Bags of Blog

Although Spring is just around the corner and the British winter is finally coming to an end, I am in desperate need of a mini break to get away from the constant cold of London! I wasn’t looking to go anywhere too far away or exotic but while viewing all my options, I found five places that are pretty far away (well four with one nearer to home really) but that I would love to visit at some point soon. In case you, like me, are feeling a bit worn out and want to go somewhere new, look no further as below are five of the coolest and most exciting places (in my opinion) for a winter break.

I have been desperate to visit China for a long time, and after seeing some recent photos of the beautiful city of Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year, I have never been more intrigued to visit! This gorgeous city seems the perfect mix of tradition and modernism with endless temples and skyscrapers to visit, and there will definitely not be a boring moment in such a vibrant and exciting place.

Miami has always seemed like a pretty cool place, but after reading about the Kennedy Space Center there I have been even more interested in visiting. It seems to offer everything; it’s a funky, vibrant city with beautiful sandy beaches, loads of shopping, the gorgeous Everglades National Park, and the opportunity to visit the ‘world’s most realistic simulation of a space shuttle launch’ alongside a host of other amazing experiences!

For a slightly more relaxed environment, I have been eyeing up the sunny Gran Canaria in Spain. The weather there is very mild in the winter so it’s perfect for a spot of sun amidst the cold and the rain of winter in Britain, and there seem to be endless activities, especially for families, including surfing, cycling and, of course, lots of swimming!

Thailand is another place I have long wanted to visit. Known to be frenetic and busy, Bangkok seems to hold endless sights to see, with beautiful temples and huge golden Buddha’s lining the fluorescent streets. I am particularly intrigued by the floating market and The Emerald Buddha Temple, which look absolutely amazing!

If you, like us, are looking for somewhere a little closer to home, perhaps one of the many Center Parcs in the UK is the place to go. You will not have a bored moment with the huge variety of outdoor and indoor activities for both kids and adults, and there is even a spa at each resort for a bit of relaxation!

While thinking back to the article I wrote last month, in which I gushed with things to say about the trusty saddle bag, I thought I would do a little bit of celebrity spotting (only online, unfortunately!), and see if any A-Listers were sporting my favourite trend of this season.

It seems like Hollywood are fully aware of this being the bag of the moment  – of course, they would be! – so there were loads of famous faces that were spotted using tan leather cross-body saddle bags as they went about their celebrity business. Below, I’ve picked my favourite three and also linked to some slightly cheaper but just as beautiful alternatives from our own website.

 1.   Jennifer Lawrence has previously been seen wandering around London with a gorgeous but pretty simple leather saddle bag. Although hers is beautiful, it probably costs a fair bit, and I always edge towards slightly more detailed designs, like our Vintage Leather Annie Saddle Bag Style Satchel which boasts the same rounded shape and suntanned leather, but with some extra detailing on the front.

2.    Taylor Swift has also been seem numerous times with her gorgeous Ralph Lauren saddle bag. It’s a great style, and it seems to go with everything, but unfortunately it will set you back $300. If you like the design but don’t want to break the bank, our Small Sun Vintage Leather Satchel  is a great option as it has similar detailing on the front but costs a lot less!

3.   If you are more inclined to go for the bohemian-chic style of Vanessa Hudgens, our Vintage Two Pocket Large Leather Satchel - is a great alternative to the Patricia Nash leather saddle bag she has been spotted with so many times, and will allow you to recreate her effortless style for a fraction of the price!

Firstly, thank you to the many customers who have sent us some wonderful photographs of the exciting adventures that they get up to with a little bit of help from their Vida Vida bags.  It has been great fun looking though the entries which have not only taken us around the world, but also to a few rather unique and often unseen places.

It is clear that our customers not only love their Vida Vida bags, but, just like myself and Matt, you love to travel and get off the beaten track.

We did rather struggle in choosing an outright winner, but we think you will agree with our final choice!  We decided to add two runner-up prizes just because we felt they each deserved something in recognition for their efforts.

Before you see the winning pictures below (no peeping) and a selection of the other entries, do remember you can continue to send us your entries to matt@vidavida.co.uk as the competition is ongoing and we will be picking another winner or two sometime towards the start of the summer – just in time for the holidays.  More details will appear on our blog soon.

So, onto the top three entrants… 

In first place, we had to give it to Ian Gray who has really taken his use of his Grande Leather Satchel to the next level with this eggcellent set of photographs from the hatchery he works at in Scotland.  Ian, we were thrilled to see your use of the bag, the attention to our logo and the strategically placed protection from bird poo! 

Ian's prize of our top of the line leather travel bag is on it’s way to you with plenty of room inside to store the adult chickens or a week or two’s worth of clothing if you choose to take it travelling with you this summer.

To everyone else, please get ready for more awful puns about chicks and eggs over the Easter period!

Next are the two runners up, who have each won one of our handmade leather wallets embossed with the initials or message of their choosing.

Paul Wingfield managed to capture this fantastically evocative shot of his leather satchel on stage at none other than London’s Royal Opera House (below).  He nabbed this during rehearsals where he is the conductor.  The lighting and the composition with the red velvet seating worked really well.

