January 15, 2017

My Bag Collection & Highstreet Dupes

…and they’re all black – surprise, surprise

I’ve always been one for bags. From the Nike drawstring bag craze, to the Kookai satchels and then begging my mate who worked at Jane Norman to give us free plastic bags so we should lug our P.E to school in the trendiest way possible, I’ve always had a bit of a thing for them. In recent times though I’ve upgraded my bag collection in some areas and completely downsized in others, leaving me with just five that have me sorted for pretty much every occasion. Today I thought I’d show you my collection, throw in some mini bag reviews as I go (scroll down for the video) and give some high-street alternatives for my more fancy schmansy purchases…

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SAINT LAURENT LARGE LEATHER TOTE

The Saint Laurent Large Leather Tote is my most recent purchase and so it’s no surprise that it’s what I’ve been using the most often for the past couple of months. I needed a bag that fitted everything in and this certainly ticks that box – we’re talking Mary Poppins capabilities here. From a weekend away to a day up in London where I need to take my laptop and the kitchen sink with me, it has me covered. There’s no zipper across the top, but there is a hidden zipped pouch inside that’s attached to the bag securely which is handy for popping money, keys and my phone into. Talking dupes, I’d say that the Whistles Regent Soft Tote in Black is your best bet, although there are a tonne of other colours available on their website if one of those tickles your fancy.

MY TOP PICKS

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CHANEL WALLET ON A CHAIN

Now the CHANEL Wallet on a Chain might not be the cheapest item I’ve ever purchased, but for me it’s the most special. I felt like such a noob buying one because the whole process is so darn fancy (and surprisingly boozy), but I look forward to the day that I can pass this on to a a future daughter or grand-daughter and tell them of the day that I got giddy in a CHANEL boutique and did something silly. Surprisingly though I’ve got a tonne of wear out of this. It fits in my phone, keys, lip balm, cards and money and so it’s the perfect bag for whenever I want to pack light and I’ve worn for every occasion from weddings to a trip down the dump (seriously – why buy these things if you’re never going to use them, eh?). If you can’t find a second hand one on Vestiaire Collective then the & Other Stories Golden Lock Leather Bag is non-silly decent dupe.

MY TOP PICKS

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WHISTLES LEATHER VERITY BACKPACK

It took me a while to get back on board with the idea of rucksacks. They just brought back flashbacks of me walking to school thinking I looked SO COOL in my Nike rucksack that had one diagonal strap on the front. Of course they’ve had a bit of an upgrade in the 15 years since I last wore one and although I don’t tend to wear it the most often, the Whistles Verity Backpack is easily the most practical bag I own which it why it always accompanies me when I travel. Not only is there the safety aspect of there being a million zips making it like Fort Knox, it’s just better on your back to haul your goods around in a way that evenly distributes the weight. If we’re talking dupes then this Boohoo one is your best bet. It’s a little smaller than the original, but has a similar pocket set-up.

MY TOP PICKS

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SAINT LAURENT MONOGRAMME SAC UNIVERSITE

This bag was by far the hardest one to dupe. There’s something about the shape, the practicality and the chicness of the Saint Laurent Monochrome Sac Université Shoulder Bag that nothing else really comes close to. It’s basically a non-bulky satchel and is what I dub my ‘everyday bag’. If I’m going out for the day and don’t need to take the kitchen sink out with me, but have more than just a phone, keys and money that I need to take, then this is what I go for. The wide strap makes it comfortable to wear and it can be worn over-the-shoulder or cross-body – I have no complaints. Like I said, finding a dupe was tough, but if we’re taking shape over colour then the Stories Saddle Stitch Leather Shoulder Bag in Plum is a similar size and has the same inner pocket set-up.

MY TOP PICKS

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WHISTLES CORNELIA TRIPLE ZIP BAG

This is my ‘fun bag’. When I’m spending a small fortune on a bag I want it to be timeless. Something classic, so I’ll love it for years and years and years. However sometimes I fancy something a little frivolous, a little silly and something that come two years time I might go ‘Anna what the hell where you thinking? That bag is so 2016′. Of course for me leopard print has been so 2009, 2008, 2010 etc etc, so I highly doubt that, but until then the Whistles Cornelia Triple Zip Bag scratches my patterned bag itch. There’s a Celiné-esque vibe with the triple zip/compartment set-up so there’s plenty of space in here. If you fancy grabbing something in the sale though then the ASOS Double Compartment Leopard Print Cross Body Bag is a spot-on dupe.