There is no doubt the impending Royal Wedding is a moment in history, with the marriage of two of the world’s most powerful states in holy matrimony meaning this is definitely one for the diary. *Record scratch* before we get too deep in to the emotional, political and need we say biological (imagine what their children will look like?!) we thought we’d do a typical MyBag move and relate this iconic event back to handbags and accessories. Alongside another season of some of our most prevalent British brand collections at MyBag, we welcome some very exciting new Stateside members on board and are more than excited to unite the pair in praise of Prince Harry and his new Princess.
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Our Best of Britain
For those of you who don’t know, MyBag HQ is based up in the North of England and is proud to support the business of iconic British designers from Lulu Guinness to The Cambridge Satchel Company. Home-grown charm and British heritage at the heart of each we've built a little blurb on each of the British accessories brands to know.
Aspinal of London
Designed in the heart of England and handmade by skilled craftsmen and women, Aspinal of London is full of luxurious leather handbags and accessories with heritage charm. Founded in 1999, Aspinal of London is a quintessentially British brand loved for its impeccably crafted designs and attention to detail. From supplying the Royal Household with leather goods to collaborations with the likes of Olivia Palermo, this is a versatile brand worn by the traditional and fashion-forward alike.
Created to fit seamlessly into your life, Aspinal of London allows you to accessorise all areas, with designer handbags, wallets and luggage accessories that are practical as well as stylish. From the making of the first leather tote bags to the brand's signature passport holders, find out more about the brand in our interview with Creative Director Mariya Dykalo.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
The Cambridge Satchel Company
British brand The Cambridge Satchel Company creates classic leather satchels with a modern twist and is infamous for its broad array of colours ranging from traditional tan to fluroescent pink. Always based on a classic, British, traditional heritage, The Cambridge Satchel Company was founded in 2008 by creator Julie Deane OBE from her kitchen table with just £600 and has now taken the world by storm, stocked in over 120 countries the world-over.
In 2016, The Cambridge Satchel Company released the Magnetic Closure Collection, taking the traditional buckle fastening and replacing it with magnets for ease of access which soon became a blogger and celebrity favourite. To help choose the perfect satchel size for you take a look at our Cambridge Satchel Company size guide.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Olivia Burton
Olivia Burton watches are feminine, effortlessly elegant and full of quintessentially British charm. Founded by best friends and ex-fashion buyers Jemma and Lesa, who met at their first day at the London College of Fashion and bonded over a love of design, a passion to start their own business and a mutual struggle to find a watch that they wanted to wear. After graduating and pursuing careers in fashion buying, clocking up time at brands including Topshop, ASOS and Selfridges, the idea of going it alone was slowly gathering momentum and in 2011 the pair made the leap, quit their jobs and set out to create their own beautiful, unique watches from the kitchen table. Inspired by vintage patterns, the British countryside and a trickle down of runway trends, Olivia Burton watches are filled with fun loving charm, using Bees, floral patterns and woodland scenes to compliment pastel colourways and shining rose-gold hardware with matching jewellery sets.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Lulu Guinness
Lulu Guinness OBE is famed for her witty, quirky and vibrant handbags and accessories. The designer's strong personal style and innovative ideas sparked her success back in 1989 with her inspiration a fusion of retro glamour and modern chic. Her brand hit headlines as part of her 'Collectables' range, Lulu's The Florist Basket was iconic in the modern accessories field, and now forms a permanent feature of the Victoria and Albert Museum's "The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997" exhibition in London. Lulu Guinness have been described as “tomorrow’s treasures” and are instantly recognisable with heavy features including the iconic lip print along and candy stripes.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Paul Smith
Paul Smith opened his first store in Nottingham in 1970, after leaving school at the age of 16 with no qualifications. Taking evening classes in tailoring, he showed his first menswear collection in 1976 and the Paul Smith label has grown ever since. A highly respected fashion house, Paul Smith creates unique British designs that mix traditional and classic styles with a sense of humour and mischief and the Paul Smith accessories range allows a sense of mischief to be held in every pocket.
