bag parade, part sixteen

where: ebay, one those Korean or Chinese sellers specialised in replicas
when: 2012

A fake leather bag that is more or less modelled on the famous Mulberry "Bayswater".
Although it does look quite plastic I really like this one and it is one of my most used handbags at the moment. Ladylike and easy to combine with pretty much everything. I think I have to start saving for the real deal now...I really do.

bag parade, part fifteen

where: Accessorize, Staines
when: Winter Sale, 2013

Only looking at the pictures makes me sigh of pleasure again. It's gorgeous, isn't it?
A clutch covered with stitched pansies (as you can see)...completely useless for everyday life...my wallet hardly fits...I never use clutches anyway...but I had to have it once it was reduced.
Now I can touch it, look at it, adore it.
Who said that handbags should be useful all the time?!This one's for the soul :-)

bag parade, part fourteen

where: got this one for free for subscribing to a magazine, my Mum's passion
when: early 1990's

Real leather, smells gorgeous, slightly too small for a folder.
Never been a huge favourite of mine, but: it's in fashion again now so it's no longer a sleeping beauty but a faithful companion again.
Proper vintage...and never owned by anyone else than me. Yes, that makes me feel old now :-)

bag parade, part thirteen

where: Brighton
brand: Johnny loves Rosie
when: 2009?

I remember this one as it was the first ever buy I did with my English debit card.
A large, lightweight and soft shopper with fake-leather trimmings and a beautiful old English flower print. Still like it a lot!

bag parade, part twelve

where: an outlet store in Wiesbaden
when: hmm, maybe 2005?!

Recently all the Longchamp special editions have been pretty horrid imho.
This one might not be everyone´s cup of tea but as my mum and I at the time had a thing for autumn colours and brocade we had to have it (was a proper bargain too). Still use it but it´s definitely more for the colder seasons.

bag parade, part eleven

where: ebay
when: 2012

vipxo featured this (yes, fake YSL and fake leather...) bag on her blog last year and I fell in love instantly. Love the cognac colour and the shape that can be used as a clutch or with the shoulder strap. My granddad used to have a similar briefcase, maybe that memory was it that got me interested in this one...

bag parade, part ten

where: a skater shop at Gaensemarkt, Hamburg (took me some bravery to go in AND talk to the assistants)

After seeing them at university, in fashion magazines and then on the blog Lebe Berlin I felt that this not exactly practical nor cheap bagpack/ bag needed to be mine.
I opted for a neutral grey to make it more versatile. It is fairly spacious, extremely light and has the right measurements for my camera equipment. A shame that the straps are non-adjustable. Used it more than I thought before, right now probably the most stylish way to carry a bagpack, what do you think?

bag parade, part nine

where: Frankfurt Airport, Duty Free
when: 5 or 6 years ago

A large hold-all and a very colourful one.
I like Oilily designs and used to have their kids perfume and those gorgeous soap tins in the past but the bag collections were and are sometimes too much even for me. This one works well though as the beige base colour makes it a little less "in yer face".
Not an easy one to combine at all but at least a useful one with it's two different handle options and the big enough size to carry an A4 folder.
And yes, it could be used as a perfect nappy bag too (saw the actress Anja Antonowicz from the German soap "Lindenstrasse" once with this exact one on her baby's pram...)

bag parade, part eight

where: Milan
when: aaahh...January 2007?

Years ago I went on a short trip to Milan together with my boyfriend turned husband.
Going on a short trip meant (and sometimes still means) that we were meeting at the airport. It started like a romantic comedy. We both landed a bit early, me at arrivals a and he at arrivals b. So I decided to surprise him and walk over to b to pick him up...and he decided to surprise me and go to a. We must have passed midway behind a pillar as we ended up waiting at the other arrivals gate and only found us after several text messages were sent.
Those were the days...anyway, the bag :-)

As you can see, it is Prada.
Well...let´s say it has a label on saying "Prada". It is a fake, obviously.  And I know that many of you have strong opinions on this issue and probably see this as wrong, pretentious and common. I can understand that. But I don´t really care.
I would be lying if I would say that I didn´t plan to buy a nice fake bag when in Italy.
I was aware of the risk of getting prosecuted. But the "market" behind the Castello Sforzesco was fairly big, many people were there and the police on horses was nearby. They couldn´t have cared less, I guess they were the wrong kind of police (till now I haven´t fully worked out the distinction between polizia, carabinieri and guardia di finanza apart from the different levels of sex appeal their uniforms exude).

