Down With Bags

Colour Of The Week: Polka Dot

2012-12-30T07:00:00.000+08:00

Oh polka dots! Such fun and bounce, reminiscence of the 1950s retro era.

Back From Bali

2012-12-26T16:59:00.003+08:00

Belated Christmas blessings everyone, and Happy Boxing Day!

Here's me signing in after a 3-week long holiday in beautiful Bali. Right now I'm feeling re-charged and inspired to take over the world, figuratively at least :-)

Anyways, hope you had a lovely break too!

Beautiful beaches and people, so many things to do, great company and tons of fun.

The trip was simply unforgettable with countless treasured memories, many of which were thankfully captured in good light.

Plaid, Tartan & Checks

2012-12-05T07:30:00.000+08:00

My academic days may be over, but not the zeal for plaid, tartan, and checks. Join the ivy league with 5 handbags that exudes the feel of those crisp days.

Jas M.B. Large Backpack: Channel your inner Catholic schoolgirl vibe with this ultra-preppy backpack. Rough it up with moto boots or a leather mini.

Fendi Daisy Clutch: Plaid gets the royal treatment as the Daisy gets a chic upgrade. Somehow this mix of studs, mink, snakeskin, and patent leather works together in perfect plaid harmony.

Vivienne Westwood Top Handle Bag: It doesn’t get more classically British than plaid Westwood. This bowler gets an enticing upgrade in an unlikely sunset-inspired palette.

Christian Louboutin Shoulder Bag: Sometimes the Sweet Charity works better than others, and tartan plaid suits the style so well. Especially amped up with bright gold detailing.

Marni Hobo Bag: We usually think of plaid as hard, pleated, or structured, but I’ll take mine with a little bit of slouch for a modern spin.

Have a super Wednesday folks! I'll be away for a holiday break and will be right back before Christmas. Cheers :-)

Land of The Dragon - A Travel Tale

2012-12-01T13:22:00.000+08:00

I seek a timeless place sealed with beauty and secrecy....

Where mountains bow, the wind sings a melancholy note...

In the quiet of the night, the temples shine...

For behind them, the holy dragons hide...

For the past week, I left behind all luxuries and modern comforts in search of nature and its beauty in China. I found them in Anhui province and saw some of the most beautiful places.

Life is best at its purest.

Wearing Leopard Print

2012-10-17T07:00:00.000+08:00

Too much of a good thing is no good. Even the most style-savvy among us might fall into the trap of wearing too much of a same print. For today's post, I give my take on 5 ways to wear leopard print. Which is your favourite look?

These prints make for a perfect toned-town look; add boots and a chunky sweater into the mix for a no-fail weekend ensemble.

Get the look: Republic shorts | Topshop jumper | Debenhams boots | Michael Kors shoulder bag | 1928 pendant

Leopard pants act as a neutral, this means they’ll look great with any solid colored top you might have.

Get the look: J Brand denim | Visiona tunic | Havana bag | Carvela heels

Even if you’re donning them as accents, try not to wear your leopard pieces with other animal prints; your look can become a bit too costume-esque.

Get the look: THVM jeans | Paul's Boutique tee-shirt | Black.co.uk scarf | Treesje bag | Topshop boots

Select one animal print piece as your foundation, then style it with neutral-tone sandals and tuck it into denim mini. Hello, summer style!

Get the look: Seven For All Mankind skirt | Jane Norman top | Guess sandals | Aldo Rutgers clutch | Burberry watch

Less is more, plain and simple.

Get the look: Dip Hem dress | Made Well flats | Balenciaga bag | Pieces Giebe studs

Happy Wednesday :-)

Vintage Travel Cases

2012-10-14T07:00:00.000+08:00

I just had to share a post on SteamLine Luggage, a suitcase range inspired by classic world travel. Ok, so I really love its vintage charm and warm feeling of nostalgia. These chic looking old-school travel luggage are perfect for a dreamy vacation to the countryside.

They come in regal color combos like brown and white or red and tan, as well as more whimsical options like pink and linen or teal and tan. The carry-on and stowaway styles come in wheels, meaning you won’t sacrifice functionality for fashion.

One thing’s for sure, you’d never get your luggage mixed up on the carousel again!

Colour Of The Week: Floral

2012-10-12T07:00:00.000+08:00

Dainty and feminine, ditsy prints are one of my regular favorites. These vintage-inspired picks pull at my girly and nostalgic string.

The Little Black Bag

2012-10-09T20:38:00.000+08:00

You've heard it before, ‘Ever girl needs a little black dress!’ Well I say forget the little black dress, the staple wardrobe piece of every woman should now be the ‘Little Black Bag’. The little black bag can be the most versatile thing you'll ever own. When you buy the right one, it can be suitable for both day and night, elegant and stylish, and pretty much complements any outfit.

Find your new best friend at Down With Bags here!

Cheap Chic Decor Ideas

2012-09-22T07:30:00.000+08:00

One of my favourite IKEA hacks. Go for absolute minimalist perfection by drilling a hole in your VIKA FURUSKOG table top and sprout a flower stem from underneath. Remember to change water daily!

Here's a bunch of other random ideas that might tickle you.

• A piano stairway in Chile.
• Clipboard is the new corkboard.
• Door decoration that brightens your day.

