Bag Lady

Friday 18 September 2015



Primark Leopard Print Bucket Bag (in store)


I popped the top pic on Instagram the other day and commented that I wasn't sure it was a keeper or not. The general comments were very favourable and you have to concede that at £9, it was a steal from gold old Primarni. Fact is, I didn't set off out to look for a bag like this, I just thought I'd have a nosey to see if they had any cute little bags which might work with an outfit I had in mind. But I just happened to come across this and it looked interesting. It reminded me of this one actually. But a whole lot cheaper.





And which Mango may have something rather similar to as well and which I prefer actually.





Anyway, I popped the bag across me and looked in the store mirror and thought, not too bad. We'll hang on to that for the time being and slung it over my arm and carried on my way.

Now, did anyone pay attention to the Rebecca Minkoff autumn/winter 2015 collection? Did it pass you by as you were looking at the usual big name suspects instead? It passed me by but then again most of the collections do anyway - I just wait to be told what's coming in by my weekly Grazia and I'm good. And in one of the recent editions, I was led to a Rebecca Minkoff bag with a strap of wonder and serious tassel overkill.

I LOVE IT! (though you can only fit your keys and a bit of loose change and a packet of tissues in).



And then as I dug around to find out more about this wonderful bag, I happened on more fabulous pics from the Rebecca Minkoff show and the one thing I really paid attention to was the straps on the bag. They are FAB.



So you can imagine how excited I was when I spotted this tan number in Primark resplendent with fancy strap and tassels. Excited and happy to the point where I may have danced a little happy dance (but only in my head and not on the shop floor).


Primark Fancy Strap Bag (in store)


And do you know what doubled my excitement and happiness? Finding that they also do it in black.



I think this is what the Chinese dub as "double happiness"


The bags are obviously faux leather but at around £10 they are very well made and the finish is good. The size is erring on generous (for reference, it fits in a regular sized iPad) and it is light and has a magnetic fastening.  With nothing in it, it's almost too light but then again the strap is not a heavy duty one so I would say try not to fit your whole life in the bag and it should do you just fine. My wobble with these two bags is that I love them for the strap but the strap is just a little bit flimsy - it's basically a pretty woven fat ribbon. Regardless, I popped them both over my arm and carried on my way round the bag section.

Around the corner, I came across this little beauty.

Gap Cashmere Jumper (similar here), Jack Wills Jeans (old)

Primark Snakekin Bag (in store)


This one is a real goody. It's well made for the price and well finished. It looks a lot more expensive than it's £7 price tag - just look at the raised ridge detail on the snakeskin flap which just takes it up a notch. It's not the biggest bag on the block but neither was the little white one I also picked up from Primark earlier this year but that one proved to be a useful little bag and added a nice little bit of interest to my mostly monochrome summer outfits. This berry coloured one is going to do the same but for the autumn winter. One thing to bear in mind - the strap is very long. And with no adjustment. What you can do is, from the left, take the strap under the flap and do the same with the strap on the right so they cross each other under the flap. This shortens it to a much better length or if you're tall - you're sorted :o)

Obviously, I popped this over my arm too and at this point, looking rather like a real life bag lady, I went and paid.

So ... what have I concluded, having had all the bags at home now to assess which ones are the real goodies. Well :


The little berry snakeskin number is a no brainer. They also have it in black which I may have to go back for.
The leopard one is not for me as the finish isn't quite there and I really want the Mango one - I prefer the cheetah print but that is dependent on how good it is in real life. I was hugely disappointed with the Sofia Coppola LV lookalike that they did earlier this year when I finally got to see it in real life in store. The finish was very poor. Very poor.
The guitar strap bags. I was going to return them. But I keep trying them with different outfits and they joosh things up a bit. At the time of writing ... they are still with me.

Any take your fancy up there?




29 comments

  1. You have too many bags! Can I have your' Jigsaw one now? ;) xx

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    1. Too many bags! I have nothing compared to you Helen! And the Jigsaw one - make me an offer ;o)

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  2. I am normally a faux leather bag phobia girl ....... but next time I am in town I am straight into primark for a nosy, my favourites are the black & tan tassel ones. I am in agreement with you and I would rather pay the extra for the mango leopard one (it is worth it) that is one of my favourite bags this season.

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    1. I'm pretty openminded as I've seen good leather bags and bad. And I've seen good faux leather bags and bad. It depends on what you like and are prepared to get away with. The little red bag punches way higher than it's £7 price - some starters in some places cost that much!

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  3. Number 1. I'm in awe that you always find something great in Primark

    Number 2. I'm in awe (again) that you actually can be bothered to return things to Primark

    Great bags Sue, can I come shopping with you x

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    1. I don't have the space or the money to keep things I don't love enough so I have to do the returns!

