Smythson Gladstone Style Black Leather Bag with Shagreen Closure

This little Smythson number has stolen my heart. I don't quite know why I've fallen head over heels in love with this bag, but there's something about it's structure and size that speaks to me. Originally, this Smythson bag would have been sold with an accompanying shoulder strap, but I purchased this pre-loved from a friend and, unfortunately, she lost the strap during a trip abroad. Hotel rooms all over the world are responsible for quite a few missing treasures!

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Review

Photo by 木木 曉儀 / CC BY

3.1 Phillip Lim is responsible for some truly lovely bag designs, but the Pashli is definitely their bag-of-the-moment. The Pashli is often referred to as a satchel, but don't let this put you off, it's still very modern and trendy. It's produced in many different colours but only three sizes; the mini (pictured above in green and below in blue) the medium and the large.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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