Style icon Keira Knightley lives up to her reputation as a fashion queen by stepping out with the newest member of the Mulberry family, Bryn, part of their autumn/winter 2012 collection.

The bag, which is available in either regular or small size,  is a definite wardrobe staple for next season. The versatile, briefcase inspired bag, would look great teamed with a cool and casual maxi skirt, an elegant suit or super skinny jeans.

The luxury leather brand’s latest arrival is inspired by the iconic men’s satchel Brynmore and includes a triple Postman’s Lock – a feature used on many Mulberry bags, such as the Alexa and Bayswater - with a top handle and cross-body strap.

The Bryn is available in classic oak leather, flame or black shiny grain leather, petrol velvet-print grain leather and luxurious black pebbled haircalf.

Besides from Keira Knightley, Alexa Chung and Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor have also been spotted showcasing this bag, so get your hands on it before it runs out!

Here at BagServant we love the style that much that we have also reviewed Mulberry’s male version, the Mulberry TED bag, so check it out for his ands hers perfect style!

Shop Mulberry Bryn Shiny Grained Leather Satchel in all sizes

Shop Mulberry 

We were told that the timeless and discreetly elegant shape of the handbags appeal to women who don’t like to follow trends but they make their own choices. It is the kind of accessory that would become a family heirloom, something to pass down from mother to daughter for generations, which is not an exaggeration as Delvaux prides itself on providing a quality repair service for their customers as we mentioned in our last post.

Now this isn’t to say these bags are only for older women looking for an item to pass down to their children, the brand has aimed this collection towards young, contemporary women who like to have a signature piece hanging in their wardrobe. Their belief is that the bags tell their own story, they have soul inside. We recommend these bags for the Confident Classique and the Boardroom Perfectionist wanting a showstopping bag at her next meeting with a client.

Selfridges Buying Director Sebastian Manes had this to say about the Selfridges and Delvaux collaboration: “We see a lot of potential in the Delvaux brand and, as well as an incredible history, the collections cater for our fashion savvy customers. The classic, recognisable shapes like the ‘Brilliant’ are already very popular and for the launch we will offer some exclusive colour combinations never seen before. The beautiful modern styles like the ‘Madame’ are so chic, and will also appeal to our younger customers. All of the pieces are so beautifully made; you really have to see them to appreciate the craftsmanship.”

Shop Delvaux Selfridges Collection

Shop Fendi Peek A Boo Large Eel Pequin Top Handle, £ 2,572

Shop Aubrey England Winchester Tote, £149

As you can see by this lovely display, Delvaux offer a wide selection of unique looking bags all in the same alternative tote shape, a perfect style for our Confident Classiques. The brand itself originates from Belgium and is one of the oldest luxury leather goods companys in the world, with its business dating back to 1829. Delvaux prides itself on the quality leathers they use to make their products, which range from calves born and bred in Italy and France to exotic leathers from alligators and ostriches. These materials are tested for resistance to colour fading, water droplets and your average wear and tear. These bags are also hand made, and only 15,000 are made every year. In fact they are so exclusive that the signature of the craftsman who made your bag comes with your order with more options to add your initals on the front or on the tag or choose your own colour combinations, which will take at least six months to make. Furthermore, they offer a repair service if your bag is ever damaged. It’s all rather posh isn’t it?

This blue version, and in fact all of their coloured leather Delvaux bags, are exclusive to Selfridges. We tested them and found that the buckle to open the bag is a bit stiff and difficult to use. However, this could work to your advantage as it is very well secured and provides security for your essentials. Plus, it is real leather and like buying a new pair of leather shoes, you do have to be patient and let the material give slightly. We also found that this bag is not gadget friendly, so we wouldn’t recommend using it for carrying a great deal around with you. This would be an ideal bag to take with you for a dinner with a client and could easily be used for a night outfit after a day at the office.

This orange number is the most expensive version they had, which is made of alligator skin and is priced at £9,565. The colour would definatley appeal to our Sugar Delights and our Little Miss Labels who would enjoy showing this bag off for a long time as this is the sort of style that is consistently fashionable all year round.

Finally we have the bigger version of their signature handbag. Do not be fooled by the size, it may be a little difficult to fit a tablet computer into it and a laptop would definately be out of the question. They do offer a model called the Madame bi-coloured shoulder bag, which appeal more to our Sporty Luxe because of its sporty look as opposed to the classic look of the tote handbag.

We love the brand and the style and we see it as a potential to be a long term statement bag. Is it going to replace the Hermes status?

