Love Handbags for life...

Doing my handbag research I have got very bored recently. How many boring plain old looking handbags do we need? Why would anyone want to carry a handbag that makes them look 10-30 years older (depending on their actual age...)?

So my mission today is to find some nice funky handbags that look youthful, playful and plain fun. Hurrah for colour I think as the weather is getting more and more dismal too!

The first handbag looks like you are carrying a Cheshire cat around. It has been named Wonder Weenie but was formerly called Dinky Dee. Both slightly unfortunate names. But this handbag , or rather messenger bag is not only practical as it will fit your A4 stuff, but also bright enough to function as protective gear you if you are a cyclist. It comes in many more colours too.

Guess handbags are really pretty close up. Something I have never really realised. I have to admit that they are not necessarily exactly my style, but I can understand why someone would find them appealing.

Guess are not purely a handbag brand, they are also famous for their other fashion items – besides clothing especially their watches and jewellery are worth a mention. Guess was founded by Georges, Armand, Paul, and Maurice Marciano, four brothers born in Ouarzazate Morocco but who supposedly grew up in the south of France and were influenced by the culture and style in the region. They moved to California in 1977 and founded the company in 1981.
Here are some handbags that you can currently buy online – one even as new as from the Fall/Winter 2009 collection!! From top left in clockwise order:

I was browsing the internet for handbags – as I do - and I stumbled across Matt and Nat’s Vegan Leather handbags – and I thought to myself: “Hang on? Vegan handbags? Do they mean fake leather?” And it turns out yes. This represents their credo: Fashion forward AND vegan. I guess the difference is here that non-leather is the conscious positive choice rather than the cheaper option in production!

Well they do make you feel that it is not as the cheaper option as their handbags are the most pricey – non leather handbags I have ever seen! ^_^ Well, well, but if I understand right, they are made from Japanese paper… and they do look tasty, they have their very own original crinkly look – so here they are:

Matt & Nat Vegan Leather GRANDMASTER Bag £120
Matt & Nat Vegan Leather PORTISHEAD Bag £135
Matt & Nat Vegan Leather BAUHAUS Bag £200
Matt & Nat Vegan Leather KALI Bag £130

If you are going to meet your prospective mother in law – this is the handbag to take - or maybe not - I am not quite sure. Anyway the Cath Kidston bags remind me of the Laura Ashley curtains my mum has in her kitchen and of a newer more trendier bag-version of the laminated shoppers of old ladies. But at the same time they look very pristine and innocent… so we have a split opinion!

Looking at Cath Kidston’s website (Is there a real person behind the name?) I discover that Cath has got some other similarities with Laura Ashley. It is the good home-makers heaven! Apart from the Cath Kidston handbags that I found on the internet, Cath Kidston also sells Homeware, Home Furnishings, Knitting and Sewing and even China!

Hmm… maybe this is where I will be shopping in ten years time… Scary! *_^

Diesel S.p.A. – makers of handbags and fashion - are 30 years old this year and in controversial manner are celebrating with some “Dirty 30 parties” that will take place in 17 locations. Just to get an idea of the sort of thing that is expected to happen on a Dirty 30 party (although probably they will be nowhere near this dirty!) they have augmented this 70’s retro porn video. (Although there is nothing dirty visible per se – watch at your own risk!).