MIchael Kors Jet Set Tote Review, Black

Having bought the gorgeous Michael Kors Jet Set Tote bag over a week now (see the last post for more detail) and I don’t have a bad word to say about it yet. 

We’ve been like Siamese twins joined at the arm since last weekend, going to work, to the supermarket, to restaurants and best of all, on a weekend in Essex, the UK’s very own Orange County. I think what’s most notable about this particular bag is how well it fitted with each one of those occasions. The clean black design is smart for the office and suitable to accompany you to meetings. It complements a jeans combo, instantly transforming it into smart-casual for a pub meal. But you can also fit your bulky yet strangely empty Ted Baker purse (shameless plug) as well as your emergency make-up, umbrella, sunnies, keys, magazines and the rest of your portable life in there for a mini road trip.

Growing up with an overcautious Mother, I’m always conscious of where my bag is while I’m walking through town or when I’m seated browsing the cocktail menu in a busy restaurant. The metal feet gave me more confidence to place it in a snug place between my feet and the chair leg, rather than toying with the idea of keeping the base clean by hanging it on the back of the chair knowing I’d regret my decision if some toe rag were to seize the opportunity.  I’m also more confident when walking around town with the bag over my shoulder as, even though a blind spot is nearly always behind you, I know my purse is safely zipped away and my phone has its choice of 4 pockets to enjoy the ride in style, opting for the one closest to the front and under my protective arm.

We had lunch in Sugar Hut on Sunday (which was amazing) and I donned my dark blue jeans with a white top, navy blazer, a navy and white striped scarf, rose gold jewellery that matched my slightly uncomfortable flats, and I set it off with my new bag. I pieced this outfit together around my navy blazer, not the bag, knowing that I could pop it over the arm of a sweatshirt and it would still bring an element of class.

If you’re the sort of person who changes your bag like you change your underwear and isn’t fazed by the price tag, then this bag will still serve a purpose and can be grabbed in a hurry knowing that it’ll make you look wonderful whatever you’re wearing. Alternatively, I’d strongly suggest you take advantage of the other colours in this case, like the red or blue. This way you can splash out on something a little more unpredictable yet still as fabulous and get good use out of it by switching up your bags with your outfits on a daily basis. However if you’re a bit lazy and tend to use one bag for a week at a time, or you’re after one key designer bag for your wardrobe and spending a little extra is more of an investment, then this particular bag is definitely for you.

You wouldn’t look out of place in a café doing lunch with your Mum or, as I alluded to in a previous post, boarding first class with an oversized hat as though you're in a Louis Vuitton ad. And for the price, it has everything you’d expect so ticks all the boxes for me.

If you choose to buy any of these Jet Set Totes they won’t let you down!

Please leave me a comment if you've found this review useful, especially if you're now off to find your nearest MK stockist!

Bagging a New Man

Ok so my shopping trip yesterday was somewhat successful, I researched, I liked, I bought. Selfridges had a good range of the Michael Kors bags, not the exact one I had my heart set on from my previous post, but I obviously didn't let that prevent me from finding another match.

I immediately fell in love with a navy number but I was quickly convinced that buying a new wardrobe to match it wasn't the best idea. I tend to concentrate on more neutral shades of jumpers and tops as its a cowardly safe option for me being a brunette, so buying a navy bag would call for some clever wardrobe choices or another shopping spree, which I just don't have the room for!

I clocked the white version of the style I liked, but even though I was originally set on the off-white bag, my friends reinforced my doubts as however much I try I know I'd end up with a biro mark somewhere, usually on my nails!

Anyway, as the only black bag I own in that size is my Guess bag, which has been relegated to a weekend bag as its, quite frankly, massive, I thought I'd be sensible and go with the black. I'm always apprehensive about going against my original decisions, and I thought I was set on the off-white, but I think I've done the right thing. After all, everything goes with black, right?

Here it is, my latest piece of arm candy...

So far, admittedly after only half a day of using it, I'm happy with my choice. The phone pocket is snug, the clasp over the top feels sturdy, the metal feet will save the base from picking up dirt while I'm sipping G&T in the beer gardens this spring, the zip across the large pocket is as satisfying to use as running your nail down the paper around a bar of Galaxy chocolate, and best of all, I even discovered two more hidden pockets when rummaging around for my parking tickets this morning!

Considering this is supposedly a 'cheaper' option for a designer bag, I feel like I've been given more features here than other, more expensive bags offer. I'll be testing out the new man in my life over the next week or so and will report back on the verdict after some experiments. Wish me luck!

Michael Kors

I’ve been hearing more and more people talking about Michael Kors recently with his classy and chic ranges of jewellery, clothes, bags and every other pie he’s got his stylish fingers in. As I get easily side tracked by Pinterest on a daily basis, I thought I’d start by searching for some of his ranges on there and was very impressed by what I saw. Obviously, the bags in particular! From the limited amount I’ve seen so far, he seems to have thought of everything, bringing style and practicality together to suit the modern woman.

This is one of my pet hates, I think I’ve seen the perfect bag and when I look at it closely I start to make excuses for the lack of practicality and justify why I should look past its pitfalls. Like a basic lack of internal pockets or a strap that won’t fit over your favourite coat but hey, you can just wear a jumper that day!

I’m therefore fixated on a particular Michael Kors bag… the Jet Set Travel Tote in medium. It has more internal features than the slightly cheaper version and includes more pockets, a large zipped section for all your valuables as well as having a simple clip lock over the whole bag to still allow you to chuck your mirror back in swiftly after a sneaky look at your make up before you strut into that trendy café.

Here's the culprit...

Looking at the bag range, you definitely get a feel for the ‘jet set’ attitude as the name suggests and he has subtly expressed this throughout his designs. I’m certainly picturing some of the styles on the arm of an elegant, prosperous, well groomed lady walking towards her departure gate at the airport (well that’s my aim anyway!).

So, I’m off to the Bullring in Birmingham with a couple of girlfriends this Saturday and I’ll be taking a seemingly guilt-free ‘research’ trip into Selfridges or House of Fraser… I may come home with my Michael Kors bag and a big smile on my face, don’t say I didn’t warn you.