Bags Defined Blog

With winter far behind us (we hope!) it’s time to think about all the best bits of summer that lie ahead – ice-pops, festivals, summer sales, cocktails on the patio and being able to leave the house in less than five scarves!

What Bag?

The weather is likely to influence your choice between cross-body bags, clutch bags, shoulder bags or totes. It can pay to think about things like how much you think you’ll be walking around during the day, what sort of cover you’ll need (sun hat etc.), what basics you’ll be carting about with you in your trusty Kipling luggage and so on.

What Material?

Kipling handbags are made from tailored nylon and designed for folks on the go through every season. Although, who can resist a stunning leather tote! Sand can scratch leather, so if you’re heading for the beach and don’t want a mark on your new leather handbag, go for something more durable like canvas or nylon.

Essentials

There are a few summer basics for clutch bags and totes that no summer belle should be without – SPF cream (go for travel-size on a daily basis), SPF lip balm (keep the dry, cracked lips of summer at bay!), water (hydration is crucial during the summer), wet wipes (useful for everything from tidying make-up to cleansing toilet seats), a light scarf or pashmina (ideal for a little shade), and a book (because who wants to waste the chance to catch up with Mr Darcy on a breezy summer afternoon in the park?)

The summer is all about bright expression, wishing you were here and creating the ideal summer look from this season’s best bags!

Multi-Colour

We’re in love with Fossil bags this season, and we think none sing the praises of summer more than the gorgeously bold Key-Per shopper in blue floral. Inspired by vintage prints and design, we don’t think multi-coloured shoulder bags come much perkier than this adorable creation.

Green

We couldn’t pick a single bag, so instead we point you in the direction of the Icy Mint collection of Kipling handbags. Currently available in Alvar, Cicely, Fairfax and Mattie designs, the cool almost-white of this range is ice-pop fresh!

Pink

Few things in life are as sweet as a great quality pink leather bag. The Ciccia pink leather grab/shoulder bag is as sweet as a strawberry, and ideal for breezy summer afternoon jaunts for cocktails (strawberry daiquiris, perhaps?)

Silver

For modern summer style you can’t beat a Miss Sixty tote! The Kamilia is multi-wear, highly functional and the ideal style companion to ultra-modern summer girls.

Tan

Summer is the time for tan shoulder handbags, bronzed totes and gorgeous leather. Heading back to the wonderful Fossil, our tan bag of the day is the vintage-inspired leather Liberty Hobo. Tan leather ages wonderfully, so you could be investing in a future gorgeous vintage piece.

White

Nothing says classic summer chic quite like a white leather handbag. The Quinn shoulder bag by Ri2k is our pick of the day.

Always on the prowl to bring you the latest and greatest in handbag design, we think there’s no better time to begin planning your next travel adventure… and which handbags you’ll need!

Kipling handbags and Kipling purses are amongst our most numerous, popular and varied designs across the board. You ladies can’t get enough! Bottom line, Kipling handbags are practical, durable, and ideal whether you’re clinging to a tuk-tuk in Thailand or a tube train in London!

Best for City Day Trips

The Fairfax shoulder bag is one of the signature shoulder bag designs from our favourite nylon bag creators. Featuring an adjustable strap, tons of compartments and pockets, and typical Kipling secure zip fastening, the Fairfax is the ideal chic, secure day trip companion.

Best for Family Holidays

So, you’ll need to keep…. just about everything in your bag for everyone! The New Raisin is multi-wearable, ultra-functional and surely one of Kipling’s most fantastically versatile larger bags.

Best for Adventure Getaways

Adventurous folks need secure simple design like the Alvar Kipling cross-body bags. Highly accessible, secure zip pockets are ideal for passports, plane tickets, postcards and itineraries. We love this bag because its flat design makes it ideal for concealment under a coat too.

Best for Long-term Travel

Those on a long journey need to know EVERYTHING is secure. Practically a size upgrade from the Alvar, the Reth bag offers Kipling’s simple, functional design with additional space for those little bits and bobs invariably picked up on a journey.

