Bags of Blog

I just returned from a lovely trip to Horto in the Pelion region of Greece which was one of the most relaxing weeks of my life – the packing, on the other hand, not so much.

After finally deciding what dresses to bring (we were going for a friend’s birthday so parties were the priority!) and the even harder decision of which of my many Vida Vida handbags would be needed, I realised I had no shoes which were suitable for both a Greek taverna on the beach and an all-night dance (perhaps with some plate smashing too). I managed to spot a pair of sandals on-line the morning before our departure and so, at 8 30 the night before my 6am flight I managed to pop out to buy some shoes as the shop was closing, without trying them on.  And of course, with my luck, they didn’t fit. It was too late to exchange them so I gave up, threw in some far too wintery heels and went to bed hoping that everyone would decide to go barefoot for the week.

 

After a pleasant flight to Thessaloniki and a few hours driving down to the coast, we decided to stop for a lunch in a small coastal village called Agria just outside the port of Volos and the shoe fiasco was at the back of my mind until some lovely leather bags caught my eye. They were hanging outside a tiny shop called Moros which was filled with beautiful handmade leather goods – including more sandals than I had ever seen in a single place!

 

We chatted with the very helpful shopkeeper while admiring the gorgeous and handmade leather shoes, bags, belts, purses and more. Apparently, Moros has been making sandals since 1934 - so they are the real thing!  I couldn’t help but try on a few pairs and I ended up buying a pair of wedges and some flats, which I spent the rest of the trip wearing, and for €35 and €30 they weren't that expensive either!

 

Once I was home I found the shop’s Facebook page where you can see some of his lovely shoes and bags too. If you are ever visiting Agria then do pop in and have a look and say hello – you definitely won’t leave empty handed!  Oh, and there are a few lovely leather bags there too  including some interesting satchels and handbags, but you will already have plenty of those from Vida Vida!

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As the festival season is finally upon us, I thought I would share with you my five favourite (tried and tested) festival bags and satchels and what you can fit inside of them to keep you looking stylish at any music festival this summer.  

1. Mini Mini Leather Bag  The Mini Mini is the perfect festival bag for wandering around, night or day, at a festival of your choice. This is because, although it’s only a tiny H15 x W17 x D5 cm, it has two zip pockets on the inside, and is secured by a buckle (so your valuables will always be safe). It can be slung over your shoulder easily and looks great whether paired with wellies, a pretty dress or even if you’re attempting a little bit of fancy dress! WHAT CAN IT FIT? This is the bag for you if you want to bring the necessities only; you can easily fit your phone, lip-gloss, paracetamol and most importantly some loo roll (a must have at festivals!) – you can also squeeze in your passport if you are lucky enough to be going abroad to a festival and you’re sorted. It’s the perfect festival bag!  

2. Vintage Leather Satchel – Andreya Embossed This beautiful handmade leather satchel is one of the more expensive festival bags on this list, but it’s worth it. It is handmade by a small family business in Mexico and this means the attention to detail is exquisite – from the gorgeous embossing to the unique wooden stopper, this bag is a must if you love interesting design mixed with the quality of handmade products. And it’s not just for festivals, you can use it anywhere, whether you’re out for dinner or you bring it with you on a trip away, this bag is stylish and fabulous wherever. WHAT CAN IT FIT? This bag can fit your purse and your phone along with some mascara and lip-gloss, a small bottle of water, loo roll, paracetamol, gum and your sunglasses (can even fit a pair of flip flops and cardi too!). Or, if you’re travelling up on the train, this can be your ‘hand luggage’ with a book, iPod and headphones all fitting easily inside.  

3. Vintage Leather Satchel – Kids Style This leather satchel is a favourite of mine, and one which I actually own and use often. It is a great looking bag which has two convenient (and secure) pockets on the outside, which definitely come in handy. As I use it out and about in London, I can tell it would be a great bag to bring to a music festival as it is nice and safe to keep valuables in because of the buckles, and has an adjustable shoulder strap so you can keep it close to you, as you party through the countryside. WHAT CAN IT FIT? As I said, I use this bag a lot when dashing around London and normally this involves me carrying my purse, phone, digital camera, iPod and earphones and other bits and bobs (lip-gloss, mascara, tissues, gum etc). As this deceivingly small looking bag can fit everything necessary for a day out in the city, I have no doubt it would also be perfect for any festival. By replacing the iPod and earphones with loo roll, and grabbing some sunglasses you’re all kitted out for a day (and night) out dancing and drinking!  

4. Vintage Leather Satchel – Small Sun This leather bag is another one of our more intricate designs, with a beautiful pattern running around the edge and with the thick buckle patterned with the ‘sun’. This is the right choice if you want a small but sturdy bag which will give any outfit some vintage character and style. The front pocket is perfect to keep things handy and the strap is adjustable so keeping this bag close to you at all times is an easy feat, and with this much style, you’ll want to keep it close to you! WHAT WILL IT FIT? This bag is small but can easily fit your camera, sunglasses, wet wipes and phone as well as some makeup and gum to keep you going from day to night. As well as this, the front pocket is the perfect size for your guide to the weekend and your purse, so they will be at hand whenever you need them.  

