Here’s some rather frivolous fashion for Friday, because sometimes, it’s perfectly ok for it to be about what you want for a change.
I have long been on the lookout for a chic small/medium cross body bag. I want the “handsfree” factor which is 100% necessary when out and about with a toddler, but also a design that’s smart enough to wear to client meetings and hell, maybe even pretty enough for those increasingly rare date nights out.
I’m not good at “changing” my bag depending on the occasion. I inevitably forget to transfer at least one really important item like you know, car keys. Or my purse. So this new number really had to tick a lot of boxes. Ideally I didn’t want to spend more than a hundred quid. Unless it was really really special.
Having fallen in love with a Celine Trio which is a similar price to a small island and thus would require selling my soul, I had inadvertantly set the design expectation bar ridiculously high.
My friend Hannah has a Mulberry Antony, she said it was a completely worthwhile investment. Lovely leather – and very dainty, but not quite sizeable enough for my personal requirements.
For Spring The White Company has launched “The Organiser” which I can see being a wear-anywhere classic piece. I was VERY tempted. And at £98 it’s way cheaper than many other alternatives of equal quality. But it’s black…..and I just fancied something with a splash of colour.
I flirted with The Whistles Saddle bag in tan for a while, but it was twice my budget, and again, a little bit on the small side – for meetings I could do with enough length and depth for an iPad.
The Matt & Nat cross body bag in “Iris” was nearly a winner, if nothing else but for the perfect blue hue alone…and then I found the one.
Yep, hyperbole aside, it was love at first sight when I saw the Radley “Clerkenwell” on a recent shopping trip to Birmingham. The softest medium grey leather and the ideal dimensions for all of my bits and bobs, it was 30% off and I couldn’t not buy it on the spot.
This Clerkenwell is exclusive to House Of Fraser so if you fancy one too, you better get your skates on.
Do you use a cross body bag? and if you have multiple fancy variations that unlike me, you do manage to change around depending on the occasion you must let me know your secret to keeping organised!
Another timely post as I’ve recently been thinking I *need* a cross body bag. My baby is yet to be born but my increasing bump and the start of various aches and pains in my back and hips, means my giant tote I usually sling everything in just isn’t working any more. It’s also a nightmare to find anything in (I’m constantly thinking I’ve been robbed!) so invariably it ends up with the bag and me on the floor having a good rummage. Which again is getting harder to do. My friend also has the Mulberry bag which is gorgeous but a bit too pricey for me but I love the Radley. There’s a House of Fraser walking distance from my office so I think my lunchtime today has just been planned!
Oooh Sophie do it! I was the same with the rummaging, I love that my new bag has separate sections and pockets for everything x
I *love* a cross body!! I’ve had my Tan cross Body satchel for about 5 years, it was a birthday gift from my mum from Clarks of all places. It was reduced from £65 to £35 in the sale! Total steal. The leather has softened over the years and I still get many compliments for it even now! However, although tan goes with many colours, it doesn’t go with everything so I’ve wanted a black or grey cross body forever! I’ve had a zatchels, as a birthday gift from my friend, but unfortunately just can’t get on with it! It’s too stiff, it’s got a faffy buckle fastening and the strap isn’t quite long enough…. Therein lies my problem, I don’t want my bag to sit at the hip as its just a nuisance there, I like a long long (in excess of 39″ – that’s how anal I am) preferably adjustable strap but, have not in all my years of looking not found one! I love your grey Radley Charlotte, would you mind letting me know how long the strap is?! And if anyone has any recommendations I’d love to hear them!! X
Hi Danielle! The Radley can go below my hip as it has a fully adjustable strap (one of the reasons I bought it) I don’t think it’s anal – you need to be comfortable! x
I love a good Radley – the plain stylish ones! However, I do love my Zatchels collection. I have an 11″ in lilac and a 13″ with a flamingo print. They are tough to start with but the leather softens beautifully, and you get used to the buckles. Can’t go wrong with a cross body bag, I’d never find my keys in the changing bag!
A Flamingo print you say?! I must take a look immediately!
I’m the lucky owner of the aforementioned Mulberry. My husband bought it me for our first wedding anniversary long before we had kids and it has become my most favourite bag ever. I only wish I had it in the slightly bigger size. May add it to this years wish list….. x
My husband bought me a Mulberry bag for my wedding present 3 years ago, it was a seasonal design so you can’t get it now but it’s a cross body bag and bigger than the Antony, it has literally been my go to hand bag for 3 years, now with a baby on the way I’m so glad I got this one rather than the Bayswater for the hands-free!
Ooh Beccie you lucky thing – sounds perfect! My sister has a Bayswater in black, it’s amazing quality x
Oh wow, I LOVE this. Impeccable taste as ever. Totally can’t justify *another* handbag at the moment with a 4 month old baby, sob. I am currently crushing hard on the TIBA + MARL changing backpacks which is probably a more justifiable purchase right now, though my husband will kill me. I already have the Laessig one you recommended after reading your review!
As an aside, I always really rated Hobbs cross body ‘NW3’ bags and I am pretty gutted they ditched this brand – always seemed so popular! Also, got a great faded leather cross body messenger bag from TK Maxx recently, perfect for mumessentials and a bargain!
Finally and hope this is helpful and not me just being a bit of a twazzock. Be great if the external post links opened in a new tab instead of diverting from this page. Usually much better for you guys as not bouncing traffic away from your content amongst other good things and a cleaner experience for the reader. Theres a good plug in if helpful. https://wordpress.org/plugins/outbound-links/ Can you tell I am on maternity leave and missing the day job! xx
I loved NW3 too Lynne. So disappointing that it isn’t around now. Apologies as well for fuelling yet more bag obsessions!!
Thanks for the tip on the links. They do normally open separately so just checked and all working fine now I think.
xx
Lynne it’s me with the links – I get told of by Lauren on Rock My Style all the time (!) I always forget the tick box to open in a new window, MUST remember in future!
The TIBA & MARL backpacks are aces, good luck in convincing your husband….although you could just “accidentally” by it 🙂 x
Hehe it’s so easy to forget. I only notice because I am so suggestible and literally click every link and put the item in a shopping basket and then come to my lack of bank balance senses and have to find the blog again.
And glad I’m not on the only one on NW3, their sales were always so good!
Now Charlotte has okayed it maybe I should buy the bag, after all I have spent most of today soaking a baby gro in nappysan after a dirty protest at my nappy changing abilities.. If that doesn’t deserve a treat I don’t know what does *is it wine time yet*
My awesome husband bought me the Mulberry Tessie satchel for my birthday last year and it makes a welcome change from lugging around a great big changing bag! Definitely a worthwhile investment!