Three's A Crowd Pleaser /// Leather

Following on from my first post of 2013, here's another trend prediction for this year: Leather. It's a fairly timeless texture but little hints of it, faux and real, will be rife this year. This chiffon blouse with faux black leather collar and pocket details is so pretty but I'd love to get my hands on that mirror (check out this DIY clock version). That day bed's tubular steel base adds an industrial element covering another trend for this year...bonus! I've mostly seen black PVC and leather popping up everywhere but I'm a sucker for this more natural tan hue.

mirror / blouse / day bed

Bah Humbug

That's right...two brown leather (again) bags in one post! Lucky you...

 Humbug tote and clutch from Kurt Geiger

All wrapped up...

...with it's own bow!
It's my birthday next week. Just saying...

Kate Spade's Bow Bridge Kennedy Bag

Oh my...

...what is the collective noun for dreamy leather (Hermes or other) luggage anyway...?
via Nick Wooster

Holly Fulton

I've been getting requests for some sort of gift guide...whilst contemplating whether to do one post with a montage of glorious goodies or spoon feed you with dribs and drabs of festive findings, I keep finding objects that are just too special to stuff in a stocking.
Namely, these beautiful notebooks and diaries by Scottish designer, Holly Fulton for Smythson. You may have noticed that I have a thing for stationery items especially of the notebook variety but these are yellow and blue goatskin, die-stamped, deco-inspired, illustrated, pieces of art! Not only that but Holly Fulton was born and bred in Edinburgh.

Holly studied at Edinburgh College of Art before heading south to The Royal to do an MA. She graduated in 2007 and since then her collections have gone from strength to strengh. Her Art Deco and Bauhaus inspied work is incredible.

Holly Fulton Spring/Summer 2010 London Fashion week

Yay, for home grown uber-talent!

Images from Smythson and LondonFashionWeek.co.uk

The Ultimate Leather Bag?

OK , OK it's true...I'm obsessed with leather handbags. To be honest, I'm surprised I haven't posted more. The search for the ultimate leather handbag is just as endless as the the search for those illusive jeans. I think I've come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as the 'ultimate leather bag' and you should never limit yourself...they all deserve a good home.
This one is available from the super chic, online concept store, Bodie and Fou and is a fraction of the price of the last one i posted. Look at the raw edge along the top...it's beautiful!
...It looks like it smells amazing...have I gone too far...?

Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton

...quite possibly the most beautiful handbag I ever did see...image source

Tote-al...

This bag wants me to own it...it just doesn't know it's too expensive...poor thing...

www.assouline.com

Actual Satchel

So...apparently satchels are cool again(?)
Don't get me wrong a beautifully hand crafted leather bag will always have a warm, dry pedestal in my wardrobe but I need to channel my inner 15 year old French exchange student before donning anything that dangles at hip height with a strap across my grown up chest!
However, I may have found my inspiration...take a look at these beauties from Henry Tomkins Leather. Hand crafted designs made by Henry himself in his workshop in Exeter.
This Reporter bag is singing Frere Jaques to me...

Reporter Bag

Satchel

Back to Back Bag

The Full Monty

Isn't 'The Full Monty' straight out of some old film, belonging to a handsome man, standing in a train station...?