There are some things in life that just sum you up so completely it's fruitless to resist. One of these things, if you are a woman, is your handbag. The repository of all your daily junk and riff raff, the place where receipts go to die, where small change constantly has parties, where you find that lipstick you loved and never knew what happened to. Messy people have messy bags filled to the brim with stuff, organised people have bags with multiple pockets, hiding all their things away in handy sections. The contents of your bag are particularly revealing of your personality - bags filled with books are usually indicative of a lit-worm.
I was looking at my collection of bags today and i realised that i really only have clutches. With the exception of a uni satchel and my marni envelope bag the rest of my bags are clutches. What does that say about me? Like to be a bit glamorous, if unpractical? Tries to reduce the amount of her stuff to fit into a smaller repository but is often unsuccessful? Likes to have something to do with her hands? Is a glutton for discomfort? Likes things that are superfluous? I love having a clutch in the day time, i think there's something really chic about carrying around a huge oversized clutch to do all your errands. Chic, but not really practical at all. I've been known to carry my fold over clutch around the city whilst clutching armfulls of shopping bags, magazines and even a hat once. Hmpph.
And then i got to thinking, some of my clutch bags have such distinct character. There are three particular ones that i love very much because of the ideas that they evoke. They're so much fun to take out, day or night, different sized and different plans. Grasping a clutch nonchalantly in the right hand or, my favourite, tucking it under your shoulder carelessly is a surefire way to have effortless glamour in my books. And each of these separate bags conjure up a different kind of glamour - Paris, New York and Vintage. It's armchair travelling for the bag hags of the world.
Paris
L-R, top to bottom - vintage glomesh bag, chanel eye make up palette, moleskine notebook, wallpaper paris guidebook, tiffany and co pen, yves saint laurent touche eclat, cafe des artistes matchbook, diva earrings, sportsgirl nailpolish, chanel number 5 perfume, commonwealth bank card, 2 euro coin, cotton on sunglasses, passport, cocktail umbrella.
This bag is so deceptive. It's like Mary Poppins' carpet bag that holds far more than it looks, you can fit at least a 200 word novella in here plus a guidebook plus a notebook. And that's just the 'livres' section. Coins, make up, money, sunglasses... the list goes on. You know that in the city of Light you should pack, well, light, but you just can't help yourself. It's all systems go as you cram in lipstick pink nailpolish, a pair of swingy chandelier earrings and the touche eclat that goes with you whenever you travel anywhere and is the secret behind your quick change from tired and grouchy to radiant and impossibly fresh-looking. As you stride along the streets of Paris, the bag tucked under your arm like some kind of chic baguette you notice that there's a cocktail umbrella sticking out of it. Where is that from? Who knows. Who cares? Seems like you had fun last night, you think, as you tuck it into your 'chignon'.
Paris
L-R, top to bottom - vintage glomesh bag, chanel eye make up palette, moleskine notebook, wallpaper paris guidebook, tiffany and co pen, yves saint laurent touche eclat, cafe des artistes matchbook, diva earrings, sportsgirl nailpolish, chanel number 5 perfume, commonwealth bank card, 2 euro coin, cotton on sunglasses, passport, cocktail umbrella.
This bag is so deceptive. It's like Mary Poppins' carpet bag that holds far more than it looks, you can fit at least a 200 word novella in here plus a guidebook plus a notebook. And that's just the 'livres' section. Coins, make up, money, sunglasses... the list goes on. You know that in the city of Light you should pack, well, light, but you just can't help yourself. It's all systems go as you cram in lipstick pink nailpolish, a pair of swingy chandelier earrings and the touche eclat that goes with you whenever you travel anywhere and is the secret behind your quick change from tired and grouchy to radiant and impossibly fresh-looking. As you stride along the streets of Paris, the bag tucked under your arm like some kind of chic baguette you notice that there's a cocktail umbrella sticking out of it. Where is that from? Who knows. Who cares? Seems like you had fun last night, you think, as you tuck it into your 'chignon'.
