Out with the clutch, in with the BELT PURSE

Spring is almost here and I have been following through the accessory trends predicted for Spring 2011. Its amazing when you peek at the predicted trends in accessories how fashion is really just a circle. We keep going back to where we came from and returning to trends which in past times have been considered archaic.

For a long time I have told myself that it doesn’t really matter what’s happening on the catwalk all I want is some practical accessories. Now that am working more with suppliers of ladies accessories I realise I couldn’t have been more wrong. The fact is New York, London, Milan and Paris define what trends and what doesn’t. Of course depending on which part of the world you are reading this from some trends take longer to flow through but eventually they do. Last week I was looking at making a handbags order so I requested for a catalogue from my supplier . The catalogue was so reflective of the trends set in the fashion weeks its undeniable that they in a way force us to view style in their eyes.

Bearing in mind that the 70s look is like the main theme this spring then the high waist ,wide legs trousers are back. And the long skirts and dresses too. No minis this season, the trend is below the knees for the hem of the skirt and dress. That, I must admit I love. And I have to add that belts have never been so in style (in vogue as they would say).

So today I want to discuss with you the BUM BAG. Can you believe it is back? Well not exactly in the form we know it but the concept is the same. This spring its out with the clutch and in with the BELT BAG. This is a chic version of the bum bag. Its simply a small purse  attached to a belt or that can be detached so that you can use it with different belts. The whole idea is that you hang it on your waist and so your hands are free. In all honesty its very posh and if you get a nice leather one, it will last long. However as it is replacing the clutch you shouldn’t expect to put too much in. I would say a mobile phone, lipstick, pocket tissue and keys and that’s it.

Apparently the belt bag dates back to the 1800s when men and women used it to carry money and valuables safely. It then developed into reticules which were basically the first forms of handbags that have developed over the years to what we have today.

The belt purses can be worn with trousers, skirts and even elegant evening dresses. Tell me what you think of the belt purse. Would you buy it or will this be one of those fashion trends you will steer clear from?

PS: If you haven't already done so, please visit our facebook page "Ahadi fashion" and tell me what you think of our current handbag range.

Can’t ignore the cross body bag!

I hope you had a great Christmas holiday and are having a fantastic start of 2011. I have to say that I had a really quiet Christmas this year,which was a great break from the really busy year.

Today I just want to engage your fashion sense and see if we can strike a balance between fashion and practicality and hopefully end up with a win-win.

I can’t help but notice that 80% of the ladies walking past the shop are carrying cross body bags. Actually most ladies will look at a handbag, love it then ask “does it come with a longer strap?” And that really got me thinking about the cross body bags and trying to figure out why people prefer to strap the bag across the chest. Personally I have been thinking of them as quite uncomfortable. But I don’t think my all these ladies are wrong.

So what I did was I ordered one. I knew that unless I tried it, then I will have no authority to write about it. So in comes this gorgeous, camel brown, genuine leather cross body bag. The feel is exquisite but to be honest am still having my reservations.

First thing that hits me, is that I can’t put all my stuff (read trash) into it. But that’s fair enough as I will use it on weekends. So I get in my necessities and to be honest it has more room than I expected. Then I strap it across my chest and it doesn’t feel as weird as I expected. The one thing that I absolutely love about it, is that unlike a hobo that keeps slipping off the shoulder while you are picking up groceries in the supermarket the cross body bag is in position throughout. Also if you prefer not to strap it across the chest then you can drape down the shoulder.

At the end of the weekend I was totally sold out for the cross body bag! But I still thought I wouldn’t carry it to work. However that problem has now been sorted. There are now cross body bags that are just hobos. Well I should have said hobos that are cross body bags. What they do is simply design a small hobo but with two straps that you can interchange depending on how you want to wear your handbag.  So you can use the short strap to the office and the long one when going shopping. I thought that’s a brilliant idea.

The thing about it just like with all handbags is, you have to be careful to get a good material. Otherwise it doesn’t look very nice and wont last very long. My take is if you want a nice cross body bag that will last long and look nice, go for genuine leather. It may be dear to purchase but will outlast man-made leather many times over and won’t tear easily.

Do you match your handbag to your shoes or to your dress?

This week I got an aqua handbag and it’s beautiful, I so love it and I urge you to forgive me if I obsess on the aqua colour for the next 1-month or so as I can’t help it. But I have earned it bearing in mind that I had to put in a whole days worth of work to pay for it!

I don’t know where this saying came from but I do remember hearing that your handbag should match your shoes. I have to admit that it works perfectly in most cases. Picture this, you are bored and don’t feel like dressing up but you have to leave the house for an informal meeting with the gals. So you quickly grab a black pair of jeans and the only shirt that doesn’t need ironing is black. Ideally that would be too much black right? Makes you look like you are mourning.

But we are not done with the look yet, if you put on an aqua pair of shoes and an aqua belt that looks smashing. Or try red, a red belt and red shoes be it flat shoes or stilettos!! Believe me, you will make heads turn.

Now if you go a step further and accessorise just a bit! with the red or aqua, get a red necklace with average beads. That looks nice on anyone regardless of age or size. It’s easy to achieve and it looks great even without the accessories. If you don’t want the red belt you can carry a red handbag. That’s even better so the shoes actually match the handbag. I would go for the red shoes and red handbag but I have seen the red belt and red shoes look a couple of times and its great. The trick about the red belt is you would need to tuck in your shirt or if you own a hip belt you can have it on the un-tucked shirt.

