Once upon a time I declared 2014 had been the year of crazy bags, but 2015 doesn’t seem to be a different story. I’m not sure when Next, who have recently had an amazing selection of novelty bags, brought out this cutie but I think it must have been before December – I bought it at the end of March, once it went down 50% off.
#Whatsinmybag is one of Instagram’s coolest hashtags – should I start a #whatsinmyminisculebag trend? How much I can fit in a tiny amount of space has become not only a challenge but an aesthetically pleasing Photo Op too – this little box fits almost nothing but it’s so cute I forgive its impracticality.
It was a long time before I made up my mind about this bag. Eau de Parfum isn’t the most original thing to write on a bag (although I guess it’s better than Eau de Next) and the shape reminded me of those overexposed, impractical Chanel-wannabe phone cases. But I remember trying it on with this coat months and months ago and (sort of) falling in love with it. Its sale price (about £13) was the final push I needed.
I loved matching it with my pink coat outside of the shop – and yes, these pictures were taken a while ago as it’s been ages since I wore black tights and a thick coat.
It makes the perfect cute evening bag but lately I’m more of a day girl so I took it with me all the way to Broadway Market in East London. My adorable friend gave me adorable flowers which tied in rather nicely with it all, non?
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| Bag, Next. Hat, Aldo. Coat and ring, from Hong Kong. Shirt, Reiss. Skirt, Club Monaco. Ring on left hand, vintage. Bracelet, Mango. Brogues, House of Avenues. |
I bought this shirt at a Reiss sample sale last Spring and only started wearing it recently – shameful! I did not wake up one morning and decide I wanted a silver shirt, but saw a very similar shirt on someone and consequently bought this one because it reminded me of that one I’d seen.
What looks good with silver, other than black and denim? It’s a bit bold, brash and possibly tacky. I ignored my fashion sense and bought it anyway. So precisely because I’m clueless as to what to match silver with it’s spent most of its fashion life in a wardrobe. And that’s when I realised that white skirts – like this one, which I also got last Spring – can come in really handy…
I really miss wearing my hat – it really did feel like the finishing touch but is sort of a little too wintery for these days.
Novelty bag? Check. Complementing outfit? Check. Gorgeous tulips? Check. Amazing background? Triple check. I couldn’t help but include this amazing wall by Zabou – it’s an accurate reminder of how tiny I am. The lovely background from the first few pictures is by an artist called KEF.
I also had to include this beautiful lady painted by the amazing Vinie Graffiti. I’d been searching for her for months (in the way that people search for lovers, I search for art) and finally found her that day, literally tucked away in a bush off Commercial Street. Again, it goes to show how tiny I am – or how big street art is, literally and figuratively.
Photographed off Broadway Market and off Commercial Street, East London on April 5th 2015 – pictures taken by Ruth.
xxx