Lizzy is a new take on our larger Margot bag, with the added option of an extra long strap to wear it across the body. It also has a zip fastening, which on a small bag is a must for any thinking-girl-about-town.

By the way, not named after any celebrity,  but after my old neighbour/friend in Bath, the very smart Lizzy Morgan.

For more details or to order, please phone 01458 834 812 or email me at judy@bowndesigns.com

Not least, the lovely Nathan Brown, founder of one-year-old Lodger bespoke mens shoes… a new company which recently won Brand of Tomorrow from the Walpole committee (well done!). Nathan is a breath of fresh, honest, down-to-earth air when it comes to entrepreneurs. He is charming, but not smarmy, and tells it how it is. You must go to his smart but unpretentious shop, just off Bond St, and stroke his beautiful shoes (I am sure he will show you how to order some too, with their up-to-the minute fitting technology).

Personally, I can’t wait to have saved enough to get a pair of Lodger lace-ups fitted.  As they are essentially mens shoes, I will have to focus on replacing my rather over-worn and threadbare “Katherine Hepburn-stroke-artist in a recession” outfits at the same time. I’m told, ‘Invest in the shoes first and the rest will follow’…

Lodger shoes to lust after

Sometimes a new customer will contact me with concern over how to look after vegetable tanned leather. The most common question is: I’ve got a scratch on the leather.. what should do?!

Well, surface scratches are very easy to rub away on vegetable tanned leather. Technically, all it takes is gently massaging the displaced oil back into the scratched area with your thumb. A quick rub with a soft cloth (a hand in a thick wool sock will do) for larger areas or, if the leather has got a little dry, a good polish with a water-based cleanser …

but the thing about vegetable tanned leather is largely to use it and let it develop it’s own character. This takes a little hurdle of faith, the time between a bag being “box fresh” and becoming part of who you are. Give it that time and, before you know it,  the bag will start to get a very personal patina.  After a couple of months, and some of those loving polishes, and it will start to have its very own ‘glow’.

(You know sometimes you see someone with an old leather item that you can tell they have used for years, maybe decades -it may even once have been their dad’s –  and yet it looks fantastic. You know you can’t buy that personality… that’s vegetable tanned leather.)

The owner of this Overnight Cabin Bag is one such customer, asking within a week how to keep his bag mark-free. As you can see, a couple of months later and he, or rather his beautiful daughter, is really taking the leap of faith and “loving and living” this bag!

(thank you, Simon, for the very special photo… but keep an eye open… I can see that bag disappearing into her wardrobe before you know it!)

not as hot as us taking a last minute decision to do the newly-launched Spirit of Summer Fair,  screeching out of Glastonbury and up the M4.

If you’re in London, and would like to see our collection up close, then please pop along to Stand D33 (right next to the champagne bar, where we are currently cooling down)…

we’re there until Sunday.

click here for details

The FT chose our Amelia (packed with pockets and lots of room while remaining elegant and sleek) and our Clem Clutch, for carrying your essentials on hand in the office, out at lunch, or at the check in desk.

As you can see from my well-used bags below, the Clutch is designed to fit perfectly in the Amelia’s central pocket, while leaving loads of space for a laptop, a pair of heels, and your other daily essentials. (I find it a particularly useful combination when traveling).

For a limited period, we’re offering £100 off when you buy the two together…. select 2 bags in the colours you want, then the £100 will be deducted on the checkout page.

Wow, what a year it’s been (and what a year to come, for sure). Definitely a time of change, and a chance to revisit what’s important.

We started that early last year, with the biggest change being a move out of Bath down the road to Glastonbury.  Only an hour away, but a huge difference to our lives, in a very positive way. More space, less traffic, and the return of an inner peace that had been slipping away.

Of course, selling and buying a house and moving business premises at the same time is pretty stressful in a ‘normal’ year. Last summer it was a miracle anything happened with the economic climate as it is. Anyway, someone, somewhere, smiled on us and here we are.

We had a good Christmas, with a great time at the Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia.

Thank you to all the returning and new customers who we met there… as a primarily internet-based business, it was fantastic to have that face-to-face feedback and a reminder that it is all worthwhile.

So now we’re into 2009 and working on finalising new designs for the year ahead… please feel free to join our mailing list if you’d like me to let you know when those come in.

Best wishes,

Judy

So we are over the moon to be selected by one of the finest stores in the world, Selfridges, as our first London stockist.

You can find Bown designs in the Mens Accessories department, on the First Floor.

They say:

“Come into Selfridges to find this season hottest collection of Men’s accessories.

Find leather bags from exciting new designer BOWN…

Hyped new brands like BOWN, are infusing style back into men’s classic leather accessories. With masculine clean lines and finishes their attaches, overnight, weekend bags etc… are becoming de rigueur amongst stylish travellers.”

We say:

“Whoopie!”

Please click here to read more on the Selfridges website…

I think something about a way a clutch is used, tucked under the arm or held in the hand, immediately lends a certain air of elegant nonchalance.

We’ve got 3 new styles that fit the bill from day to evening, smart to casual, home or away…

Use one on its own instead of a handbag (for the minimalists among you), or as a useful extra tucked in a tote bag; ideal for popping out for lunch, after-work drinks, or as a travel wallet.

We’d like to say a big “thank you” to all the visitors and customers who came to see us at the Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia last week…

Dan and I had a fantastic time meeting you, and your comments were truly wonderful. We are exhausted, but very happy!

If you are looking for our new designs, which were at the Fair but not yet on the web site, we are getting them photographed and should have them up to view over the next couple of weeks. Please sign up to my newsletter now to get the latest news on new styles and our forthcoming events…

If there is anything in particular you’d like to order now, please feel free to ring me on 0117 303 9080 and I’ll be happy to help.