The Cambridge Satchel Company & Vivienne Westwood Collaboration

I was in London last week for a very wet anniversary celebration and popped into The Cambridge Satchel Company's store in Covent Garden.  I purchased mine 3 years ago now (see blog post here) and it's worn so well, they are such sturdy bags.  I love the scalloped style that was in store, especially the port colour at the back (very on trend for next season).

The Cloud £115

I was side tracked by their collaboration with Vivienne Westwood, the colours and patterns are fabulous - as you would expect.  The black is a great classic with the tan leather breaking up the darkness.

Prices start from £115

The Squiggle Satchel £215 

Mine is the classic 11" satchel from £99.  As I said, it was bought 3 years ago now and from memory I paid in the £70's for it due to a special discount code (you know me and discounts!).  I also had my initials put on it.  It's a bronze colour and isn't as shiny as the picture suggests.  They now have a magnetic version which I would actually recommend as the only negative for me is getting into it - as I'm always in a hurry! 

I can't believe how much this company has grown - their range is huge, from luggage labels and small accessories to an even larger range of handbags for men and women.  You know I'm a huge lover of natural materials - leather being one, especially for shoes and handbags.  I neglected to take some pictures of the below in store as I was ogling the Westwood collaboration but these two designs were my favourite.

Look at those hearts! £115

The 11" with magnetic closure in the Oyster colour

If you haven't already read the lovely story behind this brand, take a peak here.  There's free delivery over £50 and best of all (and just in case it needs to be pointed out!) they are lovingly made here in Great Britain! 

NB This isn't a sponsored post in any way, it's a brand I like, have road tested and seen some new styles recently so am sharing it with you all!

A Sample Sale & Some Great Markets In London

A while ago I shared a post on my Facebook page about Grazia's 'Gladrags & Handbags' sample sale in aid of the charity Kids Company.  I had completely forgotten about it until end of last week then panicked thinking I had missed it.  Phew, I hadn't but the only day I was free was Sunday.  I actually love driving into London on Sundays.  It's free parking on single yellow lines, the shops aren't open until later which means as I have two young children who like to get up early, we get to most places just as they are opening!  The plan was to drop me off somewhere in Shoreditch (The Truman Brewery apparently) and the hubby take the girls for a wonder while I had some precious time alone with some bargains.  As soon as we got there and my 6 year old saw the kids rails and my husband the mens rails, that plan was out of the window.  Damn.  I hold my hands up, I get a little excited about sample sales, I literally dash around to grab anything that jumps at me straight off then I get back in for seconds, thirds etc. which means I have no photos of my own to share.  Follow this link though and you will get the gist if you haven't had the pleasure of a sample sale before.  I did manage to walk away with some MiH jeans for £40 though (£148 on their website!), and they fit so well (picture to follow in another post).

With a few beauty bargains also, a cardi for my eldest and a some pieces of Adidas's Y-3 for the hubby, we had just about exhausted the snack bag packed to keep the 1 year old occupied.  I am so going to this one again and next time I will be there at the opening.  I fear I missed out on some serious designer bargains.

Just a few designers.....

Despite the horrendous downpour yesterday, with pack a mac's and brollies we continued on exploring and found some great little markets around Brick Lane which included some home made cake stalls!

My little lot, they were happy, honest!

Tons of vintage sunglasses!

We ended up browsing around Spitalfields.  It's been a while since I've been there so glad I got to have a roam. It has such a great atmosphere but for me the best bit is the variety of foods.  It's just buzzing there, even on a damp, wet Sunday.  

The undercover market in full swing

I opted for comfort over and above anything else but failed on the warmth front.  Even with a cami under my shirt, a scarf and pac a mac (I didn't need to photo that, it's North Face, black, you can all picture it) I was still cold.  My black Topshop boots were fine all day, they have a tiny heel but I feel it showed up a hole in my wardrobe.  A tan coloured pair of flat boots.  There were some amazing ones there but at £80 they can wait a while, more research to be done!

Shirt - Topshop
Watch - Tag
Belt - Boden
Jeans - Topshop
Boots - Topshop
Necklaces - All made by a jeweller in Dubai for less that half of what they would be here!