Exploding Electronics

2012-09-19T14:45:00.001+08:00

After my fascination with splashing cookies, right now I'm into exploding electronics. I see much beauty in chaos indeed -)

Have a great week ahead!

Très Chic Neck Pieces

2012-09-14T07:26:00.000+08:00

I’m loving the handmade necklaces by Paris-based designer Marion Vidal. She combines wood, ceramic, and fabric for her creations to acheive beautiful textures, colors and shapes. View more of her work here.

Carrying Art

2012-09-11T07:00:00.000+08:00

These are one of a kind still life bags by Leslie Oschmann. Each handcrafted bag is made from a repurposed canvas pouch affixed with a vintage oil painting masterpiece. A truly elegant way to revive forgotten art.

3 Ways To Wear Black Pencil Skirt

2012-09-07T07:00:00.000+08:00

I own two pencil skirts, one in black and the other one in a fantastic maroon hue, and they are among my best wardrobe investment pieces.

Fabsugar illustrates three cool ways to rock a pencil skirt for different ocassions - dressed down with a pair of jelly flats and a white tee, or elevated with a bow-front blouse and neutral accessories. Enjoy and be inspired!

Colour Of The Week: Orange

2012-09-04T07:00:00.000+08:00

A healthy doze of orange accessories for the week ahead.

Birthday Gurl

2012-09-01T12:47:00.001+08:00

Another year older, another year better. I turned 27 yesterday, and filled my memories with endearing friends and really great dinner buffet. Here's to another great year of health and happiness! Thank you all!

XXXXXL Bag

2012-08-30T07:00:00.000+08:00

If you’ve ever doubted how BIG a humble tote can get, this bag will tote-ally show you who's boss. Measuring 1.25m x 1.55m, this giant tote by Chip Chop also doubles up as a sleeping bag if need be. Mind-blowing hey?

Animal Print Handbags

2012-08-27T07:00:00.000+08:00

Animal cruelty is definitely a no-no, but animal print is back in a big way when you look at fashion trends this year. Just Cavalli recently unveiled its Fall 2012 collection riding wild on the animal print theme.

While I'm no fan of real animal fur/skin accessories and clothes, and neither do I look up to those dressed from top to toe in animal print looking like an escapee from the zoo, a splash of faux animal print trend on your bags definitely works for me.

Here's a look at some of the latest wild prints designer handbag this year:

Above: YSL Mini Cabas Chyc

Above: Bulgari Isabella Rossellini

Above: Devi Kroell (buy in stores only)

Above: Coach Legacy Ocelot

An animal print handbag can set off a daring or simple outfit. You can be right at home with a black and white ensemble, but the possibilities doesn't stop there.

I'm feeling pretty inspired by these looks, what do you think?

Garden In A Bag

2012-08-25T07:00:00.000+08:00

Flower pots are so yesterday. Az & Mut have revolutionized the art of home gardening with cotton garden bags. They look oh so chic hanging from balcony railings! A brilliant idea for the do-it-yourself designer and gardener.

Printable Name Tents

2012-08-23T21:35:00.000+08:00

I enjoy design and crafting every now and then so I've made some cheerful looking name tents. You can download all 5 design here.

I think they look pretty cute as party food labels too. Or whatever else you want to use them for :-) Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Geometry Tote Bags

2012-08-22T07:00:00.000+08:00

I have a soft spot for totes, and can’t help being drawn to these lovely bags at Hansel from Basel, and their delightful designs – pom pom, polka dot, and zig-zag. What a fun way to zest up knitwear in winter.

iPhone Wet Suit

2012-08-21T07:00:00.000+08:00

Planning a beach or pool vacation? Grab one of this iPhone Scuba Suits and bring your photo expedition right into the water.

Winter Looks

2012-08-19T16:01:00.002+08:00

Winter is not all dull and gloomy. Bright prints and bold patterns dominate Australian fashion label Gorman's winter collection. I could certainly do with a burst of colours right now. Leather skirt with beanie, anyone?

Repurposing Old Jeans

2012-08-16T07:00:00.000+08:00

If you're into DIY projects, check out Between The Lines tutorial for turning your old jeans into a functional tote bag. There's also plenty of instructions for other upholster stuff, jewellery stuff and home stuff.

3.1 Phillip Lim The Break Up 31 Minute Bag

2012-08-14T07:00:00.000+08:00

Big prints, pop art and comic book text effects – they all take a fun and funky twist when featured on fashion accessories. This multicoloured The Break Up 31 Minute clutch bag by 3.1 Phillip Lim is a playful way to work Roy Lichtenstein’s classic comic book chic into your look.

It's high art with high price tag at AU$750 via My-wardrobe.com. Not an investment bag by any stretch of imagination, but I love looking at it.

On a similiar note, check out my previous post featuring two dimensional illustration bags.

Have a great week ahead :-)

Not-so-traditional Picnic Baskets

2012-08-12T08:30:00.000+08:00

No time is better spent than a Sunday afternoon picnic with food and friends. Pack your munchies on the go with these innovative picnic carriers.

A picnic basket and workable boombox in one. £439 via Culture Label.

Eco-friendly, fashionable picnic boxes. $25 via Boxal.

Have a wonderful Sunday!