So Pokemon Go really sucks your iPhone battery dry. Yep. We're playing Pokemon Go. Little M loves it and whilst we go on monster hunts together when we can, I also pick them up on my way to work. (Can't believe how well he remembers them, pointing out all the new ones to me every evening!) Anyway. Back to the fact that my phone needs constant re-charging whilst we're out and about. You might remember that I pondered over power purses from Knomo in September. Reduced to just £59.50, this Bond pouch is a bit of a bargain, considering it's real leather, fully lined and includes the power pack.
So I bought it a few weeks ago. Way before I never even thought of Pokemon. It just fits so nicely even in my smaller bags (here in my Mulberry Small Del Rey) that it's the perfect work companion.
And now I finally got around to do a quick video to show how I'm using it (apart from re-charging my phone during extensive Pokemon hunts).
The lovely people at Independent Fashion Bloggers chose my post for their Links à la Mode last week. Please check out some of the below!
I have been a fan of Knomo for quite some time. Most of my laptop bags have been Knomo bags and when my most used one broke, I had it fixed and am using it again. These days though, I have gotten into the habit of carrying a "normal" handbag and then having my laptop in a separate sleeve (yes, that one is also a Knomo). A full laptop bag usually comes into force when I fly and I am already carrying a pushchair and little M's bag - another two for me would probably just kill me. Anyway, my point is really that I hadn't browsed the Knomo site for a while as I simply didn't have the need to shop for a new laptop bag.
- And yet I am writing a covet post? Yep. It just so happened that Knomo have now brought out something that I really want: Powered bags. Using an iPhone6 (and with "using", I mean constantly being on it) means I have more than once experienced the dreaded "10% battery charge left" message. For my day to day life, I can usually be organised enough to charge it before I get to that. However, flying with little M really brings the need of having a fully functioning phone up a notch. If you have ever traveled with a toddler you will know what I mean and my iPhone is a crutch I am clinging onto rather gratefully. Anyway, bags or purses with integrated power packs aren't anything new but the ones I had seen before just seemed purely functional, not very stylish and not really something I coveted before. The idea of combining a pretty yet functional zipped purse with a battery pack that extends my phone's life is really appealing to me and Knomo is offering three that I am considering: Bond Charge Purse £119 Full grain leather available in 5 colours, I love the grey leather with pink power pack. Essentially a zippered pouch that will hold your phone and a few bits and bobs.
Similar to the Bond purse but made from stain protected fabric and trimmed with leather. Also 5 colour options. However, whereas the Bond purse features just one section, this one has two. Not huge though, so you'd just fit your phone and a few small bits and bobs.
Elektronista Digital Clutch Bag £249 Quite a bit of a hike in price, this isn't just a zippered purse. This is a fully-grown clutch bag, that opens up to reveal a number of sections and pockets where you can store not just your phone and heaphones etc but also your iPad, pens, money, credit cards and so on. It also comes with a long strap that allows you to carry it on your shoulder or even cross body, so actually really good for traveling.
So all I need to do now is decide, which one I want... hm...
I know this blog has quickly turned into a bit of a Mulberry love-fest but I do have other bags, honestly.
One of my favourite brands for laptop bags has to be Knomo and I think I must have at least 7 of their pieces: 3 laptop bags, 2 sleeves, 2 small suitcases. I love their well thought out detailing when it comes to keeping your laptop safe, yet keeping the bags lightweight and nice looking.
I had been using one of them as my daily work bag when one day, on a business trip to London, I got caught in the tube-doors (I know...) and the already fragile strap broke. Needless to say I was not only pained, having to carry the bag with one handle all day, but also gutted to having broken my most used bag. I ended up shoving the bag into a corner of my wardrobe and forgetting about it until recently when I had a big tidy. I contacted Knomo but unfortunately got no reply to my request whether this could be fixed. And then I remembered somebody mention www.lincsrepair.co.uk, a guy who fixed all kinds of handbags and leather goods. So I popped him an email with the same pictures I had sent to Knomo:
Alan got back to me within a few hours with a quote and the suggestion to replace both straps to ensure both straps look the same. I sent the bag off and he then kept me up to date with what he was doing...
...and then a few days after that... tadaaaa...
So I can only recommend Alan at Lincs Repair. Have a look at his website for some case studies on what he can do, or rather what he has done to some LVs, Givenchy and Gucci bags.
