Back To School Bags for Grown Ups

Style Theory: A beautiful bag can elevate your look, add a cool twist and make your outfit look 'put together'. Whilst I would love to have a wardrobe full of designer bags, at the moment I cannot afford them so it is high street all the way for me and to be honest I think the high street do a pretty good job. I love a big bag (I always, always take a change of shoes in it if I am forced to wear heels), I really like it to be leather but can live with pleather if it looks good and also I am rather partial to a backpack for the schoolrun so here are my favourite bags on the high street now.

The Cross Body Bag

Zara Leather Messenger Bag £79.99

Quite Mulberry-esque but for a fraction of the price. I love this leather bag and the chestnut colour is the perfect neutral. It is a timeless classic that will never date. Quite small so no room for spare shoes but great for a an evening out or shopping trip in comfy shoes!

Whistles Brandt Soft Saddle Bag £175

Slightly expensive but such a gorgeous leather and colour. The saddle bag is the bag of the season, sling across your body for a 70s look, wear with flared jeans, heels and a camel coats. Alternatively this bag would look good dressed down with a camo/navy jacket boyfriend jeans and trainers.

Vivienne Westwood @House of Fraser £110

I am slightly Vivienne Westwood obsessed at the moment, I think it is the 90s trends that are making me fall in love with all things Viv again. A really simple understated bag with the iconic Westwood badge, such a classic bag that would look fabulous year after year.

Urban Outfitters Saddle Bag £46

A real 70s look to this bag, the price is pretty good for a suede bag, it ticks all the boxes for trends this year and will see you seamlessly into Spring/Summer 2016

Mango Chain Suede Bags £69

More than a Chloe-esque hint about this bag, Mango are on fire this year with their accessories, their bags range is amazing. Love the chain detail on this bag, it looks designer without the designer price tag.

Dune @John Lewis £59

Leopard print is back again this a/w and this is a beautifully ladylike bag that would be perfect for an evening out, it has a chain strap and would look stunning with an all black outfit.

Bucket Bags

Topshop Leather Duffel Bag £35

Small but perfectly formed this beautiful bucket bag is in the colour of the season, team with navy, camel, pink or grey this bag will immediately bring your look up to date.

Mango Leather Bucket Bag £79.99

I love the tassel detail on this Mango leather bag, perfectly slouchy for a nonchalant, cool look.

Whistles at House of Fraser reduced from £280 to £84

An amazing price for this bag, soft tan leather, this would look stunning worn over a trench with clue skinny jeans and white trainers.

Mango Leather Bucket Bag £89

Slightly obsessed with this bag and I may have to add to my shopping list. These bags look fab for daytime with a denim shirt, black skinny jeans and black lo converse. In the evening wear black silk blouse, black tux jacket, boyfriend jeans and black heels.


Backpacks

Kipling Yartezi Lea £229

The ultimate in practicality, the backpack is my bag pf choice for the schoolrun, shove it on both my shoulders and off we go. I have this backpack in pale blue and love it, it is easy to find things in, beautifully lined and the leather is buttery soft. The tan colour is a fabulous neutral and will go with everything.

Asos Smart Front Backpack £28

A grown up, smart backpack perfect for dashing around town to meetings, it is practical but has a stylish edge. This is not leather but I love the styling of it as it does look expensive.

Urban Outfitters Suede Pocket Plum Backpack £49

Beautiful plum colour, this backpack would look striking work with a pink coat (if you have your still from a few years ago) I like the mixture of the suede and leather to give the bag an extra dimension.

Mango Suede Backpack £69

A true, slouchy boho backpack, fab for those (dry) autumn days with slouchy jeans, am oversized shirt and stansmith trainers.

Mango Black Backpack £39.99

A good basic backpack, non-fussy, practical and cool.

John Lewis Kin Gia Backback £39

After seeing the streetsyle photo above I had to find a silver backpack, I love this worn with the pastel colours, pinks, pale blues and greys.

My Style

From Left: Oversize Sweater Traffic People, Skorts (old season) Backpack just seen c/oKipling Trainers - Superga
Dungarees - last season love these ones ,  Blouse - Zara, Shoes - Isabel Marant love these ones,  Bag - H&M Old season
Sweatshirt - Selfish Mother, Bag as above, Jeans - Levis 501ct, Trainers Stan Smith
Top - zara (old season) Jeans - Levis 501ct, Shoes - Palmairas, Bag c/o Kipling

Cross body bags and backpacks are the two bags I use most, they mean I have my hands free to pull scooters whilst carrying shopping etc etc..all the glamour!
Are you a bag girl, do you invest in designer (I have my eye on the Gucci Soho Disco bag - one day!) or do you like high street. What has been your best bag buy and which bag would you have if money were no object?

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xxx