Shop the selected collection at Selfridges

Lulu Guinness The Tote line-up:Don’t be dissapointed by the lack of Lulu’s Lip Clutch Bags, as these gorgeous totes more than make up for it. My first pick of the collection was the Librarian Doll Face Large Wanda Tote (£275), a super cool combination of beauty and brains and just a little pinch of attitude. This bag is structured and has a gorgeous red interior and is very gadget friendly with a phone pocket and enough room for a laptop or an iPad, perfect for a spunky Boardroom Perfectionist. The next pick is the Black Book Shop Medium Edith Tote (£325), probably my favourite out of the whole collection. It’s design is inspired by Charing Cross station in London and is described as having the perfect balance between wit and sophistication. Couldn’t agree more Lulu. Carry this gorgeous bag over the shoulder or on your elbow to carry your essentials on a stroll through town.  Next up we have the lovely curvacious Red Cross Hatched Leather Medium Eva (£450) which would be a perfect addition to our Vintage Queen’s wardrobe. You might think, ‘it’s not real vintage’, but with its black and white stripe interior and 1940’s style inspiration, I’m sure that you’ll fall in love with it like I have. Finally in our Tote line-up I’ve picked the Black Quilted Lips Lily Tote (£125), which is a new style for Lulu’s season (Trendsetters take a note). Lovers of the signature lip design will love this bag and will be getting a spacious and sporty companion to an outfit in the process. Sporty Luxes who are into darker colours will enjoy this bag especially.

Shop Lulu Guinness Featured Bags

Shop Lulu Guinness

Big Bag Lover’s conundrum is a valid one, even if she does drive her friends crazy. When going for a day out in hot weather (and today is a perfect example) you need to be prepared for certain eventualities. This means you need to pack a bag that will fit your essential items, which is where BagServant is here to help. And just because it’s Wimbledon, we thought we’d pick out a big white bag.

This Beck Sondergaard Painted Canvas Bag has the perfect balance of practicality and style and it has a rather sporty look to it, perfect for a day out at a tournament. And it will fit allyour sunny day essentials like your water bottle, SPF cream, sunglasses and baseball cap, and it’s only £52 now £36 at Farfetch. We also threw in a cute little Radley Border Heart Large Trifold Leather Purse in Ivory to match the bag, and because it’s on sale now from £60 to £39 at John Lewis. Just don’t forget your tickets in the process of packing!

So after making Sporty Luxe wait impatiently for Big Bag Lover to attempt to pack her life in a bag, they finally head off to the games in Wimbledon, which Big Bag Lover instagram-ed and tweeted for some reason, to her friend’s dismay.

Follow Big Bag Lover on Twitter!

Although, despite the delay, there was no shortage of cabs…

Although despite Sporty Luxe’s complaining, even she spent a fair bit of time deciding on a bag to take to the games the day before.  She took BagServant’s advice and went with a strawberry themed bag, but which one to pick?

First up we have the Marc by Marc Jacobs Shiraz Red Burge Box Satchel Bag, a beautiful sporty looking bag that would add elegance to any one of Sporty Luxe’s many outfits. For a semi-smart and posh event like Wimbledon (that’s how we British like our tennis) it’s sure to be a big hit amoungst the sport enthusiasts. £362 at Stylebob.

Next potential choice is the Freitag Reference ‘MacClaren’ shoulder bag, one of Sporty Luxe’s favorites for its neon colur and weathered look. It’s slightly smaller than the Marc Jacobs bag, but then when you’re whizzing through the crowds and sitting in the stands you need all the space you can find. £334 now £234 at Farfetch.

Finally we have a good old fashioned Paul Smith Folding Tote, a simple and casual red bag to fit all your essentials and has the option to make it smaller if carrying it around all day gets a little much. £92 at Farfetch.

Shop red bags.

To decide she took the advice of her fashionista friend, the Trendsetter…

Can’t argue with that…

So if you’re going to the games, or spending a day in the gorgeous sunny weather, remember that a big and practical bag is an essential item. And don’t forget to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun!

]]> http://bagservant.co.uk/content/wimbledon-tennis-2012-sporty-luxe-and-big-bag-lover-go-to-the-games/feed/ 0 http://bagservant.co.uk/content/handbag-trend-the-mini-maxi-handbag-double-trouble/ http://bagservant.co.uk/content/handbag-trend-the-mini-maxi-handbag-double-trouble/#comments Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:22:20 +0000 http://bagservant.co.uk/content/?p=18492182147 When it comes to handbag trends, or indeed most fashion trends, it’s always about having the statement bag. Your wardrobe always has to have one bag covered in jewels and sequins that will take center stage in your wardrobe. This can be bad news for neutral colour lovers or those who prefer a minimalist style and find statement bags a little garish. Well, at BagServant we appeciate that there are many different preferences for handbags and are always trying to find trends that appeal to a bigger audience.

