Style By Numbers » Handbags

After all these years…

laurendare — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:43:22 +0000

Leather!

Chris and I celebrated our 3 yr wedding anniversary at the end of October, which happens to be the leather anniversary. I got the wonderful 14″ yellow satchel from Cambridge Satchels I hinted at earlier (thanks again to WIW for introducing these fantastic bags)

This bag is excellently constructed, bright and cheery, and big enough to hold all my unnecessary essentials (and it still has that great new-leather smell). Best of all, it has my initials embossed on it. This is the first item I’ve gotten with my new post-marital initials (I’m pretty proud of that D!)

Thank you!

Etsy Heros: Get Ready Set Go!

laurendare — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:29:47 +0000

Selection of Stencils!

Have you ever found something so wonderful that you squeal with delight? Have you ever felt happy just knowing something exists, like your true love or an adorable puppy? Well, that’s exactly how I felt when I came across the GetReadySetGo store on Etsy.

This has got to be the most impressive collection of vintage suitcases and bags at a very reasonable price. Everything appears to be in great condition…and best of all…they upcycle the pieces by stenciling silhouettes of fantastic things like elephants, dress forms, bunnies or ladies with parasols.

Clever, unique, hilarious… I wonder, would any of these be useful as a work bag/laptop case?

Dressform Briefcase $62.50

Pick your poison! Choose your own stencils for these bags!

Brown Briefcase $64.95 Blue Sky Messenger Bag $69.96

Elephant Train Case $69.95

It is actually really hard to narrow down my favourite four. Everything they have in stock is perfect!

Husband Hint

laurendare — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:08:13 +0000

Dear Husband,

As you may recall, the traditional 3rd anniversary present is leather. Perhaps this lovely satchel (as modeled on What I Wore) would make a delightful gift for your darling wife.

14″ yellow leather satchel by The Cambridge Satchel Company, £57.59

Speaking of Bags

laurendare — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:53:50 +0000

Holiday style is as much about your clothes as the bag that carries them. That’s why I picked up these cheap and cheerful canvas bags for a recent road trip to Ireland’s west coast. The cherry blossom bag from Accessorize is the perfect weekend carry-all. There’s an inside phone and zip pocket, plus a large pocket on the outside perfect for books or travel itenerary. Cute and sassy with room to spare. The blue and white striped rope handled canvas bag is essential for trips to the beach.

Now don’t forget the shades, sandles, good read and floppy hat!

New Bag!

laurendare — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:36:02 +0000

After lugging around my carry on bag in London, my shoulder is officially busted. I’ve had troubles with my shoulders for ages now and keep trying to find new bags and new solutions for carrying all the stuff that I need during the day. Life was so much easier when I drove everywhere and had a spare everything in my trunk!

I can’t be trusted to not sling a bag across my shoulder, so I picked up the Patent City Tote Bag from M&S today for a mere €40 (or £29.50). It is roomy enough for any work files, books, water bottles and my favourite bento lunch box. The short handles won’t fit over my shoulder, so that’s a good thing. There’s also a cross body strap for when I’m in a bind (but to be honest, even cross straps are starting to hurt my 27yr old shoulders, oi!) I was on the fence about the patent, but I think it makes an otherwise staid work bag more fun–it will look as cute with jeans as with a business suit.

Photos of the bag in action to come.

Instant Vintage

laurendare — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:28:32 +0000

On a trip to Bath, I stumbled on a great little shop with vintage and vintage inspired pieces at incredible value. I scored a load of great items without breaking a 100. My favourite purchase (well, technically a gift from someone tuned into my very strong hints)? A lovely brushed silk clutch with an antique elephant pin. (£35)

For argument’s sake, let’s agree that the elephant pin is NOT ivory. I’d like to not own ivory, it is useless and cruel and, along with tortoise shell, hard to avoid in vintage items. I haven’t carried the bag yet. I’m feaful of pints of Guinness spilling on it and staining the light grey brushed silk. But, I have a wedding to go to this weekend and I expect this little bag to make a grand appearance.
If you’re shopping in Bath anytime soon, be sure to check out Instant Vintage on Georges Street, just down from the Circus. You’ll find great accessories, pretty gifts and a two-floor boutique of sweet little tops, cardigans and party frocks.

Lacoste You Very Much

laurendare — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:14:26 +0000

Today was my Lucky Day! I got a fantastic gift from the folks at Lucky Style Spotter as a finalist in the Summer Brights Contest. I scored this fantastic summer bag from Lacoste, just in time for some (hopefully) sunny weather.

I am now in love with my New Sorbonne Hobo bag, part of the Spring/Summer 09 Sportswear range. My bag is in raspberry nylon and is lined in grey jersey. There’s a huge front pocket and lot of pockets inside for a phone, keys, shades and other summer essentials. Despite it’s compact size, it holds a ton. I even managed to fit an A4 folder and a bunch of materials collected at a conference.

I’m a huge fan of the preppy Lacoste brand and am chuffed to have won the gator-brand bag, retailing at $110.

Here’s my winning look.

The mission: Accessorize with brights to bring your wardrobe into the Spring.

The aproach: LBD paired with a bold yellow ruffled cardigan, bright blue clutch, gold dangly disc earings, purple tights and scarf. All the colours have the same black-toned hue, so it’s not too over the top on clown-like colour.