At 62, the handbag that gets me stopped in the street
At 62, the handbag that gets me stopped in the street
Six things I love about this collection of quilted, printed handbags, from a woman who is not a fashion writer.
Caroline Richards · Customer · Nottinghamshire · 5 min read
Let me be plain about who is talking. I am Caroline, I am 62, I live in Nottinghamshire, and I have never once sat down to write about a handbag in my life. What I had, for years, was the same sensible bag in the same sensible colours, a black, a brown, the sort of bag nobody notices, including me. It did the job and not a thing more, and if I am honest it made me feel every bit as beige as the rest of my wardrobe had gone. So this is not a review. It is a woman who started carrying something with a bit of joy in it, saying why.
What I found is from Nottingham Boutique, a small boutique that has been quietly dressing women our age for a few years now. It is a whole collection of quilted handbags, each one with its own lovely picture stitched into it, and I chose one with the most beautiful mosaic horse on the front, in all the colours of autumn. When the boutique later asked if they could put my letter up for others to read, I said yes, on the condition I could be completely honest in it.
I carried it into town for the first time and, for once, I felt I was carrying something rather than just lugging a bag about. That was the moment it won me over. Read on.
Here is the little sadness that had crept up on me. Everything I owned had gone sensible and safe and beige, my clothes, my shoes, and most of all the dull bag on my arm that I chose because it went with everything and delighted me not at all. I had rather decided that a woman my age ought to be understated, and understated had quietly turned into invisible.
For years I carried a sensible bag that nobody noticed, including me. Now I carry a little work of art, and it makes me smile every time I pick it up.
This collection is the first thing in years that made me feel a bit of joy getting dressed, and having carried mine everywhere since, I can tell you it comes down to six things.
There is even a glorious red maple leaf, just the thing for autumn. I was very tempted by that one too.
A BAG WITH REAL CHARACTER, NOT ANOTHER PLAIN ONE
This is the heart of it. Instead of another plain black bag, I carry a proper little work of art, a picture stitched and quilted into the fabric, full of colour and life. It makes me smile every time I pick it up, and it makes other people smile too. I cannot tell you how often someone stops to admire it. After years of carrying something dull, that is the loveliest change.
It is a work of art and a proper handbag at the same time. I get stopped every time I carry it. Nothing dull about it.
Christine B., West BridgfordA DESIGN FOR EVERYONE, WITH DOZENS TO CHOOSE FROM
There is a whole collection of them, dozens of designs, so there really is one for everyone. A horse like mine, a cat, a peacock, sunflowers, a red maple leaf for autumn, and every dog you can think of, from labradors to a little yorkie. Whatever you love, or whoever you are buying for, there is a design that will feel as though it was made for them.
Just a few of them. There are dozens more, from cats and dogs to birds, flowers and butterflies.
I could not choose at first, there are so many lovely ones. I ended up with the peacock and it is even prettier in person.
Margaret E., SouthwellBEAUTIFULLY MADE AND STURDY
It is not just a pretty thing. It is properly made, quilted with a lovely wave stitch, double-layered and fully lined, so it feels substantial and well put together rather than flimsy. It holds its shape, the handles are strong, and it is clearly built to be carried every day and to last, not to fall apart after a month. A proper bag, as well as a lovely one.
The quilting and the stitching are gorgeous up close. This cheeky cat is another favourite.
So well made, thick and quilted and properly lined. It feels far dearer than it was. I am thrilled with the quality.
Dorothy S., BeestonROOMY AND PRACTICAL, WITH A ZIP AND POCKETS
For all that it is lovely to look at, it is a sensible bag too. It is roomy, with plenty of space for my purse, my glasses, an umbrella and all the rest, and there is a proper zip across the top so nothing falls out or gets rained on, and pockets inside to keep the little things where I can find them. Pretty and practical, which is just what I want.
A zip across the top and pockets inside. This peacock is a showstopper.
Deceptively roomy, and the zip means I do not worry about the rain or things falling out. The inside pockets are so handy.
Pauline H., ArnoldLIGHT TO CARRY, AND MACHINE WASHABLE
Being a soft cotton-blend quilt rather than heavy leather, it is lovely and light on the shoulder, so it does not weigh me down when it is already full. And here is the clever part, it is machine washable, a gentle cold wash, so if it gets marked I can simply freshen it up rather than fret over it. Easy to carry and easy to live with, day in and day out.
So light compared to my old leather bag, and I love that I can wash it. It still looks brand new after months of use.
Eileen T., NewarkTHE LOVELIEST GIFT, AND HALF PRICE
Because there is a design for everyone, these make the loveliest gifts. I have already put one by for my sister, who loves her labrador more than most people, and I know her face will be a picture. At half price they are a proper treat that does not cost the earth, whether you are buying for someone you love or, as I did, being a little kind to yourself for once.
Whatever someone loves, there is a design for them. These make wonderful gifts.
I have bought three as gifts and each one was a hit. Something this lovely for the price is almost unheard of.
Maureen C., BinghamThese, against the sensible bag you chose because it went with everything
You can have a perfectly good handbag and still feel a little dull carrying it about. I know, because I did. Here is the difference, laid out plainly.
Black or brown, nobody notices it
Does the job and nothing more
Makes you feel a bit beige
The same as everyone else's
A bag you carry, not one you love
A little work of art people admire
Lovely to look at and properly practical
Makes you smile every time
Dozens of designs, one just for you
A bag with real personality
About the price
Each bag in the collection is £29.95 at the moment. They were £60.00.
I will pass on what the boutique told me, which is that with so many different designs the popular ones are the first to go, and with the autumn sale on they are going quickly, so once a design has sold out it can be a wait for it to come back. Their words, not mine. What I can tell you from my side is that half price is usually where I start asking what is wrong with a thing, and for a bag this lovely and this well made, I have found nothing wrong with it.
And I do not trust perfect scores, so I read the reviews before I ordered. Just over three hundred of them across the collection, sitting at 4.2 stars, which sounded like real women rather than robots, so I read on. The same things I have just walked you through come up in them, over and over, in other women's words.
If your handbags have all gone sensible and beige, and you fancy carrying something with a bit of joy in it, this is the collection I would point you to myself, while your favourite design is still in stock. They make the loveliest gifts, too. Go and have a look.
Caroline
LOVELY HANDBAGS WITH PRINTS
- A little work of art you can actually carry
- Dozens of designs, one for everyone
- Beautifully quilted, double-layered and lined
- Roomy, with a zip on top and inner pockets
- Light to carry, and machine washable
- The loveliest gift, and half price
- Free UK delivery and 30 day returns
The autumn sale is on now. With so many designs, the popular ones go first.