Bags bags bags: Mimi Berry

When it comes to bags I have said before and I will say again that I do not like bling, no sir, no thank- you. I like classic with a twist, a look that says I was made with love and skill by an actual person.

When it comes to bags I therefore like Mimi Berry's handbags very much indeed. Mimi's bags can be found in her (as nice as on the inside as it is on the outside) perfect, Cheshire Street shop. I think for very stylish, well made, real leather, not mass produced, British designed bags they are hard to better for the prices they are. Of course they are still not inexpensive because they are leather and not mass produced but they are far, far cheaper than many designer bags that I would never want.

Ally Capellino and Liberty of London

2010 marks the 30th anniversary of the ever cool, ever young Ally Capellino and in April the company are having 30 days of celebration for 30 years in business.

Ally has collaborated with long- term stockist and Rose favourite Liberty of London for the anniversary producing two re-worked styles exclusively for them- and both are lined with Liberty fabric- which obviously means I want one if not both.

For men Ally's Frank rucksack has been produced in soft blue leather and contrasting tan leather buckles.

For the women the bag pictured has been created using a design from Ally’s archive and reworked in soft brown leather, again with contrasting satchel buckles.

Liberty will house an installation in the main stairwell, starting on the men’s floor, it will wind its way upwards, to be glimpsed also from the women’s floor. The display will act as a taster of the full installation at The Wapping Project, which you can read about on Ally's website here.

Bags of style

Earlier in the year I lamented the lack of handbags that I liked, even in the category of bags I can't afford but would love if I won the lottery.

Back then I got a slouchy worn black/ grey bag from All Saints which has been great.

Now I keep seeing bags I want, ones in the vaguely affordable category and in the not so. I think I might be finally seeing why people lust after bags the way they lust after shoes.

Here are my current winners:




Mulberry



Fendi (at Net-a-porter)



Ally Capellino



Reiss



Reiss

I think the Ally Capellino wins (in brown) for weekends. The Reiss bag is really stylish for the price- I'd love it black for work suit days and white for relaxed summer days.

Dear handbag manufacturers of the world...

... I have been looking for approximately two months for a new handbag.

A handbag is in many ways very much like a girl's daemon. It is another part of her, whether she likes it or not.

My requirements are as follows with explanations:

Medium sized: I would like a bag that is attractive and can fit a phone, wallet, notebook (for writing), perfume (of course!), travelcard and possibly other sundries in it. I do not want a teeny tiny bag that I can only fit a phone, a cashcard and a lip gloss into. I am not Carrie Bradshaw and cannot survive with these things alone all day. Neither do I want a humongous bag that is going to give me curvature of the spine. I am not Mary Poppins and I do not need to be able to carry lamps, large mirrors or any other furniture items in my handbag.

Secure: I am a twenty something girl who works in London and regularly uses trains, tubes, buses, a car and her feet to get around. I often take my handbag to work and then straight out to dinner/ bars/ clubs/ theatres/ cinemas. I therefore need a bag that has a zip or other very secure fastening. I would add that London and most other places I have visited experience rain from time to time and a bag that is wide open to the elements is not only insecure but a bit silly if you don't want the contents to get wet.

Attachments, buckles, bling, rhinestones: I want there to be as little glitz and razzmatazz on my bag as possible. I know tastes vary but really how many people can take a bag that looks like it was designed by Barbie to work.

Price: I actually don't mind paying a reasonable to borderline over the top amount for a bag that fulfils these requirements. However the only bag I have come across so far that does is a Birkin and I can't afford one of those- and even if I could I need a new bag now, not in three years (or however long the waiting list is now).

Fakes: I don't do them, I don't want them. Just because I can't afford a Birkin, or Kelly or Bayswater doesn't mean I want a much cheaper, copied version. I am not a snob but I don't watch pirate dvds and I don't want something inferior. I don't see that that means I can't have something nice. I want you to design your own interesting bags please.

My current bag was a mere £50 from Gap and I adore it. It is part you can take me to the office but part bohemian and is just the right size. With hindsight I should have bought two, or more. It is now coming to the end of it's natural life after service over and above the call of duty and I would like to be able to buy something new so I can stop wrestling with the broken zip.

Please can you make me a workable, secure bag of a reasonable size that doesn't cost the earth? I would be most grateful.

Eagerly awaiting your reply... or designs.

Yours Sincerely,
Rose