Strong prints and bold textural fabrics are always a great way for designers to inject some obvious vintage inspiration into their pieces, but these can often be the choices that are hardest to wear in clothing. Using both those things in an easy to wear statement piece, this Leopard Joanie Handbag from Fred Flare has tons of retro charm.
Tag: handbag
Dory Cross Body Bag by D&G
Designer handbags are a purchase that's nigh on impossible for most of us to justify, with styles that age with the seasons. It's easier to justify the huge price tag when the looks are timeless, however, which could be argued for the Dory Cross Body Bag by D&G.
Old Bamboo Bag from Ollie & Nic
The satchel has made a big comeback in mainstream bag design of late, with a huge variety of versions popping up everywhere. Taking much of the appeal of that heritage bag design, this Me Old Bamboo Bag from Ollie & Nic takes variety one step further.
The body of the holdall has a boxy, old school satchel feel, while the addition of a short and stiff bamboo handle adds something new without compromising the classic appeal. In a great shade of tan leather, there's an instant retro feel, with gold buckle fastening too.
It's now available online from Ollie & Nic for £55.
Mustard Box Bag from New Look
Sometimes it's the most simplistic and versatile items that become wardrobe favourites, especially when it's a stylish accessory you can turn to almost any outfit. This cool, sixties inspired Box Bag from New Look is a piece that could become an everyday essential, and at a price which belies its good looks.
The rounded box bag structure has a great retro feel, toeing the line between sharp lines and a more youthful appeal like so many sixties designs. The use of a mustard shade of faux leather, along with the gold chain strap and hardware, keeps the vintage colour palette in place too.
It's now available from New Look for just £15.99.
Crocodile Brooch Clutch from River Island
Original vintage clothing and accessories can often pose something of a moral dilemma for consumers, with the frequent use of ethically dubious materials. Thankfully for lovers of the look and not the methods, there's pieces to be found that successfully fake it like this Crocodile Brooch Clutch from River Island.
The use of a deep green faux crocodile fabric, along with a rich brown faux leather, creates a real vintage shop luxury. The addition of a gold crocodile brooch to the clasp is a cheeky little detail with a glamorous and edgy feel, ideal for mid-20th century style.
It's available now from River Island for £24.99.
Helen Rochfort “Smell me Cherry” Handbag
We've featured Helen Rochfort's retro-inspired handbags in these pages before but the "Smell me Cherry" Handbag deserves a special mention.
Based on a vintage frame box-bag design it has a fabulous shape and is capacious enough for the proverbial kitchen sink. The silver bag is decorated with a hand-printed design of fruit-machine cherries adorned with some diamante for extra bling. The interior is pink and silky, with a zipped coin purse for your loose change. Best of all, it actually smells of real cherries in a nod to the scratch 'n' sniff sticker craze of the early eighties.
The bag is part of a linited run of 200 and costs £69. You can buy it from Helen's online shop here.
