The Cambridge Satchel Company's Brand Evolution: S/S14 Looks Bright

Today I received some of the shiny new images from the S/S14 collection by the Cambridge Satchel Company, which has gone from strength to strength since its formation around a kitchen table back in 2008. This latest range shows just how determined the brand is to achieve longevity and not just be part of a short-term satchel trend. No wonder it's just had a cash injection of over £12 million from Index Ventures. Peach Pink and Bellflower Blue are going to be it-colours for the season, mark my words.

 [Images via Cambridge Satchel Company S/S14 launch and Google+ profile].

These longer strap options won't hang around for long this season.

 I would snap up this navy clutch in an instant.

Candy clutches (and traditional black) are sure to be successful.

Whilst I'm yet to get my hands on one of these bags, I can definitely see the appeal of their latest evolution into clutches, two-tone variants and long shoulder strap numbers. The key to keeping the brand fresh is to offer something desirable and different, as well as the same reliable models that the public knows them for. 

 Two tone works well in both of these colour ways.

Even small adjustments, such as panels made from leopard print or tartan fabric, Vivienne Westwood designed prints or iconic Harris Tweed, show that there is more than one ideal CSC customer and they will all be catered for. I've seen the Accessories Editor of Elle carrying a neon number at London Fashion Week, but I've also seen grandmas, students and mums buying into the brand as well. 

 There's nothing like a bit of punk spirit from a British brand.

Admittedly the designers could have easily become stuck in a rut of continually reinventing the wheel and trying not to shake up tradition, knowing how well the standard styles were selling, but instead they've tried new innovations and colour combinations regularly. Fluoro, double colour and metallic options have all proved popular, suggesting there's no let-up in satchel fever, and the company's products are stocked in over 100 countries. 

 These fluoro music bags would certainly brighten up a dull music lesson...

Taking a look at the latest styles, I have a feeling that Bellflower Blue is going to look great with S/S14 outfits, whilst the patent croc print clutches are real investment pieces for smarter occasions. The Cambridge Satchel Company has come a long way from its humble kitchen table beginnings, and I'll be eagerly anticipating its next move.

Thailand Awaits...

After saying this would be the year that I somehow managed to cut down on my clothes budget in favour of travelling more, I'm pleased to say that tomorrow I'll be taking on Thailand for nine days of island exploring on the east coast, seeing Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan. 

This is definitely my kind of style [image via Thailand-Maps.com].

Rather than show you what I've packed in my rucksack clothes-wise, I thought I'd give you the lowdown after I get back, so I can tell you the things I took but never used, and the things I wished I'd included in my checklist but assumed I wouldn't need. For example, when I went to Iceland I assumed that I wouldn't need waterproof over-trousers; how wrong I was when I jumped onto a whale watching tour that had run out of spare overalls and I was wearing jeggings. 

In a similar trouser-related incident, I realised in Rome that it wasn't a good idea to wear skinny jeans on a Vespa tour (you don't want your movement to be impaired when you have to almost high-kick your way off the gorgeous Vespa). So, lessons learned in both cases, I'll be giving you a full packing overview after the event, as well as showing you Thai fashion trends. 

 My hero product [image via RoullierWhite.com].

However, the one little gem I will impart is that I'll be taking Mrs. White's Unstung Hero with me. This has been something of a miracle product for many travel pros, with CN Traveller and the Independent both endorsing it for being an effective and genuinely lovely smelling natural insect repellent - it has an odour of lemon tea, not the whiff of the medicine chest. 

Now I've tried a lot of products to discourage mozzies, yet they often seem to find their way through my defences; not so with Mrs. White's on hand. The only thing I would suggest is decanting it into a 100ml plastic spray bottle from the 250ml glass dispenser that it's sold in - nobody wants to haul glass around in their luggage if they can help it. 

On that note, I'll be off to finish the very last of my packing. See you on the other side, and be prepared for a Thai fashion post when I get back!

Fresh from the shop floor

[All images my own. Please ask before reproducing.]
New Look has my 'fashion bargain' alarm bells ringing with this youthful take on the feathered cocktail dress. It's probably going to be indecently short, it's one-shouldered and it's not made of silk, but it's a quirky alternative to saving your best clothes for certain outings. At £22.99, it's not going to break the bank, but the feather trim will turn heads at a bar or club.

New Look's shoe department (which I have blogged about in the past) is a firm favourite with me. Their footwear is sturdy but fashion-forward and this pair definitely caught my eye. The python print is very AW - it's set to replace other animal patterns - and the black suede adds a touch of glamour. If only I could walk in them.

Leather accessories are a staple trend for AW, but this year there's an even bigger emphasis on heritage pieces, as seen at Zara. With Chelsea boots in scarlet and black, and the possibility of matching your feet to your bag here (or should we call it a document wallet?), things are looking undeniably chic. This is the grown-up way to greet the passing of summer.

