Mama's got a brand-new bag

You know the feeling when you’re looking for a particular thing and can’t find it? In my case, for a few years now I’ve been looking for a small, neat, but crossbody zip-topped leather bag to replace one I own that’s getting sadly very tatty. Small and neat, because that’s how I like my bags. Zip-topped, crossbody and leather, because I want it for travelling. I find it’s easier to get money or cards out quickly and then re-fasten a zip-top bag than a bag with a flap, crossbody leaves my hands free for taking photos (and as I will be an obvious tourist, will make things difficult for bag snatchers), and having had my sunblock dissolve one vinyl faux leather handbag while on holiday, I’m sticking to leather.

Recently I found this one in Accessorize, and it is almost exactly what I’ve been looking for. Perhaps a little squashier than I was hoping for, but it's close enough. The two pockets in the front will do for things like train tickets and possibly my phone, while there’s a zip pocket inside where my work door card can go. (Nothing worse than having to rummage round for that while a queue of people builds up behind me.)


Having bought this, though, it has reminded me that I really need to get round to repairing some of my other bags. One is coming away from its frame – a quick dab of No More Nails should sort that – and another needs its handles replacing. The latter is black fake leather, and I’m not sure whether to make a black felted wool handle, or one from the robot-print canvas I’ve had stashed for years. I think I might experiment and see if it’s possible to create ones that are sturdy enough but attach with press studs, so I can have interchangeable handles. One to earmark for a future crafty Sunday project, I guess.

Thinking about my vintage bags, most of those fasten at the top with a clasp or kiss lock. Flaps? NO.

Having said I wanted a new bag for travelling, you might wonder where we’re off to next. We’re spending time at home in the first part of the year, but have booked a trip to Bordeaux in the autumn. Hopefully by then our government will have worked out what on earth they’re doing with regards to Brexit and will be able to tell us what insurance and visas we need, though given their display of incompetence so far that’s not guaranteed. I’ll probably take a lot of the usual clothing suspects with me, such as my poppy skirt, Seasalt dress and Heyday! Judy dress, but for the first time ever I’m also wondering whether to make a few things. It’s liberating being able to think of what I want rather than what the shops are selling, stepping outside trends and what the mainstream thinks is suitable for women my age or size.

On which note, I took the photos in the stairwell at work, and it occurred to me that you probably hadn't seen this dress before as I don't often show my modern clothes on this blog. I bought the jacquard dress from Monsoon in 2017 (in the sale) and I love it, but it is a bit baggy above the bust. That's because I have relatively narrow shoulders. Making my own clothes means I can avoid issues like that. (The cardigan cost about £2 in a charity shop. Any knitwear I don't make myself nowadays comes from chazzas.)

Do you find flappy bags a faff? Or is it just me? And if you have any advice on replacing bag handles, I'm all ears!

Comments

  1. That's gorgeous, I love how squashy it looks, too. I'm after a new cross-the-body travel bag, the one I've used for years is an utter disgrace, sweat-stained and rancid.
    That Monsoon dress is gorgeous.
    Bordeaux in the Autumn, how lovely! That gives you plenty of time to sew yourself up a few holiday clothes.
    I like the idea of interchangeable handles on your bags. My friend Liz, who makes bags, uses charity shopped leather belts. xxx

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    1. Oooh, that's a good idea - charity shops often seem to have lots of belts in stock. I'll see what I can find.

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  2. Love the print on your dress. I don't mind flappy bags (why does that sound like some sort of kink?)but zippers are nice provided they are good quality.

    I caught a few minutes of your parliament yesterday as some mp was making snarky remarks about it not being a "Women's Institute meeting." True. The WI would have had that mess sorted months ago. I hope however it ends up, that it isn't too dramatically awful.

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    1. I'm guessing said MP has never faced the WI - Cameron probably winces every time they're mentioned; he addressed them and got the sarcastic 'slow clap' treatment despite being Prime Minister.

      At this rate I think the EU will have enough of our useless politicians and boot us all out for being a nuisance. Someone said it right on Twitter: they're like that mate who wants to leave the club you're in because he knows somewhere better, so you make the decision to leave but then can't remember the other place, and the bouncers won't let you back into the club you just left, so you're arguing in a kebab shop at 2am...

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  3. That's a great bag for travelling, Mim. I'm also using a crossbody bag when I'm travelling, but I'm on the lookout for a decent new one, preferably one that's weather proof. The oilcloth one I've been using for bigger holidays is too big and has a flap, which makes is rather cumbersome and inconvenient. But I always cram too much in anyway, so it must be big enough for essentials, and you wouldn't believe what essential are in my book! Bordeaux in Autumn sound absolutely divine, and here's to hoping Brexit doesn't throw too much of a spanner in the works. I'll go and burn a candle at our local church. Its patron saint is St. Rita, patroness of hopeless cases ... Love the print of that dress you're wearing! xxx

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    1. Heh, as long as I've got lipsticks, phone, keys, cash and bank cards, my essentials are covered. I'll pop in tissues if there's room. Pete's worse than me; he has to have at least three vapes on him in case they run out of power.

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  4. I can't use a cross body bag as I can't put all the things I deem essential in it - I carry a sack around! I like your new bag very much; I like the squashiness of (still not big enough for me) it and being black it will go with everything.

    Loving the dress and the gorgeous green cardi; both of which combined with your beautiful hair look fabulous. I love your lippy, too. What a great colour.

    I do have a couple of flap bags and they're a pain...much prefer a zip.

    I'm very impressed at your bag mending capabilities; I wouldn't have a clue!

    Have a great weekend!

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    1. Handles are always the bit that goes; the bit of me that hates throwing things out resents slinging a perfectly good bag-body because of a rubbish handle.

      I have enough trouble finding stuff in my little bags. Pete would probably murder me if he had to wait for me to hunt through a big one.

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  5. That's a handsome yet functional bag1
    I love a flappy bag, hobos have been my jam for years. My current daily bag is a metallic pewter hobo (with a sturdy zip) I bought for like $7 at a US chazza. For travel I love the brand Tumi for their extremely lightweight (yet durable) well designed bags.
    Love that dress with the William Morris-like print!

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    1. I've never carried a hobo bag - I guess my style tends more towards the fitted/boxy/rigid/tailored... perhaps I need a bit of that California casualness in my life!

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  6. I like to travel with a cross body bag too but I'm not bothered by bags with flaps. Considering my passion for collecting handbags I am super fussy about my everyday handbag I have to have separate compartments for a start!

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