New York
country road zipper oversized clutch, chloe wallet, mac tinted lip conditioner, nars bronzer, moleskine notebook, rayban wayfarers, iphone, oliver peoples glasses, assortment of tickets, receipts, business cards, tiffany and co pen, mimco keyring and keys.
Nothing says New York like some heavily worked leather and a liberal sprinkling of industrial length zips. There's something about the mix of luxury and utility that just screams the city that never sleeps. You cram it full with necessities - simple make up like Nars and Mac, your wallet (definitely going to be needing that, of course), a notebook and pen, your iphone that fits right in with the chi chi crowd, hipster sunglasses and even hipper-ster spectacles. As you run around New York catching yellow cabs and meeting friends for coffee and donuts in central park you accrue a forest full of receipts, ticket stubs, business cards and tags at the bottom of this bottomless oversized clutch. You feel you should clean it out, but you don't really want to confront your expenditure for the past couple of weeks. Better just to let it fester there and live blissfully ignorant.
Vintage
Witchery enamel clutch, cash haha, redheads matchbox, prada mini perfume eau de toilette, vintage gloves, yves saint laurent lipstick, ID and bankcard, compact.
A tiny mother of pearl box clutch is only to be expected at this glamorous 1930s themed soiree. And since you always overdress when there's a theme you feel you might as well go all out here. So there's not just the box clutch, too small for anything other than a generous wad of cash (the party is held at a casino, and you do like to gamble), a box of matches and a couple of credit cards you try and squeeze in a genuine art deco clutch with spiral cover design, prada perfume for when it all gets too much, a nude lipstick to keep everyone guessing, and a pair of gloves in sumptuous calf-skin leather dyed pale pink. They were a great vintage find, and complement your bias cut ivory backless gown perfectly. You know when you arrive the party will be filled with girls who decided that their only concession to the theme would be fringing or mary jane shoes, but you like to make an entrance. Onwards and Upwards!
X
country road zipper oversized clutch, chloe wallet, mac tinted lip conditioner, nars bronzer, moleskine notebook, rayban wayfarers, iphone, oliver peoples glasses, assortment of tickets, receipts, business cards, tiffany and co pen, mimco keyring and keys.
Nothing says New York like some heavily worked leather and a liberal sprinkling of industrial length zips. There's something about the mix of luxury and utility that just screams the city that never sleeps. You cram it full with necessities - simple make up like Nars and Mac, your wallet (definitely going to be needing that, of course), a notebook and pen, your iphone that fits right in with the chi chi crowd, hipster sunglasses and even hipper-ster spectacles. As you run around New York catching yellow cabs and meeting friends for coffee and donuts in central park you accrue a forest full of receipts, ticket stubs, business cards and tags at the bottom of this bottomless oversized clutch. You feel you should clean it out, but you don't really want to confront your expenditure for the past couple of weeks. Better just to let it fester there and live blissfully ignorant.
Vintage
Witchery enamel clutch, cash haha, redheads matchbox, prada mini perfume eau de toilette, vintage gloves, yves saint laurent lipstick, ID and bankcard, compact.
A tiny mother of pearl box clutch is only to be expected at this glamorous 1930s themed soiree. And since you always overdress when there's a theme you feel you might as well go all out here. So there's not just the box clutch, too small for anything other than a generous wad of cash (the party is held at a casino, and you do like to gamble), a box of matches and a couple of credit cards you try and squeeze in a genuine art deco clutch with spiral cover design, prada perfume for when it all gets too much, a nude lipstick to keep everyone guessing, and a pair of gloves in sumptuous calf-skin leather dyed pale pink. They were a great vintage find, and complement your bias cut ivory backless gown perfectly. You know when you arrive the party will be filled with girls who decided that their only concession to the theme would be fringing or mary jane shoes, but you like to make an entrance. Onwards and Upwards!
X
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