Let’s face it, we’ve all looked at Mischa Barton’s style and lusted after her exquisite eye for detail and kooky-chic accessory choices. As if answering our very prayers, Mischa made the bold move from actress to handbag designer!
The current Mischa Barton bag collection is one of our most popular ranges. Featuring Mischa’s fourth collection for her eponymous label, we simply can’t choose between the modern takes on vintage chic that defines her signature shoulder bags, cross-body bags and clutches.

The Sydney Tote (Tan)

Typical quirky design mixed with affordability and practicality has made this one of the most popular Mischa Barton bags on our site.  Clever design and quality craftsmanship make this faux leather creation a style staple for girls on every budget.

The Jackson Across Body (Purple)

Never one to shy away from bold choices, the Jackson bag’s contemporary twist on classic quilting and fastenings has won our hearts!

The Pyramid Bucket (Black)

No-one does hippy rock star chic like Mischa! The Pyramid Bucket has proven itself as one of the most talked about bags of the season, making it into the fashion pages of publications around the world thanks to its fabulous style, practical design and versatility.

The Freya Tote (Buttermilk)

There would we be without our trusty totes! Multi-way cross-body/shoulder handbags and totes are a wardrobe staple for every woman, and they don’t come much more fabulous than the stunning, wearable Freya design.

Take your pick of the best Mischa Barton bags in our frequent sales (we love a good sale!)

Back in the distant memory that was 2007, Ruth Pinnock realised the debut collection of Ciccia bags and Ciccia purses that turned us from handbag lovers to handbag fanatics! The innovative blend of modern materials and graphics (check out the 6 Cat Faces shoulder bag!) with classic design elements (epitomised in the Hanging Flower grab/shoulder bag) and hand-crafted production won our hearts. This year Ciccia enters its fifth year, and we’re sure every single design will be as lavish, chic and usable as we’ve come to expect from our brand of the day.

Shoulder handbags are arguably the most conspicuously successful line in the Ciccia collection year after year. If we had to pick an absolute fave of the moment from the current collection, it’d have to be the Stitch Flower shoulder handbag in black – the ideal complement to formal or casual wear, featuring a little Swarovski sparkle, lots of lovely little secure internal compartments, and the usual adorable paw printed emery board.

Ciccia purses are as sweet as they come! We’re besotted with the In the Rain coin purse – but in blueberry or grey? We can’t decide!  The chocolate brown leather zip purse with cat appliqué is another adorable creation. Cute on the outside, practical on the inside!

Our range of Ciccia bags and purses holds a little gem for everyone, so take five and enjoy some quality time with our favourite Ciccia feline friend browsing our online collection of Ciccia goodies!

With celebrity fans like Shakira on board, it’s no wonder that the waves of influence of Modalu’s lead designer Marion Muhonen Nilsen are more like gentle currents of suggestion. Nilsen doesn’t want her Modalu handbags and purse designs to define their wearers, but to complement their unique kooky style completely.

The pillars of Modalu leather handbags are simple – wearable, versatile luxury. Never mind a wardrobe of tailored, perfect outfits and accessories, the Modalu fan is far too busy living her life to care about fitting in. She wants top quality craftsmanship that can keep up with her exhaustive, varied, brilliant, adventurous, unpredictable life.

So, with summer on the way, what are our Modalu handbags of the day? Carefree summer days call for bags that are as at home on the beach as they are in the office. We love the Chadwick Scoop Shoulder in slate. Nice and deep for carrying our entire summer survival kit, adaptable to be carried as a shoulder bag or cross-body, and with a secure zip fastening (so you can drop your bag, run for the bus or stash your latest designer sunglasses without a care!)

If it’s vintage chic you love, the See You Later shoulder bag in brown is one of Modalu bags’ most elegant, versatile creations. We’re in love with the simple leather detailing on the front! Modalu designs invite a little customisation, so don’t forget to dangle a few of your favourite charms or scarves for a fresh, summery look.