Double denim with a hint if animal!

I love wearing two necklaces together  

Scarf - Alexander McQueen
Bag - The Cambridge Satchel Company

 If you are after a satchel style handbag, I fully recommend mine.  It was amazing in the rain, the water just fell off of it.  Mine is the antique gold one, 11" and I did manage to get it on a promotion over a year ago so was about £70 from memory.  If you are looking for something a little more cheerful, they have just launched a limited edition range with Vivienne Westwood.  Prices start from £170, how fab are these!

Surviving A School Trip!

It was a loooong day!  But I did it, 25 x 6/7 year old's, a gaggle of Mum volunteers, a sore throat by the end of it (tonsillitis none the less) but a very pleased daughter that her Mummy was there.  We spent the day at Claydon House and I am ashamed to admit, I've never been before and it is so close (Waddesdon Manor is even closer I'm afraid).  What absolutely stunning views and grounds.  I will definitely be going back with the family and a large picnic when the weather warms up next year.  So what did I wear, well probably should have swapped around what I wore today for it but never mind, on disrupted sleep, a poorly baby and getting out the house by 8.30am this is what it ended up being.

Cardi - Jack Wills (Bicester Village)
Top - H&M
Satchel - The Cambridge Satchel Company
Jeans - Topshop
Pumps - French Sole

Apologies about the colour on these shots, they were rushed whilst the children were acting out the Crimean War and we had a minute to ourselves, somehow a filter was applied!  I am loving wearing my bargain £15 Topshop Baxter jeans that were made for short people (the 28" leg ones), it's great not to have to turn them up, although I do like a turn up.  I have had my orange H&M breton for a while now, it hasn't lost it's shape but I must admit I prefer the Zara organic cotton ones, they don't tend to ride up.  The Jack Wills cardi is getting a lot of wear, I love it.  My French Sole ballet pumps are breaking in nicely, they have loosened up so I may need an innersole for my smaller foot (yep, odd feet, a whole size).  

I think I managed to take in some information about Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War whilst I was there, well definitely the story about loosing her cat on the train anyway!  No testing me on my knowledge though please, just use Google.....

I Couldn't not share some of the views, stunning English countryside.

The Converse, well I have worn them twice already!  Yes, a little pinching on the big toe but so needed an in between shoe from a ballet pumps with no socks to a hardcore Winter boot, these fit the bill perfectly.  A bit of an animal over load today, but it's fun to play with prints sometimes.

Tee - Juicy Couture
Cardi - Gap (merino wool one)
Jeans - Black (kind of grey now) Topshop Baxter
Shoes - Converse

Anyone else been experimenting with double prints recently?

My Cambridge Satchel!

Well, I am not sure why I've taken so long to share this with you, maybe because I've been too busy using it (or the truth be told, I wanted to give it a fair run first and the school holidays has seen me out and about everywhere so it's had it's share of trips!).  I am majorly in love!  The colour is antique gold and I bought the 11" classic size.  In different lights it can be gold, bronze, greeny copper, it literally goes with everything.  I was a little worried about the size but it is just perfect on me, enough for my purse, phone, lippy & keys.  Having not been able to use my handbag collection much for the last 6 months (baby bag is so big it covers us all), it's been so nice to feel like I have my own little bit of me back in the form of my own bag.

I found the service brilliant, it arrived in less than 48 hours, and I managed to get at 50% off thanks to the Today Show promo!  The leather smells amazing and is well made and stitched.  I love that you can have them made personal with the initials.  I went for the blind script option.  They currently have a Summer sale so go grab a British made bargain handbag!

The Cambridge Satchel Company

Finally with the Summer holidays upon us, me and my little ladies made the most of the sunshine in our back garden.  They were good to me and let me catch up on my stack of Look magazines.  This led to a new bag crush, The Cambridge Satchel Company - I think I am behind in just finding out about this little gem!  A great collection of colours and sizes but best of all - you can have them personally initialled!  Prices start from £74, they are all leather (all handbags should be in my opinion!) and made here in Great Britain!  Loving the pastel limited edition range above.  Saving up!

(PS this is not a product endorsed blog, although I would be very happy and willing to test one......!)