October luxury wish list

I do have a weakness for designer bags, but I’m also extremely cautious, as I don’t want to drop months of savings on something that I will fall out of love with in a matter of months, or that will look dated in a few years’ time.

I won’t go into my process for choosing and purchasing luxury brand bags right now, but one of my main rules is to wait and see. Loving something one month is all very well and good, but, in the words of The Shirelles – will you still love me tomorrow? In the case of so many bags I have obsessed over in the short term and then forgotten in quick succession, the answer is no, I won’t.

Here is my current bag wishlist.  

Gucci Marmont (mini)

I’m torn between the leather and the velvet. The velvet is undoubtedly the trendier material and will date more and be harder to maintain. But it’s just so beautiful! I love the deeper black of the velvet and how it contributes to the 70s vibe of the bag.

Tod’s Wave Bag (small/mini)

This bag has been on my wishlist for months, but I keep going back and forth on it. I have tried it on in store and I can attest that it is beautiful in person, light to carry and well made. However I’m just not sure I can justify £1,000 + on this. I have been looking for a larger black bag that I can use for work and for the airport, and currently it’s between Tod’s and the choice below.

 

Balenciaga City

I was never drawn to this bag before. I don’t really like the look of the smushy leather and how it relaxes over time, which I know is the entire point of the bag. But I saw someone on YouTube with a suede version and I fell in love. However, I know enough to stop myself from going for suede. I did some digging and found the goat skin versions of the City, which are just stunning. A little bit more structured, and with a finish that seems less edgy than the lambskin, this is a huge contender. If I could track down a version with silver hardware, so much the better.

 

Tod’s Double T Bag

Yes, it’s Tod’s again! This time with the Double T bag, in the mini size. I don’t love the length of the normal mini or extra mini sizes, and I prefer the look of the chain strap of this size, uninterrupted by the leather shoulder strap. Rather confusingly the Double T has two mini sizes, but the one above seems to be more of a woc.

 

Chloe Drew

I have "ummed" and "ahhed" about this bag for months. At first it was a definite no – too trendy, won’t stand the test of time, too ubiquitous. And then I tried it on in store and absolutely fell in love. The hardware is impossibly pretty. It’s very delicate and ladylike, but also feels very modern. The only things stopping me are that I am unconvinced that the saddle shape will hold up and still be relevant in years to come, the clasp seems very fiddly and I’m undecided about the interior, which doesn’t seem to justify the price tag for me. That said, sometimes love is love, and every time I see a woman wearing the Chloe Drew I always shoot her admiring glances.

Do you have anything you're currently lusting after?

Flash sale at the Outnet.com

The Outnet are currently doing an extra 40% off selected items for the next 24 hours. Pieces include bags by Charlotte Olympia and Michael Kors, and shoes and apparel by Chloe, Dian von Furstenberg and Philip Lim.

If you're looking to snap up a bargain now is the time to do it!

The Mulberry Zipped Bayswater

Since Johnny Coca took the reigns as Mulberry's creative director in 2014 it's safe to say that his tenure has been met with mixed reviews.

The new Bayswater in particular has either been met with paroxysms of delight or caustic hatred at Coca's audacity to tamper with such a well loved design.

A quick trawl through the Mulberry thread on the Purse Forum shows that, despite the controversy, Mulberry is not short of its loyal fans.

Now Mulberry has released its latest addition to the Bayswater family - the Zipped Bayswater

I am in two minds about this bag. I love the idea of the zip: a secure way to stow away your belongings is a must have for city dwellers, although the original Bayswater is secure enough. Perhaps it was the addition of Coca's flared gussets to the new Bayswater that has brought about the idea for a zip?

I'm not sure how I feel about the postman's lock addition to the zipped Bayswater. I understand that it sets it apart aesthetically from the classic and new Bayswater models, but the clasp seems a little fussy to me. I also wonder how heavy it is. The original Bayswater is a beautiful bag, but it can become uncomfortably heavy. I am not sure that the addition of a zip and extra wrap-around clasp will help here.

What do you think of the zipped Bayswater? Is it a sign of Mulberry's continuing evolution under Coca, or is it another example of how Mulberry has missed the mark in recent years for long time devotees of the brand?

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette

Rise and shine, it's a glorious Friday afternoon and brand new blog. After recommending so many products to my friends, they have convinced me to start a blog. So friends, this is mainly for your benefit.

The first post and Product of the Month (enough of an event to warrant capital letters) is the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette.

What is it?

An eyeshadow palette comprised of 12 matte "nude" shades.

How much is it?

£38.50, available from Urban Decay and Feel Unique online, among other retailers no doubt.

In a nutshell: why should I care?

Because it really is the ultimate basics palette. No, seriously. You will not need another nude palette ever again.

In detail: why should I care?

The formulas are standard Urban Decay - buttery, highly pigmented and easily blendable.

The brushes that come with it are divine. And yes, I do use the brushes that come with it, judge away. There is a longer brush that I use for crease applications and the short little "nubbin" brush that I use to put darker shades just under my waterline.

The colours themselves are all so usable and flattering on my skin tone (pale with cool undertones). I really think this will suit both warm and cool toned skin, which is saying a lot. So often I see someone using a beautiful burnt orange eyeshadow, only for it to achieve a killer clown effect on my face. With this palette, even the warmest shade in the palette ("Extra Bitter") suits me.

The packaging is sturdy and luxe, with a magnetic closure and lovely mirror that makes it great to take on holiday. I hesitate to say "on to go" as you would need to be a make up addict of epic proportions to lug this palette around with you on the daily.

Not to oversell it, but for me this palette was a bit like finding the perfect partner. You hear about people who have great relationships and get to do all these amazing things and have these amazing feelings and you're like "dammit, why can't I find that?" (stay with me, the analogy is stretching thin, I know).

Then you find the person (in this case, palette) that makes you realise what everyone was going on about. That you too can have that happy ending. Yes, I too can now wear a reddish toned eyeshadow and not look like an extra from a Good Charlotte video circa 2003 - praise be!

Formula score

10/10 - it's a knockout if you like mattes.

Packaging score

8/10 -  beautiful but bulky.

Overall score

9/10