The other runner up comes from the other side of the World and was sent one of our bags as a gift by her sisters (did you know we ship worldwide).  Ash Hanson, from Raglan in New Zealand, sent us the two images below of her casually “posing” by the seafront and a waterfall.  A lovely set of photographs in an amazing setting, we are all “Well Jel” (if you don’t know what that means, then look it up like we had to)!  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Well+Jel 

Thanks to everyone who took the time to take some pictures and send them in.  Please keep on doing so as we will pick another winner later in the year.  Below are a few of the entries we really liked too, but they were pipped to the post!

With Mother’s Day fast approaching (Sunday, 15th March 2015 in the UK), it’s time to start thinking about a gift to say thank you. To save you the trouble of shopping around for ages before deciding on the perfect present, I have picked five of our bags for five different types of mothers that will hopefully help!

Remember that we can also add the personal touch with a lovely message or name embossed subtly into the leather of most of our products.  So, see if we have the ideal Mother's Day Gift for your mum.

For the mother who is constantly lugging files and documents into the office, while still remaining dutifully on call if you need anything, one of our laptop bags would be a fantastic way to say thank you. My personal choice would be our medium black leather satchel because it is not only super practical, but it looks great, and is big enough for all the bits and bobs she might need, alongside her work and even a 11” or 13” laptop. We do, of course, have lots of other laptop bags in different styles, sizes and also in gorgeous tan leather!

A perfect gift for your retired mother is our large leather weekend bag because no matter where she is travelling or what she is exploring, she will look stylish as she does it. She will also never leave anything behind, with enough space to carry whatever she wants with her. The bag simply gets more gorgeous with age as the suntanned leather softens and becomes more and more unique and special.

If you are buying a gift for a new mother, our leather overnight bag might be the perfect thing as they make brilliant nappy bags. They are the ideal size, comfortable to carry because of the cross-shoulder strap, and no one would ever guess they are full of bottles and nappies because of how great they look! I use mine daily to haul the boys’ toys and food around, and absolutely love it, so I highly recommend this as a gift!

For the mother who always looks stylish, no matter the situation, one of our leather saddle bags is a great gift. I have already expressed my love for these gorgeous bags in a recent article so I will keep it short, only saying that these are the perfect presents for the mum who likes to stay on trend, and if given, they will definitely be appreciated! A great choice at the moment is our hugely popular Vintage Two Pocket Leather Satchel as it is a great size and is simple but stylish, but we have loads more saddle bag style options in other sizes and designs.

Hopefully this has been somewhat useful, and whatever happens with a gift, make sure that come Sunday, 15^th March you thank your wonderful mothers for all they do! Remember, if you do decide to get one of our bags, you can make them even more special, by getting them personalised, with their initials or even a short message to remind your mum that you love her!

With Valentine’s Day this weekend, there is not a lot of time to pick out a perfect present for your special someone.

So, if you (like me) are always a little bit disorganised when it comes to present buying, look no further as I have compiled a top five gifts for men and a top five gifts for women from Vida Vida (and you even get free UK delivery in time for Valentine’s Day! if you order by Wednesday - just click the red "Valentine's Coupon" button on the right*). 

Remember, all our leather goods can be personalised with a short message, name or initials, so you can make any of our products even more special for that special person in your life.

For the woman in your life:

With an internal zippered compartment and a waterproof lining, this travel essential is practical and stylish. This is a great gift that you know will be used endlessly.

This saddle bag is absolutely perfect for someone who is constantly on the run. It fits in all the essentials without being bulky, and it really is so fashionable right now. I have already put this on my personal wish list, because saddle bags are really so on trend at the moment! (I wrote an article about them too!)

This is a slightly more classic bag (that is definitely still very stylish!), which will definitely be appreciated. It is perfect for the working woman, with space for a laptop and all your other bits and bobs, while staying perfectly gorgeous, and only getting better with age!

For a present that will keep on giving and that will guarantee a very happy response, get this and sit back as there is no end to this bag’s brilliance. From its versatility to its beautiful design, anyone would appreciate this, and if you want any more proof of how great it is, look at this article I wrote way back when the hype around this travel bag began.

If you are looking for a Valentine’s gift that is slightly less leather, one of our handmade silver rings could be perfect. We have a range of different rings but my personal favourite is this coiled ring, and one of them is bound to be the romantic present you have been looking for!

For the man in your life:

This is a great bag for your busy partner with its laptop compartment and the vast space, while still remaining effortlessly cool and stylish. The messenger is simpler than the satchel but will no doubt look great wherever it is taken and be enjoyed thoroughly.

For a more classic style but still with its modern twist, this black leather satchel is the perfect twist for the contemporary yet practical man. It looks fantastic now but will only improve through use, and so this is a fantastic present if you want something that will look great and be used. A lot.

If your other half is a budding gym goer, or perhaps fitness was one of their New Year’s resolutions, this is a fantastic way to motivate. This duffle bag, which comes in other sizes and shapes, is perfect for holding a change of clothes and any other bits and bobs needed, while still remaining on trend.

Tan Leather Wallet, £35 

For a man who’s always on the go, this is the perfect travel companion. With pockets for cards and coins and its gorgeous design, you can’t go wrong with such a simple gift. If a wallet sounds like a good idea, but this one is not for you (or rather, your partner), then have a look at our others.

If his iPad is almost equal to you in importance, this would be a great gift as it would not only help keep him organised, but it would keep his pride and joy safe and secure plus he will think of you each time he opens it up to play.  We also have other leather iPad cases, including this in black leather.