My Victoria Beckham Spoils

Kicking off this week's roundup with a new dress, that I rather like. I managed to get hold of one of those coveted "Victoria Beckham for Target" pieces. You might recall that I have a bit of a thing for well done designer/high street colabs, and I think this one was a rather good one. I think this dress was around £40 and it's really lovely quality and an item you could easily wear at a wedding or fancy spring event. As I don't have any such events to attend, it will get worn, whenever I feel like it! There is a rather funny thing about the dress though... just see the second pic below...

I wasn't 100% sure about this necklace with the dress first but I actually like it now. Stops it from being too 'pretty pretty'.

Dress: Victoria Beckham for Target

Boots: Zara

Necklace: Warehouse

And what's the funny thing about this dress?  It strangely kinda matches my Nanette Lepore phone cover. Both lace patterns. Both mint/green. Both with nude/metallic underlay.  "When you accidentally dress like your phone."

When you put something on in the morning and feel a bit 'meh' about it. Then you come into work and have at least two people gushing about it and telling you, you look fab (and they want your outfit) - all completely unprompted, just to note! Not so bad after all. :) #iworkwiththenicestpeople #sometimesweallneedapickmeup

Dress: All Saints

Leggings: Topshop

Boots: Zara

Necklace: Oliver Bonas

Old outfit, new hair colour. Still getting used to this pinkish blonde...

Top: Boden

Skirt: Warehouse

Boots: Zara

Trying to cheat a waist with a cropped top and full skirt. Think that top needs to be a smidge shorter...

Top: Miss Selfridge

Skirt: Rumour London at Wolf & Badger

Boots: Zara

Necklace: Sainsbury's

Casual Friday outfit with a pair of jeans that's a bit 'out there'. 

I was aware of the Beetlejuice reference but didn't expect the circus performer comments - lol. 

Sweatshirt & jeans: Zara 

Trainers: Converse

Bag Logic

Passing through these pages I would completely forgive you if you said I was bag-mad. A bit obsessed. And if you thought that I just bought handbags on a whim. Of course, if you read my back and forth with the Roxette and Cara, you'll know that I am probably more the exact opposite. That I overthink my purchases at times.

The truth is, that I do both. Sometimes I think and analyse to the nth degree. Then a bag, which I loved and would probably work very well, becomes almost unfeasible and I abandon the idea altogether. Then again I might see something that I just pounce on. Usually (and thankfully) the impulse buys tend to be comparatively affordable. Well, everything is relative...

Anyway, I thought it might be useful for me to share the reasonable levels of consideration that  give a bag purchase. I think buying your first designer handbag can be quite daunting - even if we don't consider questions around authenticity, where to buy and budget. 

When considering a bag for myself (or advising somebody else on a purchase), I would always consider the following:

1. Lifestyle
What kind of bag would you use most often? Do you want something for a night out, a special occasion or day to day? Would a bag that's suitable for work be the best investment piece?

2. Size
The above will make you think about which occasion you want your bag for. So how much would you want to carry on those occasions? Just a purse, phone and key? Or maybe even just lippy and a credit card? Or will you want to lug around snacks, a change of clothes, dummies, toys..? The bigger the bag, the more you might try to carry, whilst a smaller one might discipline you into thinking what's important and what can stay at home. Also, don't underestimate how much all your stuff weighs.

3. Use

How do you like to organise your bag's contents? Do you prefer a boxy style that retains its shape? Or something lose and casual. Do you hate rooting around your bag and want to be able to find everything quickly? How do you want to carry your bag? Do you need to be hands free? (Maybe because you're chasing after a toddler or carrying something else.) Do you have any issues with your neck or back that would make it uncomfortable to be carried a certain way? Or would a heavy bag cause any issues? Are you fine having to baby a bag or do you need something you don't mind getting wet, e.g. because you commute and might have to walk in the rain.  
And then I'd decide on what I do and don't want from the below:

Size

Self explanatory, right? How big is the bag - what does it hold?
Big - holds your kitchen sink
Medium - typical handbag size
Small - fit in your key items (purse, keys, phone, tissues...)
Mini - essentials only (key, credit card, coin purse)

Strap
How can you carry this bag?
Very Short - handheld or crook of arm only
Short - maybe just about on the shoulder
Medium - carry on the shoulder
Long - carry cross body (or usually: adjust to taste)

Weight
Closely linked to size and strap is weight. A big bag will most likely weigh more than a small one - as will its contents. A long strap can make carrying your bag much easier, if it's too heavy it might still prove a struggle for everyday use. Then there is the choice of leather, that can make a real difference. Especially important if you have issues with your shoulder(s) or arm(s). The below are all relative to yourself, of course. What's heavy for some, might be no problem for others.
Light - no problem to carry
Medium - no big issue if carried for short times
Heavy - best to sit on a chair or the car seat next to you. Not really a daily commute bag. (My Roxanne falls into this but I can make her somewhat easier to use with a wide guitar strap.)

 

Structure
How boxy or slouchy is this bag? Will it fall into a puddle if empty?
Slouchy - yep, this one puddles
Boxy - will hold its shape

Care
How sensitive is the leather/finish? Will two drops of rain have you run for cover or is it one of those bags that you can chuck in the corner without worrying?
High Maintenance - take outside at your own peril, order an extra chair at dinner
So so - treat her with respect, treat with Collonil and be a bit careful
Bomb Proof - well, maybe not quite bombs but raindrops, baby dribble or even a drop of wine 
- as long as she's been Collonil'd you don't have to worry.