Combining fashion and function with styles that transcend trends, the newest collection of Paul Smith accessories is ever inkeeping with the brand's iconic features, including the multi-colour stripe in variety accross the collection.
The Best in the U.S.
With sportswear at the helm of design inspiration, American heritage icons from Ralph Lauren to Tommy Hilfiger reign supreme accross the pond. Constantly blending the lines between streetwear and luxury to build the ultimate trend-led accessories collections, we're here to talk the US brands to have on your radar.
Lauren Ralph Lauren
A diffusion line of Ralph Lauren, Lauren Ralph Lauren accessories exude classic, luxurious design and make the perfect finishing touch to any look. Ralph Lauren launched his eponymous label in 1966, selling European-style neckties in New York and encompassing a wealth of diffusions the brand has become synonymous with preppy American sportswear style. Timeless yet contemporary, Lauren Ralph Lauren handbags and accessories instantly add effortless style to any look. With totes, clutches, satchels and backpacks in classic colourways from black and navy to chic tan and fresh vanilla, the collection is a go-to for muted, timely style staples.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Tommy Hilfiger
One of the world’s leading lifestyle brands, Tommy Hilfiger is globally renowned for bringing preppy American style to the masses. Combining premium styling with high quality fabrics and a strong brand aesthetic, Tommy Hilfiger accessories combine luxury fabrications with fashion-forward design to stand at the forefront of sports-luxe accessories. With vintage Tommy re-emerging in the market as a prized trend, more recent collections hark back to the iconic 80s sports styling the brand is renowned for.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Kate Spade
Kate Spade New York is a global designer fashion, accessories and lifestyle brand famous for its playful sophistication and incandescent charm. At its core is its mantra to live colourfully, blending its meticulous attention to luxury fabrications and shapes with bold, colourful designs that add exuberance, energy and fun to the everyday. Founded in 1993 by former accessories editor Kate Spade, the brand was born with its founder's ambition to design the perfect handbag. Starting out with six sleek, utilitarian silhouettes, the world quickly became enamoured of Kate Spade New York's fresh, modern sensibility and one store in New York soon proliferated to many stores in the world's most prestigious cities.
Today Kate Spade New York continues to curate a carefully selected collection of designer handbags and accessories imbued with the brand's signature personal style in fine leathers and classic shapes.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Michael Kors
Founded back in 1981, each Michael Kors collection oozes iconic American luxury with a sophisticated, effortless edge; with classic pieces like the Jet Set Tote and Rhea Backpack gaining a cult following, the Michael Kors brand is a must for any fashion-conscious dresser. Each Michael Kors collection has something in common with the last: high quality materials and fresh, modern design that remains current and on-trend, season on season. The women’s line – Michael Michael Kors – has a distinct New York edge, with minimalist silhouettes and strong, directional detailing; whilst the men’s Michael Kors line combines practicality, masculinity and style to create a fashion-forward range of designer bags and accessories.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Tom Ford
The eponymous Tom Ford brand was launched in 2006, and quickly became an enormous fashion success. The label specialised in beautiful clothing, beauty, sunglasses and accessories, and it gained notoriety among celebrities and public figures: with Michelle Obama having worn a Tom Ford gown to Buckingham Palace in 2011, need we say any more?
Tom Ford sunglasses and accessories have quickly become wardrobe staples for any fashion-forward individual, with cutting edge collections holding a classic contemporary elegance, successfully combining statement design with quality materials time and time again. Branded with the statement T logo, Tom Ford sunglasses are iconic and his accessories even more so.
Our Editor's Top Picks:
Aspinal of London at London Fashion Week AW18
We popped down to LFW to see Aspinal of London's AW18 Presentation, and we weren't disappointed.
By Alex Neilson-Clark
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