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  4. Love the berry one Sue. Al ready have my eye on the M&S snakeskin xx

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    1. The berry one is my favourite too. The snakeskin one is rather eye-catching. Two more days to make a decision on that one before the discount code runs out!

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  5. I love the guitar strap ones, might have to take a look at them tomorrow! X

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    1. I have to admit, I always look at the bags in the Supermarket own clothing ranges when I'm doing a food shop and I have to say, these are actually better made for the price. Admittedly some of the Primark ones are too faux but they can get it so right some times.

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  6. I am heading off into Primark today....all in the name of research! ;0) Great finds Sue, that leopard print bucket bag is fab and I love the guitar strap too but I do have a red bag shaped hole in my wardrobe so that one is top of the list! Hoping I can still snag the Acne cardy look-a-likey as well! xx

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    1. The cardi and the red bag need checking out for definite. I'm very pleased with those two items - they're great considering it's not a big spend. Some of my best buys are my cheap ones. It's the expensive stuff which gets sidelined for me.

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  7. Fabulous bags, Sue. I'm
    Really fussy and I prefer leather for bags. I can't seem to get away from this fact, even though I see gorgeous non leather bags everywhere, I just can't do it! Love the berry one in particular. Lynne xx

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    1. Yep I'm really want to be able to buy cheap bags but I just can't. Same with shoes. It's ridiculous as these are lovely and I'd happily buy cheap clothes!

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    2. I prefer leather but for a quick little fashion update, if there is a good faux leather bag which does the job, I can be just as happy. But instead of faux leather - I usually tend to go for a textiles/canvas type bagl. Besides which - have you seen the Stella McCartney faux leather bags, the faux leather on those look amazing but they do come with some rather amazingly high prices too.

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  8. Sue what are you doing to us?! I didn't know I needed a new bag till I saw these!! I love the black and tan ones especially, just wondered could you do one of your DIY jobs on the strap and maybe add a chain or is the bag too big? P.s. Went and got the camel cardi too on your recommendation. ...love it!! Helen xx

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    1. I'm having a dilemma with the black and tan bags in my mind. Because the bag is quite structured, it kind of does it own thing and feels a little big on me. I think the depth needs to be a little narrower but consequently, it does mean you can fit in quite a bit. Decisions, decisions eh?

      And good news on the cardi front for you then! Brilliant!

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  9. Great Primarni picks, that berry bag is definitely a keeper! X

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  10. I love the guitar strap ones too! I'm loving the rockier turn that the 70s inspired stuff is taking. I do like the leopard, but if it's not very well made there's no point keeping it. I'm wondering if I'm falling a little out of love with leopard, actually. I am contemplating eBaying my faux fur coat... Scary :-D xx

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    1. I agree with you on the rockier 70s vibe rather than going down the too boho vibe which is more suited for summer I think. I like the look of the leopard bag but it doesn't sit well with my picky tendencies so that was the first to be returned. And noooo - keep the leopard faux fur coat. You need a floppy hat to do the 70s vibe but wear with lots of black!

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  11. Love the look of these but prefer the look and smell of leather! Could you link your F21t-shirts that you rate so much if you can. Never seen them in my local one and it's huge. Looking for a specific type of t-shirt and can't find any and hoping these might be them. Please...please x

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    1. Hi Clare, sorry I took so long to reply. I actually bought mine in store last year and it's always difficult trying to locate the same thing again on line when it's a basic tee. I think mine was one of these http://www.forever21.com/UK/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=top_basic&ProductID=2000051160&VariantID= but there seems to be very limited colours in it at the moment and they also have this one http://www.forever21.com/UK/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=top_basic&ProductID=2000116621&VariantID= but in a lot of softer colours but no grey online if that is what you are looking for. I have a navy one from there too which was around £7 which is like a washed effect and that is lovely - very similar to a much more expensive Jigsaw one which I've had for some years. To be honest - just try a few on if you have the patience. Mine felt almost a little snug in some areas when I tried it on but they loosen up a little after a wear which makes them really soft and a little slouchy. Hope that helps.

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  12. Oooh you and me are on the same page, Love the Elizabeth and James bag but how good are your Primark bags?? Love them, I think I may have to track down the Berry one too and I will order the Mango bag not sure what it is like in the flesh! xx

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    1. Well do tell on the Mango one if you order it. I love the cheetah print on that more than the regular leopard print I see on most bags going. And the berry bag - it's a goody!

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  13. Love the Berry bag for £7.00! I have just ordered a leather leopard bucket bag from Dune via Asos reduced to £45.00, hope its as good in the flesh as its a lot cheaper than the Mango one :)

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    1. I've spotted (sorreeee!) it and it looks really nice. Hope it is as good in the flesh - do report back!

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  14. I just go straight up to people and ask nowadays - it's a lot quicker than roaming aimlessly around a huge Primark especially if there are three floors or more!

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Susie So So