Leah Lerner Leather Clutch

Having left the heat of Tenerife, arrived back in rainy England, and driven the 3 hours home after getting completely lost, you can imagine how pleased I was to find that my lovely leather Leah Lerner clutch bag had arrived.

Originally being from Minnesota, studying in New York, and moving to Tel Aviv, you get a real feeling that Leah’s designs have been influenced by her experiences in the different cultures, with an underlying theme of simplicity and quality. 

The leather smells exactly as you’d hope, scrumptious, and it feels soft and malleable yet hard wearing too. I love the colour of this bag, the peachy tone is a really nice mid-way for Spring/Summer as well as Autumn/Winter and I don’t think it’s a colour you often see in a clutch bag. I also think the colour as well as the material lends itself to being a day-to-night kind of bag and something you can take to lunch as well as to a swanky restaurant in the evening. It’s a perfect size, not too big that it can’t sit neatly in your grasp but not too small that you can’t fit all your essentials inside. 

(Above photo: Oasis coat, Warehouse scarf)

Leah has kindly embossed her name on one side of the bag and, giving myself the label of ‘Representative for the Midlands’, I’m eagerly awaiting someone to ask me where it’s from and how to find their own.

Here’s how...

The website is currently having a face lift, so in the meantime you can get your hands on the whole range at Etsy...

And follow Leah Lerner on…

I love this clutch, and I honestly love so many of the others on the site. The range is impressive, with what I think is something for everyone, from your more casual totes to patterned or metallic clutches, and even cute purses to accompany them. Perfect if you’re stuck for a Christmas gift, and even better news… there’s now a sale on!

So get yourself over to Etsy and have a gander – I’d be really grateful if you could let me know which are your favourites and whether you gave in to temptation!

Liebster Blog Award

Thanks to Dorothy Camper for my Liebster Blog Award nomination! You can find Lynne on her blog here http://dorothycamper.blogspot.co.uk 

I'm always running around like a mad woman, especially since having this nomination, but I'm now sat by a pool in Tenerife having a well earned break so knuckling down to my response. Here we go...

1.  Why did you start your blog?

Two main reasons, I love writing and I love fashion, especially bags. So it seemed like I was a little late into the game when I realised that I could actually combine the two. I'm known by my friends for owning far too many bags (like that's a bad thing) and I have no idea how many but I thought I could bring another use to my obsession by reviewing them as I go for you lovely lot.

2.  Describe yourself in three words?

Difficult, there are a lot of words that would describe me! I'll go with creative, passionate and selfless.

3.  What's a typical day like in your life?

Busy. On weekdays it involves getting up at 6.30am and struggling to get to work for 8am, attempting to have a break for twitter etc while munching on a salad, leaving work some time after 5pm, then cooking dinner, housework, and catching up on Eastenders or whatever's new on E! On those days I'm also a Director of a company so I value time at home away from the office and wish I had more spare time to concentrate on my blog. Weekends are usually filled with running errands and seeing family and friends, plus the usual spot of clothes shopping of course ;)

4.  When are you at your happiest?

I like to think I'm a pretty happy person in general, and slightly happier after a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio... this is a harder question that it seems! I'm pretty happy when I'm buying the entire contents of Zara and H&M or eating out with friends and family, but I think I'm most happy when I'm abroad with my boyfriend somewhere warm, classy and interesting.

5.  If you were any character in a movie, who would you be?

I'm going to be annoying and change the question slightly as I really can't think of a film character, but I've just been reminded of my resemblance to Monica Geller/Bing from Friends... Besides, they should have made a movie by now!

6.  What is your most treasured possession?

I keep a lot of little bits and bobs from times, places and people and I can't wait to look back through it all in 20 years time, but I think my most treasured possessions are my memories. I feel as though I've been very fortunate to have done everything I've done and been the places I've been, and that's just over the last 27 years, plenty more memories to make!

7.  Where is your favourite place?

I have two favourite places in the world. One is Rome for its intricate architecture, delicious cuisine, streets lined with the most desirable names in fashion, abundance of 'must see' sights and the overly friendly locals. The second is St Maarten in the Caribbean because it lured me in back in 2005 and I can't stop going back! There's laid back music around every corner, cocktails flowing, intense Caribbean sun, white beaches, crystal clear sea and an amazing bar right beside where jumbo jets land just feet over your head! And I'm going back again in May, woohoo!

8.  How would you describe your personal style?

I'm subscribed to all the fashion websites' emails under the sun and read down my list of unread messages like a magazine (with rather too much excitement), probably contributing to my shopping addiction as it's far too easy to click and buy everything I like! So I like to keep up with the latest fashion but I also stick with things that make me feel comfortable, not too daring or bright. I like to think my style has an element if class or sophistication, but individual all the same. 

9.  What is your favourite food?

I love all food, from all areas of the world...very surprised I'm not the size of a house. I think Mediterranean might be my favourite though, possibly because I've been in Tenerife since Saturday, possibly because I'm part Sicilian.

10.  Who were your childhood heroes?

Hmm I think I'd have to say my parents, who spent my whole childhood making damn sure it was a good one, and succeeded. Or the Ghostbusters.

11.  If you could change any one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? 

Besides the obvious nip and tuck? I'd like to care less about what other people thought of me, or how I come across. From work meetings or a meal with friends, to blogging, I overthink things and always come away hoping I've made a good impression or picking faults in things I've said, probably for no good reason.

So there you go, a little insight into me and my life, and now you've also learnt that I ramble a lot too.

I'll have to think about my nominations as the internet connection isn't good here so I only get a few minutes at a time! I'll update in due course, but this is it for type time being. 

Back soon,

Becki, aka Bags of Style