5. Mini Long Leather Satchel This is a true vintage bag with the slight modernization of it being long rather than wide. We kept the design gorgeous and simple, and because of this, you can use this bag with any outfit and at any festival, whether it be a huge party like Glastonbury, or a more family-friendly weekend like The Secret Garden Party. WHAT CAN IT FIT? This bag is the right size to fit everything you need for a full day out in the sun, with your sun cream and sunglasses fitting easily inside along with your phone, lip balm, money, gum and tissues. It’s a stylish bag which is easy and comfortable to wear and can fit all the necessities us ladies always have with us - what more could you want?

Wandering around Manhattan is always interesting, made even more so by the unique and totally fantastic shopping streets, one of which is Elizabeth Street in the Nolita (North of Little Italy) neighbourhood.

 

After a good few hours of shopping, we were getting hungry and a vibrant place at the top of Elizabeth Street called Tacombi caught our eyes. We were very lucky to get a table because, as soon as we sat down, the lunch-time queue formed outside the ‘restaurant’ - if you can call it that. It was more a large warehouse, with a 1960’s Volkswagen campervan in the middle serving fantastic Mexican food (slider style) – some favourites were the crispy fish tacos and ‘corn esquites’.

 

 

 

Not only was this place interesting because of the friendly vibe, authentic theming and great food but, as many of the Vida Vida leather bags are handmade in Mexico, I found the colourful and simple patterns extremely inspiring. As well as this, New York is definitely on trend, mixing two new food crazes in London that have really taken off; Mexican food and Truck food.

 

Burritos in particular have taken over London recently. With hundreds of different places including Chilango, The Flying Burrito and Wahaca now filling our streets you really can’t turn a corner without the lovely smell of tacos surrounding you. My favourite of the lot, although all are tasty, is probably Chipotle, which after being established in 1993 in the USA came to Europe three years ago and is definitely the most natural fast food you will find on Baker Street.

 

The other yummy if not slightly unusual craze is fast food from trucks. Probably due to the amount of music festival trucks with delicious food including perfect corn, proper pie and mash and real burgers which have gained popularity, firstly over the summer at festivals, and later on around London. You can also find mouth-watering meatballs from the Bowler, exotic ice-cream from La Griotta or Mexican Street food from Luardos. Track the trucks whereabouts online at www.luardos.co.uk, @thebowleruk or kitty@lagrottaices.com.

 

You will find this fantastic food stalls are cheaper than most places, yet the food is generally tasty and organic, and who wouldn’t want to sit by the side of a truck in British Summer now the sun has finally arrived? (It was sunny when I wrote this – honest!)

I wrote an article some months ago sharing my dismay at Chanel’s misbranding of their ‘satchel bag’ (which was not even nearly a satchel!), and so while I was revisiting their A/W12 collection I was very surprised to find that lo and behold, Chanel had tried the satchel again. More surprising than this, was the fact that they had actually done my favourite bag justice.   As far as satchels go, I am quite traditional and I think the best satchels are made with proper leather and classic style in mind. Saying this, Chanel’s satchel was quite good in my books, if not a little too busy for my liking.   I thought, for the purposes of fashion (and hopefully for your entertainment), I would compare and contrast the Chanel ‘satchel’ with one from Vida Vida (below):   [caption id="attachment_147" align="aligncenter" width="445"] Separated at birth? Chanel and Vida Vida[/caption]   The most obvious difference is the material; Chanel’s bag is made of burgundy leather, which is quilted (oh, how original Chanel!) and rimmed with a lighter, shinier edge, unlike the beautiful suntanned brown leather of the Vida Vida bag, which has a subtle edge that is barely visible. Chanel uses a smooth and consistently tanned leather in contrast to the more relaxed vintage look of our leather which has different tones of gorgeous, rich brown.   Then comes the handle; both Chanel and Vida Vida have metal hoops to link the handle and the satchel, but that appears to be the only similarity between the two. Chanel have used a thick metal chain, whereas Vida Vida have kept the traditional sturdy leather strap, and also kept the top handle small while Chanel made theirs larger, and more like the handle for a handbag.   There is also the discussion of the shoulder strap; Chanel’s is made of the same leather as the detailing on the edge of the bag and the buckle straps, is adjustable and can be detached from the bag itself, so this satchel is more of a handbag.  Vida Vida on the other hand have a thick, brown leather strap which stays attached to the bag constantly, but also has a buckle to adjust the length of it.   Another difference is the design in the front of the bag; Vida Vida’s satchel has the traditional front pocket with the buckled strap in the same material. Chanel’s does not have a front pocket, but a panel, made in an entirely different material to the rest of the satchel. This panel also includes the iconic Chanel ‘CC’ lock.  Also, Vida Vida’s straps have real buckles to do up the bag, whereas Chanel’s buckles are fakes with poppers underneath.   Finally, what I think is the most important difference, the price; Chanel = £750+    Vida Vida = £75-£90 (depending on size)   So, if you do not have £750 or more to spend, then please take a look at these lovely (understated and traditional) ladies leather satchels.