Colour
I'm a sucker for Mulberry NVT Oak and think it kind of goes with everything. But then again, I also never match shoes and belt or bag. For me, function always comes first. But maybe you're looking for a specific colour, or for one that will go with an existing outfit? I If you are, you might already exclude certain styles, that simply didn't come in your desired hue. If you're not looking for a specific shade, it's still worth considering the following choices:
Neutral light - nudes or oak, I think goes with everything
Neutral dark - black or very dark blue
Pop of colour - punchy, you have to be happy for your bag to either stand out or have the wardrobe to match/harmonise

Accessibility
I like doing the "queue test": Imagine you're stood in a queue and have to fish out your purse, travel ticket or passport quickly without setting your bag down. Does it work? How quickly? I like bags I can work cross body for that reason but have found other bags that I expected fiddly to be ok - and others that I thought would be ok don't work quite as well.
Fiddly - yep, takes me a while and/or I have to worry to drop something (or maybe I look like an idiot doing it?)
With Practice - might seem fiddly at first but once you get the hang of it, no problem.
Easy - open, retrieve item, close. That simple.

Occasion

Are you looking for a bag for every day or for a (fancy) occasion? I personally don't do any matching of shoes with bags and am happy to carry something sparky with my jeans - but you might think differently.

Dressy - something very pretty, maybe sparkly, probably best for a special occasion

Everyday - goes with a day outfit, doesn't look too dressy

What I do now, is exclude all bags that contradict what I would select as a 'must have' from above. And look closer at those that tick multiple boxes - or at least those that are most important. And then I have a pretty good shopping list. (If you're new to (vintage) Mulberry, have a look at my review archive, where you can find reviews of lots of Mulberry models - and match them against your shopping list.) What's your absolute must have?

Two of The Same

My usual looking back at last week with one outfit that was a forgotten leftover thrown in - and then as I was pasting that one in I realised that I am now wearing the same skirt in different prints but with the same jacket in the last two pictures. Not 100% on the darkness of that last outfit but I can't wait to pair that navy print with something bright and summery!

When you buy the same dress as your colleague, who is a part time model - and there's no way you want to stand next to her wearing the same! How do you avoid that? You wait until she's on holiday. ;)

Dress: Zara

Boots: Marks and Spencer

Necklace: Accessorize

You've probably seen this outfit on me before, so I thought I'd show you the bag that I am currently using: my Mulberry Small Bayswater Buckle. 

Denim shirt: La Redoute 

Skirt & necklace: Zara 

Boots: Office 

Belt: Reiss 

Bag: Mulberry 

Team away day yesterday with a foodie walking tour or the Northern Quarter - so comfy footwear was mandatory. 

Seriously, we were even told in an email! ;) 

T-shirt: &Other Stories 

Jeans: Next 

Jacket: Zara 

Trainers: Converse

And here those two outfits with the same skirt - Boden's Richmond pencil skirt:

A leftover pic from before last week's holiday. I thought this would be the last of the opaque tights but 

I'm not convinced by the temperatures to give them up yet. 

Top: Karen Millen Skirt: Boden 

Jacket: Warehouse 

Boots: Zara

...and here is that skirt in a different outfit. Though I don't really like how dark all of this is. Feels too wintry... 

Top: Hallhuber 

Skirt: Boden 

Jacket: Warehouse 

Necklace: ??? 

Boots: ZARA

My Bag Collection: Mulberry Small Bayswater Buckle

"My Bag Collection" feature is really just about the bags that managed to stay in this whirlwind of buying, trying out and selling. So far I have only featured my Alexa (my first new and bought from Mulberry direct) and my Mini Alexa (with me on every holiday) as these were the only two I was  100% sure would be staying.

My Small Bayswater Buckle is a fairly recent addition and I only started using her a couple of weeks ago. And yet, I am pretty sure she's going to stay. How come? I absolutely love her!

Model
Mulberry Small Bayswater Buckle

Size
ca 30cm - 43cm wide, 27cm high, 15cm deep

Features
Interior zip and slip pocket, postman lock closure.

Style
Relaxed formal, i.e. not as formal as a classic Bayswater but more so than a tote. Quite boxy and therefore roomy. Works well as a workbag (though not really A4 compatible) but also as a cute weekend bag - as long as you don't need a long strap to remain hands free.

When I use her
Mainly for work. She's a perfect size to get all that stuff that I lug to and from work (excluding laptop), more lightweight than my Bayswater and surprisingly easy to carry - despite the short handles.

Fits
All the following in a Love Lolo liner: Purse, Naked Cow Fauxdori with 4 Fieldnote-sized inserts, Mulberry Multizip Pouch, 2 shopping bags, handcream, inhaler, car keys, phone (normally x 2), tissues, Boden leather pouch, work pass, Mulberry train pass holder.

Recommended Care
Use Collonil Gel for cleaning and nourishing and finish off with Collonil Waterstop spray to protect. For more info, check out my full video review here. 

So there you go - an incredibly fast acceptance into my little bag family! 

Stripes and Florals

Two outfits and one arrival of a Boden order - and a whole lotta florals!

I love it when matching/clashing prints work - and I think it does in those two stripy skirt/floral top outfits! Do you like mixing prints?

Not from last week but a leftover from quite a few weeks ago (just found it when tidying my pictures over the weekend). Trying a bit of that pattern clashing thing.

Top: Topshop

Skirt: Reiss

Boots: Zara

Trying that patter mixing thing again. With stripes and florals - again.

Top: Miss Selfridge

Skirt: Rumour London at Wolf & Badger

Boots: Zara

Boden sale order arrived - whoop! What do you think of my new pencil skirts? I know I'll wear them both to death! :)