So I bought this nicely made fake bag for 35€ and was over the moon.
A great bag, very good quality wise, versatile, understated (if you ignore the label tag) and roomy.
No, non rimpiango niente.

bag parade, part seven

where: don't remember :-o
when: again, no idea...but at least 8 years ago

After I fell in love with the Longchamp Le Pliage bags I had to have one of their cross body models too so I decided on this fuchsia coloured one in a sale. Initiallly I didn't use this one a lot as it sits fairly tight over a thicker coat but now I love it for city trips as it combines a basic level of style with practicality...and shouldn't make it easy for pickpockets. Been to London loads of times, to Tuscany, to Paris and hopefully many more cities will come..love at second sight.

bag parade, part six

 

where: Urban Outfitters, Edinburgh
when: 2010

Bought this at the very beginning of the old school style satchel hype. Fell in love instantly as it reminded me of my very first kindergarten bag. No real leather and not the biggest but still a cool, handy and easy to combine. Like and use it a lot.

bag parade, part five

where: The Jane Austen Centre, Bath
when: summer 2012

Needs not more comments. I do love Mr Darcy and love a fun statement bag. Gets used in the nerdy way since then (means, as a handbag) ... one day fashion will change and this one will retire to become an ordinary shopping bag. A perfect souvenir (surprised that I didn´t get any comments on the streets yet!)

bag parade, part four

where: Asos
when: 2009?

First thing I ever ordered at asos. Has been used in England only for a while but is "living" in Germany since last year. Looks better than your average fake leather bag, is versatile cause of it´s two handles and is still fairly trendy. Unfortunately the lining is ripped but it takes more than that to make us part.

London towage

A day trip to London means for me that I want to be prepared for nearly all possible eventualities...result is: I'm carrying a shitload of stuff with me in any handbag big and sturdy enough for the task and at least vaguely matching my outfit.


So what do I (and maybe you too?) need:

• a bottle of water (can't go without)
• my small camera (sometimes the big one plus lenses if I really wanna take pictures)
• chewing gum
• an "emergency" bag (painkillers, spare shoe lace, plasters, etc.)
• a London map (as I tend to walk around everywhere)
• wallet
• diary
• pen
• calendar
• book (for reading when I'm wide awake)
• magazine (for reading when I'm tired)
• make-up bag (should at least carry powder, lipstick and perfume)
• hand disinfectant
• hand creme
• tissues
• sun glasses (and/or umbrella)
• keys
• Oyster card (essential!)
• iPod (not for music, only for checking emails in case I find free wi-fi)
• mobile 1 (the German SIM)
• mobile 2 (the English SIM)

•  the extended version has spare shoes, sun cream and food in it as well...and that is before any possible shopping tour...

I think I should start looking into some back therapy training soon ;-)

bag parade, part three

where: Marks & Spencer, Brighton
when: 2009/10?

Was love at first sight cause the colours ( a very faint baby pink, slate grey and black patent) are so easy to combine, the handle makes it standing out and the size is just perfect (looks small but is actually pretty roomy). Made use of a voucher which I earned through filling in online surveys to buy this one.

bag parade, part two

where: a junk-shop in Mainz
when: two weeks ago

Saw it a few weeks ago, left it behind but couldn´t resist it at my second visit. Wonder which old lady (or man?) owned it before...not sure what I will use it for but the pattern and fabric where just to great.

bag parade, part one

Julia suggested yesterday that I could present my vast hand bag collection on the blog and, of course, I liked the idea. So here is part one...many will follow...one every saturday...how is the saying going?! "Be careful what you wish for" :-)

where: Frankfurt, on sale
when: 2005 (remember it so clearly as we bought it a day after Rudolf Mooshammer was murdered)

One of three very large Longchamp Pliages I own. Don´t use it very often due to it´s size but it´s handy when I need a lot of space (e.g. for hiding my coat when in theatre or carrying lots of camera stuff). I like the unusual muted coral colour.

liebes Kind needs Liebeskind

newest addition to my ever growing bag collection...I don´t seem to have stopped buying them since I turned 30, no - my taste just seems to have become more expensive ;-)
Best way to use my won Zalando voucher - the Liebeskind bag "Johanna" in dark red. Not too big, wonderfully soft leather and with an attachable shoulder strap. Like it...and hoping for dry weather now so I can take this one out without ruining it straight away.

How about you? Do you have a soft spot for Liebeskind bags as well?

Oops...

...I did it again.
My wardrobes are bursting...there are piles of clothes on chairs, on the floor, on the washing line dried ages ago - but I still couldn´t resist and filled another basket with pretty Primark things in Brighton recently.
As said before, I can resist everything but temptation...

A loose fitting cream coloured blouse with golden buttons, the set of metallic nail colours, a cheap but compact blush brush, this gorgeous mint handbag and three adorable pairs of shoes - fake floral Tom´s, cute ballerinas and the leopard slippers that are following not one but two trends at the same time :-)

studs!

And another new addition to my collection that seems to have turned up on pretty much every other blog till now (and H&M has a similar one in stock at the moment) - this spacious faux leather bag with the studded bottom that looks like the famous one from Alexander Wang.

Again ebay, again only 17,99£, again I'm in love.
It looks sturdy and doesn't smell of plastic. The only downside is that the handles are relatively short so as soon as we are all wearing coats again this one will be handheld only but looking at the photo underneath that seems to be the whole point and not just a problem my chubby arms are causing.
It's versatile, stylish, easy to combine with all sorts of outfits and has loads of space - happy!