Totes Amaze

Monday 15 September 2014


Well it was never going to happen me splashing out on a Mansur Gavriel tote no matter how much I like them.






But I think I can stretch to this little number from Zara for now. 







Try as I might, I don't seem to get away from tote bags as I still seem to be in the habit of carrying every man and his sons' junk for them when we go out. This one caught my eye because of it's uncanny resemblance to the Mansur Gavriel bags. That flash of inside colour is a winner isn't it?

Anyway, this bag clearly is not leather for it's price but it's not a bad man made faux leather - I'm okay with carrying it and put it this way, I won't have to go through that pain when it gets it's first scratch if it was the real deal and I paid the real price. Ouch. 

And if you get bored with it being black, you can have a red bag day instead - Zara didn't call it a reversible shopper for nothing. 

(I prefer the black side)


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Last Note :

  • If you have kids, this would be a fab bag for taking swimming gear in.
  • I wonder how long it will be before Zara bring a bucket bag version out.
  • Update 16/09/14 07:05am. I woke up and decided I don't actually need this bag as I have a Longchamp tote which is a similar size and does the job equally well and is more me. Gah! Apologies everyone - I don't know my own mind sometimes and I really shouldn't blog late at night. 





32 comments

  1. The title :)
    I also like the popcorn-like texture of your COS sweater (oh, to see that store in person!)

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    1. You would love the store and you would love the concept of a lot of the clothes but the reality can be a bit something else. I tend to think the dresses are more geared towards tall people - I've not tried the trousers and that's partly because I live in jeans and have no use for normal trousers. The tops that I've had however have been good but I've never paid full price for anything from COS yet - I've always done admirably well from their sales - this jumper included. The popcorn texture is what brings a black jumper to life as well as the ruching on the sleeves - like they say, it's all in the detail.

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  2. The more I see you in those jeans, the more I want a pair for my ever expanding arse - except it wouldn't be boyfriend on me, it would be skinny on me :-( But also! Have you actually felt the Mansur Gavriel bags? Not worth the prices they are charging at all! The straps are terribly thin for such a large bag. I can't imagine toting around anything more than a jotter and a handful of mints!

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    1. No I haven't seen them in real life but they do look pretty. Glad for the heads up! I did wonder about the skinny straps which would be no good for me then - I lug around some really heavy tech toys sometimes! I think my Longchamp copes quite well with the stresses of what I mug around but sometimes I feel that I shouldn't be trying to test out it's capabilities quite so excessively.

      And the MIH Paris jeans - they are a really flattering slim cut. Not skinny skinny especially at the bottom of the leg so they are much kinder on non stick-like legs like mine. I'm probably carrying a few excess lbs at the moment and I'm wearing these as they actually make me look better than my other jeans - they hold you in well.

      And get away with you - you're slimmer than me - I've seen you in real life remember and you're tiny!

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  3. Two for the price of one! How does it turn inside out without creasing? It looks quite structured but can't be if you can reverse it? Better go and look for myself. x

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    1. It's not bad actually - it's quite malleable and the PU is very good. The beige and orange one is pretty nice too - I saw that one in the store the other day and couldn't decide if I liked that one better though I have less to work with, with that bag.

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  4. Oh I would be tempted to keep it.....(like you I prefer the black way.)However, I can also see your reasoning regarding the Longchamp, which no doubt you would use over this one. It is a great 'Look a like'. x

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    1. They are too similar in shape and both black and once I got my head round that, I thought it best to go with what I already have. Gosh - how sensible am I?

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  5. A clever idea to make it reversible. No matter how much I try I still seem to carry so much (too much!) with me. It does help if the bag is not too heavy before it's filled! This one looks lightweight.

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    1. I'm not sure how much it can take but it didn't strike me as being particularly flimsy partly because it is quite structured looking despite being flexible enough to be turned inside out. It is a really nice looking bag actually - I will probably regret sending it back at some point. Oh well.

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  6. Ha ha! You make me laugh with your returns! I preferred the black side too but I agree, return if you can't justify it. Lynne x

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    1. I can't justify it. And I'm glad I make you laugh - I think I make my hubs despair!

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  7. Hilarious! Thank you for giving me a good laugh! Cute bag though and you're right - perfect for Moms of little people!

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    1. It is - put it this way, if you spilt anything in it, it's wipe cleanable but you still look chic!

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  8. Lol Sue but I love the fact it's a reversible tote...genius!! x

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    1. I wouldn't have minded it it hadn't been reversible but I'm glad someone had a little forethought to do that with the bag. Not that I would have carried it on the red side - it looses the look somehow on the red.

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  9. I love a bit of blog indecision, much more my style of shopping! I'm either wishing I had bought something or working out how to return it after 28 days.

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    1. I have one thing in my possession which has gone past 28 days and am wondering if I can plead insanity to the SA but my creative head says, get on with it and rework it and it will be fine. It's a necklace I bought but the design is not that good but has a lot of potential if they had worked out how it was going to look when actually worn (goes a bit lopsided). I think I can "correct" it though.

      And by the way - I am the queen of returns ;o)

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  10. I spotted this bag on Saturday. I was drawn to it because handbags can't always carry all the extra paperwork and iPads I lug around when I leave work early and try to catch up whilst wAiting outside hockey or choir practice.

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    1. Well it's not paperwork I'm carrying around but I do carry some tech toys like iPads as well. And coats. And jumpers. And all sorts! Just call me muggins!

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  11. Hilarious Sue....how you've made me chuckle! Great bag from Zara, brilliant that you have the 2 options colour wise, although I would probably never use the red side, I love it on the inside! Like you though I have a Longchamp and would also probably end up using it every time over the Zara bag!! xx

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    1. Agreed, I would use the Longchamp over this one though it is easy to just chuck things in. I like the fact that they have included an extra pouch for some of these open bags so you can fasten some valuables away. That's one thing about the Longchamps - that tiny little pocket inside (which took me months before I found it - doh) is of no use to man or mouse.

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  12. Sue you crack me up every time!! I love the tote - it's such a good 'copy' of the Mansur Gavriel bag, without the worry of what if you damage it (seriously my biggest concern with my designer bags - although I've dropped by PS11 on the gravel twice now, and it's gotten completely soaked from the rain so I suppose.. complacent comes after a while.. haha).
    I also love that it's reversible - certainly getting your money's worth ;)

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    1. Oh Jamie-Lee - I just don't know my own mind sometimes. I start off really gung ho and love something and when I hit the button and publish - I suddenly get my doubts. No wonder I don't post as often as some - I'm too indecisive not that it's all about new things but if I like something, sometimes, I think it's nice to share.

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  13. Similar style to my Givenchy and like you, I always think I should give up buying totes but am always drawn to them! x

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    1. I love your Givenchy! Wish I could afford your Givenchy!

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  14. Gorgeous bag but ... I like a zipped top so that everything I'm carrying is not on show! This looks like it just has a large zipped pocket inside?

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    1. You're just like my mother. I bought a bag in Hong Kong years ago and my mother thoroughly inspected it and declared it a good bag not because it looked nice but it had gazzilions of pockets with zips in it to hide away lots of bits and pieces. Bonkers.

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  15. Lol Sue! The update cracked me up! I adore it with the red peeping out but like you, I've enough bags already that tick the same boxes - but none with a loub style lining! X

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  16. lol~ you had me until the end. i saw this at zara and i was like, heyyyy i kind of like the little tab idea as a closing device. but it would ruin the clean lines. so i didn't pick this up. nice having a reversible option though, the MG doesn't turn inside out and i wish it did!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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Susie So So