When making an important new handbag purchase it’s easy to be blinded by the many wonderful brands in Selfridge’s cavernous ground floor. Do you go classic Mulberry Bayswater? Save your pennies for a Louis Vuitton Speedy? Or stick with the tried and tested Michael Kors Jet Set tote? So many choices, so little time. Next time you may be faced with this dilemma I urge you to take a left out the door and head five minutes down the road to Aspinal of London on Brook Street. Or as I like to call it, handbag Mecca.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love all the above-mentioned brands and I LOVE Selfridge’s, but Aspinal’s AW13 collection is not to be ignored. From classic everyday styles to spectacularly glamorous special-occasion creations, I am in constant lust for almost everything in that shop. Just in case Santa might be reading (or Mum/siblings/particularly generous male suitors…my birthday is five days before Christmas after all…) I’ve chosen my top five picks of the winter collection…
The Everyday Tote I’m the first to admit I haul an awful lot around in my handbag on a day to day basis. Call me Neolithic but I still have a paper diary and have to carry a real book everywhere (none of this Kindle nonsense). Add spare flat shoes, make up bag, phone charger and it soon fills up with essential paraphernalia. My day bag therefore needs to be roomy and sturdy enough to hold everything, hence why the Marylebone Tote (from £795) is my number 1. Available in eight colour combos, my winter pick is the supremely chic black pebble leather and python skin (£1,295), a glamorous combination. It even has a padded iPad pocket.
The Casual Satchel The perfect sling-it-on-and-away-you-go casual carry-all has to be the gorgeous Mollie Satchel (£495) in the classic tan. Perennially preppy without being too masculine, as so many satchels can be, it’s super soft and supple and the addition of the cross-body strap makes it ideal for hands-free shop surfing. Dreamy.
The Glam Purse Our wild card entry has to be the Mariella Bag (£545) in black nubuck and saffiano Italian calf leather. The gold hardware and tassels appeal hugely to my secret inner rock chick and I adore its slightly Parisian bohemian feel.
The Statement Evening Clutch The Victoria Shoulder Bag (from £450) is a gorgeous evening bag in itself, but it’s the AW13 colour palette in the statement fire python skin which tips it over the edge. Blazing like an autumn sunset and lined in shimmering grosgrain, it’s a thing of true beauty. I’d be half tempted just to mount it in a light box on the wall and worship it…
The Essential Wallet Last but not least, every good handbag needs an equally good wallet inside it; no point forking out on the perfect pouch to let the side down with a scruffy purse that your Mum bought you in John Lewis when you were 13. From tan ostrich skin to purple mock croc and hot pink lizard skin (in which I have the matching travel wallet…) the range at Aspinal is mouthwatering, but my pick of the bunch in undoubtedly the absolutely stunning Continental Clutch Zip Wallet (£175). The black embossed floral leather is just beautiful, almost too nice to be hidden away in a bag and certainly elevates it to the very top of my Christmas list.
All available from www.aspinaloflondon.com
I look forward to seeing what makes it under my tree next month!
Love Laurel x
