Hand Sewn

Handbag Trends you will be Wearing in Autumn/Winter 2009

New York, London, Paris and Milan have showed us what we’ll be wearing next season, so let’s see what’s in store in the shorter term. There are two reasons why the autumn/winter season is so important. Firstly, it encompasses the change in fuctionality in clothing from bohemian, laid back image-centred summer styles to a more practical winter-warmer. Secondly, it covers the biggest and most important date on any fashionista’s calendar – the Christmas party season.Bearing these in mind, if you want to look great at the end of 2009, you’re going to need to know what will turn heads.

In a year that has suffered a financial meltdown, it is not surprising that the WWII slogan ‘Make Do and Mend’ has become part of everyday terminology. Most of us have become a lot more conservative about our spending habits, and this has meant that vintage has become not only a style statement, but a necessity.

Eighties inspired looks are being re-made in the form of quilting and chain handles. These can be found in most charity shops as well as in the dark corners of most of our mothers’ closets. If you fell in love with the Chanel 2.55esque chain handle in spring/summer, here is an easy way to instantly transform it into a bang on-trend look. Last season, we were all about hanging the chain handle effortlessly over our shoulders. Now, we need to wrap the chain around our hands to create the shape of clutch handbags. No more structured, but really up to date.

If you want to buy new, but keep it vintage inspired, I would recommend investing in tweed accessories. Designers are really loving the English Heritage inspired look at the moment. Woolly and warm tweed purses and handbags will have you head-over-heels and are perfect for teaming with this season’s must-have cosy, knitted styles.

We’ll need something to take us from crisp winter days into party nights. Undeniably, there’s one look that can spice up eveningwear better than any other… That is safari-inspired prints. Whether that is mock-croc patent leather handbags, shaggy faux fur or wild zebra and leopard prints. Set free the animal inside with a handbag that embraces this key look. Of course, we’re only going to be wearing skins of the faux variety.

Any girly-girls out there who are more sex-kitten than lioness, don’t let your whiskers get in a twist. Pretty embellishments and hand-sewn detailing were all over the catwalks in last season’s collections of designer handbags. Not only seen on the catwalk, you’ll find them on the High Street too – great news. The arts and crafts style is securely at the top of our must-haves with the help of beading and buttons. However, harsher stud and zip detailing has inspired a more gothic feel. Great timing for Hallowe’en!

How a Genuine Handsewn Shoe is made