Judging by the English weather as of now, it's safe to say that, sadly, Summer is on it's way out. This means my obsession for short shorts will have to be contained until next year, and the jeans are back out in full force. The days are, again, getting shorter and the nights are getting longer and this change in occasion has a strong impact on the offerings made available by stores as they look towards glamourous parties and extravagant functions in order to dress the nation.
However, accessories designers begin to cater for both the day and the night with bags offering structure, yet with bold colourways that bring them into the luxe period of Autumn/Winter; jewel tones and autumnal foliage seem to inspire across the board.
A standout bag from Mulberry, the Del Rey was introduced last year and has been one of the brands best sellers. This year, however, the arm strap has increased in size making this a more versatile bag than before, and in this seasons offerings such as Mole Grey, Aubergine, and Heather, will cement this bag continuing its popularity.
The bag features the signature Mulberry Postman's Lock over the front flap and a large main compartment which contains one internal zip pocket and a slip pocket also, which all ensure the practicality of the bag.
DKNY, an American brand which is synonymous for making for interesting and bold designs, have become popular in the UK over recent years and Autumn/Winter is no exception.
This bag has such a classic design that has been updated in a printed leather in order to keep it relevant for a modern audience. Coming in two colours, Black and Sand (a light beige colour), this bag also comes with a long strap, an internal zip pocket and lock detailing on the front, which is unsecured by the supplied key.
This gorgeous clutch stole the show at Lanvin this season; the models draped in expensive silks and grasping this intricate item. To me, it looks like an antique perfume bottle which is perfect for the party season ahead.
Finished in calf leather, and finished with a gold-toned push lock, this beautiful box clutch also has an interior lining made from satin and a gold chain to keep it securely on your body. The small size will also stop you from over packing for a night out as it will only hold the essentials.
Michael Kors, another American brand, has been immensely popular in the UK over the past year, selling out most of the designs across the season. The Selma was introduced in SS'13 and is made from Saffiano leather, which is more durable than traditional leather and has a slight cross-hatched texture to it, making it structurally preferable as it doesn't distort as other leathers would.
This seasons colours, such as Pomegranate, Dune and my favourite, Cinnabar bring the bold Selma into Autumn gracefully, updating it slightly to make it more wearable, including a multitude of interior storage space and a removable shoulder strap.
The bag of SS'13 for me was the Willow Tote, Mulberry Creative Director Emma Hill's last hit bag before her departure. This bag is one of the most interesting and practical bags on the market today and comes in a variety of sizes; the Willow Tote, Small Willow Tote as well as the Willow Clutch. It also comes in a wide variety of finishes, from Pony Hair, to Alligator as well as Ostrich, with a mixture of some of the most intriguing finishes being the pinnacle and most exciting of all the Mulberry family.
The beautiful Willow Tote features a removable envelope clutch on the front which has its own Postman's lock, and the interior is lined in suede and features a large zipped pocket and a few slip pockets also. The Willow is, however, only available in certain stores and a few designs are stocked in each store to aid its exclusivity.
The Willow is the bag of 2013 for me, as it combines timeless design with practicality and versatility as well as coming in a wide variety of finishes, all of which conjure a picturesque view of classic Britain.
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All images sourced from the websites linked
I'm a massive fan of Ray-Ban Clubmasters and Wayfarers (who isn't?!), however I think they are too overworn. Enter the Erika sunglasses, these super-flattering frames are perfect for all year round. The website linked has designer sunglasses at discounted prices and they seem to be genuine so it's a bargain compared to their recommended retail price!! I might try and pick some of these up soon, as I sat on my sunglasses on holiday and somewhat cracked one of the lenses... how graceful.
These gorgeous brogues by KG Kurt Geiger have the one thing I desire in formal shoes; a wedge sole. This makes the shoe altogether less formal; and gives it a sport luxe kind of feel which is one of my favourite trends. This particular shoe has a gold bar on the front and a reptilian-like printed leather in parts which makes it look more stylish.
This gorgeous clutch stole the show at Lanvin this season; the models draped in expensive silks and grasping this intricate item. To me, it looks like an antique perfume bottle which is perfect for the party season ahead.
#4: Cinnabar Selma by Michael Kors
The bag of SS'13 for me was the Willow Tote, Mulberry Creative Director Emma Hill's last hit bag before her departure. This bag is one of the most interesting and practical bags on the market today and comes in a variety of sizes; the Willow Tote, Small Willow Tote as well as the Willow Clutch. It also comes in a wide variety of finishes, from Pony Hair, to Alligator as well as Ostrich, with a mixture of some of the most intriguing finishes being the pinnacle and most exciting of all the Mulberry family.
