Designer fixation

My first, and only designer bag investment to date was towards a Mulberry Roxanne (now a discontinued model). At the time it was considered by my friends and family as an outrageous purchase, and I unfortunately do have a tendency to spontaneously purchase things and get bored of them within weeks. Alternatively, I'll stand and stare at an item in a shop for hours, buy it, and then return it the next day, wasting valuable time (for a branded shopaholic, I don't necessarily end up with much shopping despite going shopping a lot).

However, my Mulberry has been by far my best ever investment. It didn't come cheap, but almost two years later, it's still something I carry around on my arm with the pride of a brand new purchase. What I love about it most is that it LOOKS like an expensive bag without being loudly branded...aside from the little engraved mulberry trees on the gold studs, there is no indication that my bag is a designer bag.

This is precisely why I've been unable to follow up with a second investment: it appears that less coverage of brands on bags = more expensive. Sometimes it is tempting to splash out on a Louis Vuitton Speedy or a Burberry Nova, because despite coming with hefty prices, they do start cheaper than Mulberrys, Chloes, Pradas and YSLs. But do I really want to spend money on a bag that screams out BRAND as opposed to BEAUTY? There is no doubt that these bags are beautiful to look at, but take away the repeat logo pattern and it's just a plain bag. Put the logo pattern back and it's a luxury designer bag, but most definitely not a designer bag that I can use when I'm fifty.

Who knows, perhaps one day I'll be spotted with a Speedy on my arm, as the Monogram Canvas print is something I secretly crave but am trying not to give in to. Below are the bags I believe will end with your credit card being snapped and your house being seized, but they will live in your wardrobe until you grow old (provided you still have a home).

YSL Muse oversized leather tote, £1,225

I spent months coveting this in Selfridges, as it greeted me in the entrance every time. I adore big bags, as I like to carry a lot of things, and this would accommodate everything including laptop and books.

 

Prada Saffiano leather tote, £1,150

The colour of this bag is absolutely divine, and whilst it is extremely expensive for such a plain bag, it will go with everything. The gold-plated hardware adds glamour and luxury. 

Prada Saffiano leather top handle, £895

Another Prada thrown in, but I adore the box shape of this bag - strong, structured bodies with top handles make me melt. Unfortunately the bag is on the small side for me, but would make a wonderful investment for people that don't need to carry their entire bedroom in their bag.

Mulberry Bayswater in coral goat's leather, £750

The Bayswater is Mulberry's most iconic bag, and this fresh new colour is gorgeous and uplifting. It's a little more expensive than a standard Bayswater to compensate for its luxurious goat leather, but a worthy investment towards owning a classic bag in a more unique colour.

My colour selection for some of these is very reflective of my own taste, as I tend to reach for brown and beige when accessorizing - I haven't had the urge to purchase a black bag in years. However, all of these bags are available in black along with a range of colours, in case you're not an "old lady" like me.

♥Aliya♥

Beige rage

Above: Angelina Jolie in The Tourist, 2010

I'm sure I'm not the only person who became infatuated with Angelina Jolie's wardrobe whilst watching The Tourist in the cinema. For me, it was the one astounding aspect of an otherwise predictable film. As somebody who already possesses a fetish for gold jewellery and beige clothing (the latter developed when I finally got over the nautical trend and decided I wanted to look like a "lady"), her luxurious outfits teamed with caramel toned hair sent me into an absolute frenzy. Now, dying my hair caramel is out of the question, because not only have I written off any chances of going lighter (bad decision involving a box of "black henna"), various experiments have verified that dark hair suits me more than light hair. And I am not Angelina Jolie.

So that brings me to the various ways in which I will emulate her elegant, Parisian chic style. Obviously taking into account that I am not a Parisian chic, I do not eat croissants for breakfast in twee cafes, and I do not lead a luxurious lifestyle between Paris and Venice. As a Londoner who works in retail and attends university, I try not to live under the pretense that the streets are high end runways, because there is always an escalator to run down, a dirty wall to lean against, or a door to kick open with the toe of your expensive boots.

♥ Aliya ♥

Winter shoots & clothing

To kick start my blog, I've decided to the dedicate my first post to one of the most relevant topics at present: the snow!

This month, I have styled two shoots in the snow, both in temperatures below 0°C. The first was much more difficult, due to my own lack of preparation and complete ignorance to what a day in the snow involves. You see, I'm generally the sort of person that curls up with a hot chocolate in fluffy pajamas while the sounds of delighted screams float through my window, as the rest of the (apparently normal) world plays in the snow. Snow is not my thing at all, I don't touch it, I don't play with it, if it hits me in the face I will release a stream of colourful phrases that will no doubt offend 99% of people in the vicinity. Top tip: don't throw snow at me!

But after beginning my journey as a stylist this year, I've come to the conclusion that being prepared for all types of weather is essential for a job like this. There will be times when I will need to travel across the city to pick up collections, times when I'll be standing in the cold for hours with the responsibility of looking after clothes that need to be returned, models who are shivering (bless them).

So, as changed person (the girl who spent her last two winters in a leather jacket), I have compiled a list of what is keeping me warm this winter. Most of these items were forced purchases, but I am eternally grateful to those who introduced me to these wonderful secrets.

♥ Down coats

I was the type of person who would never have been seen in a puffy coat, but after seeing a beautiful beige piece in Zara, adorned with shining gold buttons and zips, how could I resist? Since buying it, I have only seen middle aged to elderly ladies wearing the same coat as me, but I take this as a big compliment: it's classic, timeless, and will hopefully last a long time! Grab them cheap at Uniqlo or invest in a classic from Burberry. Get one with a belt if you'd like to have a waistline!

Right: Burberry Single Breasted Down Filled Jacket, £350

♥ Wellington boots
Hunters are the big hype at the moment, and all for a good reason; despite almost falling down a flight of carpeted stairs in them, I have spent the last few days cheerfully trudging through the snow without the pain of frozen toes or wet socks. I advise everybody to stop ruining their £180 UGGs and invest in a pair of wellies with some fleece socks to simulate the sensation of fur-lined boots.

Left: Hunter Hampstead Tall Boots, £115



 

♥ Furry hats

I am not a hat person. I buy hats, I never wear them. They don't suit me, I don't feel comfortable, etc etc. However, a fur hat is of another breed; they hide most of your hair, so it doesn't matter if your hair resembles a hedge or has enough grease to fry up breakfast. They are big enough statements to do all the talking for your outfit, so you don't have to bother with much else. Lastly, they keep you warm and cosy, as though you're hiding in your own little world.

Right: Topshop Faux Fur Trapper Hat, £22

♥ Heattech
As somebody who has worked at Uniqlo for two and a half years, I love Heattech thermals. A long-sleeved top and leggings under your jeans really do keep you warm and cosy throughout the day. This is a fantastic invention not just for yourself but for models too, if you are working with them in adverse weather conditions. A nude coloured camisole and shorts under their garments makes a big difference...they are the ones who suffer the most on shoots, and deserve to be looked after.

Left: Uniqlo Heattech, from £6.99





Other things keeping me warm this winter

♥ Gregg's Tomato soup, served in a coffee cup to carry
♥ Thick snoods and scarves, soaked in my favourite fragrance
♥ Fur-lined gloves
♥ Uniqlo's fluffy yarn collection to lounge in at home
♥ Lots of tea and hot chocolate

Stay safe and warm in the weather conditions everyone!

♥ Aliya ♥