Tailoring at Zara is also strong, with the masculine/androynous edge proving popular. This royal blue jacket, with its clean lines and tuxedo-esque edges, is bound to be a sell-out. The colour works well with black, but I think it would be equally interesting over white or grey tailored trousers or some colourful silk palazzo pants.

They call me mellow yellow... or mustard, to be precise. If there was one item I could pick from Zara at the moment, it'd be this jacket. It's very 1980s, but minus the irritating shoulder pads or frizzy perm that might have accompanied it back then. You just know you could chuck this on over a shirt and skinny trousers or leggings and instantly feel powerful. It'd be best suited to strong eyebrows, a dark lip and a minimalistic bag. As for the python-print ankle boots? They'll be in all the magazines. Personally I'm looking for over-the-knee numbers this season, but these are a nice alternative.

Urban Outfitters' accessories really do go from classic pieces to modern pop culture references. The Casio watch, in my opinion, seemed like a fad, but now seems to be back with a vengeance, whilst the skull decoration is more timeless and could still be a feature piece in 20 years.

Topshop's leather detail mac is to die for. At just under £100, it's not exactly cheap, but it does make you stand out from the crowd where coats are concerned. I'm going to try and replicate this with some leather offcuts on the cuffs and base of a charity shop piece (just gotta keep my eyes peeled for the perfect one!).

Topshop's shoe department has workwear covered. From patent Chelsea boots to low-heeled pumps, there seems to be a decisive nod to formal dressing here. I'm also deeply in love with the gold chunky heel in the centre - it's a brilliant detail on a simple shoe.

River Island is a great place to find directional accessories. For the last few years they've been incredibly good at producing shawls, snoods and scarves that are ladylike but not too fussy, and 2011 is no exception. They've gone the extra mile with a fur trim on this pashmina (bottom left).

H&M's bags seem to be surpassing their footwear this season. They've chosen to give in to the satchel trend (it just won't die down, because women and men still seek practical arm candy that will last more than a few months), but their new colour-ways are fresh. That zingy orange is most likely referencing the recent neon versions of The Cambridge Satchel Company's popular pieces. I'm really drawn to the deep green bag on the far right, though - it's very roomy, has a great gold zip and two styles of strap. At £29.99 it's hard to walk away from.

Anya Hindmarch Pop-Up Shop - Keeping It Old School

The shopfront is brilliantly traditional, breaking away from the modernity of other pop-up projects in recent years. I really enjoyed this aspect of the display.

The display stands rely heavily on glass panels, meaning that people walking past can glance in and see a flash of handbag to entice them.

It wasn't just bags - the shop sold leather goods, and products could be personalised if you wished.

With gold lettering and black wooden panels, this really was a classy affair.

[Images my own. Please ask before reproducing].

You may be familiar with Anya Hindmarch as the woman behind the 'I'm not a plastic bag' shopper; you may remember her photo bags from further back. Even if you've never heard of her, there's no reason to stop you enjoying this unusual and beautifully designed pop-up shop, on the ground floor of Selfridges, Oxford Street. The decor brought me straight back to childhood, as we used to have a chemist's shop in my local town which was like a relic of Victorian times. It had shelf upon black wooden shelf of old bottles and jars, and it smelt just as a chemist's should. It also sold some very naff nail polishes that I used to save up for (99p each, with lots of glitter), but that was not really part of the overall setting and more about my love of sparkly nails. Anyway, this old-fashioned chemist's shop would have blended in well in Hindmarch's atmospheric setting, with the feel of a traditional retailer.

The aim for Hindmarch's pop-up shop, which appeared at Selfridges, was to provide a bespoke service and a range of products designed to withstand the test of time. The founder herself said that: "They are not 'of a season', they are 'of a moment in your life' that will last and be part of a story for generations." That's the great thing about leather - when cared for properly, it can be timeless and prove to be the ultimate wardrobe staple. A good bag will not shed its lining or lose its handle strength, as long as you treat it well.

I urge you to go and see it, if only to try and hark back to your own memories of days gone by, and to really appreciate timeless leathercraft.

My namesake in bag form

[Images via Mulberry].

The design team at Mulberry are clearly worth their weight in gold, because their latest offering is called Polly (yes, I am slightly biased seeing as my parents gave me that name 22 years ago, but let it be said that they didn't name me after a handbag - it was the other way round!). They have also chosen one of my favourite colours, burgundy, as the shade of soft leather for this new collection. I would have blogged about this earlier, but in all honesty the images on the official website don't do them justice, and I actually thought this was an almost brown shade of maroon. However, when I popped into Selfridges the other week before my friend's very civilised and stripper-less Hen Party, I managed to catch a glimpse (okay, cop a feel) of the new Mulberry Polly bags on the shelf. The burgundy version is called 'Conker' and it's more purple-hued when you see it up close. Equally, the almost mustard-looking 'Pumpkin' shade (not pictured) is definitely orange when you meet it in daylight. The other colourway is, of course, black, because for every woman who wants a bright bag there is one who'd prefer to go classic. The shape of the bags has been inspired by the earlier and highly coveted Mulberry Neely range, though the introduction of the pushlock here means that there's a decidedly vintage feel to these incarnations. You can choose from the small or normal pushlock, or plump for the even roomier tote version, though personally I'm drawn to the straightforward Polly Pushlock because it's accomodating but stylish.