For a wedding ceremony the bridesmaids’ clutch bags should ideally match the shoes to give a feel of coordination and uniformity. However if the clutches match the posies and the dress then a different coloured shoe can work.

But matching shoes and handbags doesn’t always work. And my bet is, that’s the main reason many gals insist on black and brown hobo bags because you can pull it off without any thought. Anything goes with a black hobo, anything!! From wearing sneakers, low heels, stilettos, boots etc.

A briefcase bag, grab bag or clutch bag definitely wouldn’t go with sneakers. A duffel bag and stilettos aren’t perfect partners either and this is debatable but surely clutches and flat shoes aren’t a fashion statement! Satchel bags and totes would be great with sneakers and flat shoes as they are all practical.

Some ladies match the handbag to the dress and then have the liberty to wear a different coloured pair of shoes. I have seen this look many times and I think it’s beautiful. The shoes create a contrast and create the diversion making the look well thought out and elegant.

Having said that I must add a disclaimer and say don’t over match otherwise it will be judged as fashion faux pas and that doesn’t flatter. Simplicity is best and everyone has a style judgement deep down so once you are all dressed up, look yourself in the mirror and your first thought is more often than not the right impression.

If you feel have more than 3 bright colours then perhaps you should neutralise. It wouldn’t be a good idea to for example wear a red dress and red shoes and a red bag unless you are in a movie premier and all cameras are on you. It looks attention seeking as opposed to elegant.

I realised no one can teach me how to match; I have to trust my instincts and get on with it. Your mirror never lies so if you don’t like what you see, neutralise it. 

Handbags need some TLC too!

Today we will be discussing handbag care as well as some tips on how to keep your handbag shapely and wrinkle free while making it last a lifetime.

But before we get onto that I would like to let you know that am currently working on revamping and improving the appearance of this blog. I realize that it’s been quite hard to leave comments and follow us. Hopefully we should get this sorted very soon.

Back to handbags, I pose a question to you, how do you store your handbags? I will tell you how I store mine. Once I have emptied it of all its contents I throw it (neatly of course) into a shelf until I next need it! It’s no wonder they never last more than one year! I hope that you do better than that.

Here are a few tips on how to store your handbag, keep it in shape and hopefully get it to last longer.

Always make sure that you completely empty your handbag before storage. Once you have removed everything from the compartments shake the handbag while holding it upside down to ensure that all the tiny particles are out. Most likely you will find that the bag needs a wipe. You may also find a stain or dust. Aim to wipe your handbag externally at least once a week to keep it looking smooth and glossy and also to get rid of germs. You can wipe it using a soft piece of cloth or an alcohol free facial wipe. Once you have wiped it, let it stand for a few minutes to make sure all the moisture is dry before storing it. There are special cleaning agents for doing a thorough clean of handbags depending on the material. But you will find that if you do your handbag wipe every week you will not need to do a major clean.

Never store your handbag while it's empty. When a handbag is empty it quickly loses shape and elasticity and it looks rugged. Always stuff your handbag before storing it to ensure it stays shapely. You ask what will I stuff it with? Try Bubble wrap, tissue or anything that will not stretch the bag too wide. Remember we stuff it just enough to be able to stand upright! The stuffing in addition to maintaining shape will keep away dust from the interior of the bags.

Ideally, with every handbag purchase you make, you should get a dust bag in which to store the handbag. But as most of us know that’s not the case. The first time I bought a handbag and was given a dust bag I asked the shop attendant what is that? That was less than two years ago! And thankfully they were patient enough to dispel my ignorance. If your handbag doesn’t come with a dust bag you can improvise with stuff such as cotton sheets or pillowcases but not plastic bags. Plastic bags have a drying effect and will not be ideal especially if your handbag is made of leather. Do not store it too tight because it needs to be breathable!

Many gals tend to hang their handbags in the wardrobe with hangers or on coat hooks. While this seems to create space it is a complete NO for handbag storage as it just stretches them out and makes the handles weaker. It will just be a matter of time before the handle snaps.

Depending on the storage space in your bedroom avoid storing handbags next to a window as direct sunlight will damage the handbag material. Sunlight will also cause the handbags to fade and loose luster. This is true for leather and synthetic handbags.

This one I have recently learnt from experience. I have this beautiful hobo with chains and metal bits to it. I stored it right next to my other plain black handbag and when I was removing the hobo, it scratched the handbag and the mark is so big the handbag is now useless. Be careful with the handbags that have chains and metallic bits to them make sure they do not scratch the other bags as you store and remove them. One way would be to cover each of the metallic bits, but practically that would take too much time and energy so the best bet would be to store the handbags having the metallic bits separately.

Next time you look at your handbag think of it as your skin. Maybe not your facial skin as that demands almost obsessive attention. But think of it as your hands skin or your legs. Give it some tender loving care and it will tenderly love you back by lasting long, looking cute and new for a long time. That’s not too much to ask now is it?

I hope this has been helpful. If you have any more tips on how to store handbags and care for them please do let me know.