And we think we’ve found one for just this fashion dilemma. Trendsetters, are you making notes? It’s called the Maxi and Mini bag trend. Basically, it’s where you carry two matching bags, one big and one small to create a twinset.Let me explain with this gorgeous neutral bag set from Victoria Beckham. All you Boardroom Perfectionists listen in!

Picture this, you’re on your way to a long shift at work and you’ve got your big office Victoria Beckham Shopper bag with all your essentials in, your lunch, your folders, your laptop etc. You get to your office and remember you have an important business meeting in an hour. Out pops your professional Victoria Beckham leather tote in the same colour but with a structured style to take with you to the boardroom, because let’s face it, the Shopper bag isn’t exactly going to impress any new clients anytime soon as it just wasn’t made for that purpose. Now you’ve dazzled them all with that, you’ve earned a long lunch break in town. Out comes your Victoria Beckham shoulder bag to take you on a stroll around the shops. All you need is your money and phone right?

Now it’s the end of the day and your friends are going to the bar for an after work cocktail. It’s your Victoria Beckham Leather clutch’s time to shine as you switch from day to night. The best part of all this changing? All these bags are the same colour and a similar style so they always go with your outfit.

Shop Victoria Beckham’s collection set

Get the picture? Let’s try another scenario.

Aubrey England’s set is your typical matching bag and purse combination. This Webber Tote is the perfect casual bag for daily errands with its spacious style and earthy colours. Combined with this matching purse, using them both together just gives off an aura that makes you seem very put together and organised without really doing much at all. It’s that simple. Aubrey England have also just launched their Crofton Family collection which contains matching sets. Check out the collection BagServant tried and tested here.

Shop Aubrey’s collection set

Now, I realise that I am asking you to buy more than one bag in one go. So I found some bag sets in the cheaper price ranges. You know a Cath Kidston bag when you see one with their signature use of patent floral prints, so it’s no surprise that they have some matching sets to use for our trend. These bags are to use at your leisure as I have seen women use them for casual days out, as well as with a smart outfit. I myself have a Cath Kitson purse that I use for every occassion. All I will say is that you’ll be spoilt for choice with this brand if you want to pursue the twinset trend. Our Sugar Delights usually have a sweet spot for Cath Kitson and the feminine prints. Although beware about going too over the top with the floral thing, there is such a think as too much.

Shop Cath Kidston’s collection set

Radley is another brand that offers beautiful bags at a reasonable price. With this set, which also comes in purple, you’re getting the mini and maxi choice and you’re getting structure and practicality. Confident Classiques would be wise to invest in this set with its minimalist look and timeless style. Here we have a combination of a smart casual small and large across body bag and a professional looking tote to transcend occasions.

Shop Radley’s collection set

Finally for this post we have this collection by Lulu Guinness. As you may have guessed already, there are a fair few designers that tend to create bag sets in similar styles, so you won’t be short of choice when trying out this trend. This collection keeps with the brand’s signature lip design to create these cute quilted bags that could be used in the same scenario as the Victoria Beckham collection I mentioned earlier. The professional look of the hobo bag will compliment an office outfit, as will the shoulder bag. The cross body bag will take care of your casual errands, while the clutch bag will transcend you into a night outfit with its quirky silver chain.  

Shop Lulu Guinness’ collection set

So if you’re looking for a handbag trend to try this summer, remember that one can be a lonely number. So why not pair up your bags for double the fun!

ALL LIES IN THE PAST

Designer Lowell Harder started selling her cute designs in Camden market in 1998. Since then, she produces not only handbags, but holdalls and purses amongst other leather goods. She prides herself on the company’s ethos to provide hand-crafted and high-quality to the mass market.

RADLEY STYLE

With their aesthetically pleasing rounded lines, Radley bags are effortlessly simple. The Aldgate tote is a prime example of the perfectly formed medium-sized bags they have to offer. Although purses come with pops of coral and sapphire blue, the bags are much less daunting – simple caramels and charcoals all round.

PERFECT FOR

The woman who’s had the same handbag for ten years. Even if you’re only buying a new one because the old one finally fell apart, Radley’s designs will last just as long without showing off about it and are stylish at any age.

WHO LOVES RADLEY?

Natasha Bedingfield, Cameron Diaz and Myleene Klass

Shop Radley bags

We want to highlight the huge hand bag sale going on at Reiss! They have big bags, small bags, clutch bags, purses, wallets, casual bags and bags for special occassions. They even have a fabulous Astra fabric evening bags with a gorgeous gold shoulder strap for only £77!

There’s something for all our bag lovers, whether you’re a Sugar Delight or a Boardroom Perfectionist, we’ll let you decide. Just be sure to get your Reiss bag quick before it sells out!

Read Reiss’ bag reviews

Shop the Reiss sale

Shop Reiss bags on BagServant