As I write this, the Polly range is well out of my reach financially, but it's definitely being written into my (now overwhelmingly extensive) Future Investment Items for Future Disposable Income list, which also includes dental treatment and about half of Vivienne Westwood. When I acquire that elusive disposable income, I'll let you know, but in the mean time I shall leave you to gaze at Mulberry's work.

Menswear to lust after

[Images taken from River Island online].

A male friend of mine was recently lamenting the lack of good quality menswear available that doesn't tick the 'lad in Ibiza' box, or the 'gangsta wannabe from a cosy suburb' box. It is pretty tough, because most fashion outlets tend to target one of these core types of male dresser and neglect the ones who just want something a little bit different. Here are three of my top picks from River Island's menswear range -

• The printed t-shirt that doesn't make you cringe (Pause t-shirt, £14.99). I've lost count of the number of blokes I've seen wearing cheesy tees with slogans that imply they are God's gift to women. This option is much more laid back and happens to be quite versatile - nothing to offend your granny, but perfect for a day or night out. They also do a 'Rewind' one, should you feel the need to collect both.
• The glam-rocker-meets-Goth boots (Black smart Western-style ankle boots, £49.99). Yes, I know a lot of men think that pointy shoes are for posers, but these are seriously cool. They'd be great for a job interview, or indeed something a lot less important, and they have the added bonus of being more water-resistant than your old trainers with holes in.
• The patriotic bag that doesn't feature corgis or anything about Kate and William (Stone Union Jack holdall bag, £39.99). I do love a good Union Jack print, almost as much as leopard, though obviously a man in leopard print would not be a brilliant look. This bag is functional but also a bit quirky, so you won't lose it easily and it'll add a bit of colour if you're fond of wearing all black or neutrals. You can fit loads in a holdall, so expect this to serve you well for many a weekend or holiday trip.
  

Of course, menswear isn't just restricted to men. I would quite happily buy any of these items myself - as long as you're a size 6 or above then male footwear will fit you, too. A man's t-shirt can make a great slouchy top or even a dress, with barely any adjustments. As for bags - well, there don't tend to be gender labels on the key styles. I will definitely return to spotlighting menswear, but this is just a taste of what the high street has to offer.

New Designer O'Clock: Esther Porter Bags

[Images courtesy of Esther Porter - the Grebe, Linnet and Lark bags in the studio; the Robin bag from the Women's lookbook; the Barrel bag from her other collection, Tent]

The quest for the perfect bag is something which, like many women, I find embarrassingly all-consuming. It's hard to find the right space for all of the detritus we carry, and for that space to be as nicely decorate as possible to ensure we don't commit social suicide in the process (n.b. steer well clear from those furry Chanel bags which resemble dry ice cubes, and will set you back £1,000 for the privilege of looking like the Ice Maiden). However, one woman has a few suggestions which marry practical, sturdy styles with classic cool, and that is the designer behind the new label Esther Porter. Created by Esther Ball (she chose the name Porter to mirror the crafting heritage of her maternal grandmother and also to emphasise the functionality of her bags), the products are made in East London and reflect the urban-rural clashes within Britain. The great outdoors and the not-so-famous indoors become united in her designs, which she says pay tribute to birds in the countryside. "Each bag from the Women's collection is named after a different bird, showing that they have unique personalities," she tells me. "I use hand-crafting techniques and traditional leather work to really bring them to life. It's simple but effective."

Not only is Esther's love of tradition very refreshing in an age of fast fashion, but it also reminded me of the great timeless bag shapes that I have yet to own (yes, my mother will hate me, but even she can't deny that you can't beat a good push-lock bag). What's more, after the Royal Wedding and with the 2012 Olympics only months away, it's about time that we celebrated the best of British, and this involves acknowledging new talent. Importantly, the bag-making process also considers environmental impact at every stage, with vegetable-tanned leather and British waxed cotton being used alongside reclaimed shirting material. The leather, which is chrome-free and has not been made using toxic chemicals, is much softer than anything on the high street, owing to its natural benefits. Esther tells me it requires little maintenance and will age beautifully over time. I get the feeling I should start saving now, and consider this the kind of bag that will last a lot longer than a fashion season. I'm hooked.

www.estherporter.co.uk