How To Curate A Bag Stash

February 14, 2023

The right bag can catapult any look forward. Whether micro or kitchen-sink commodious, classically coloured or boldly emblazoned, it should fit your lifestyle and all your essentials.

Our favourite bag lady is British designer Anya Hindmarch, whose luxe designs boast high-quality craftsmanship and a true sense of joie de vivre.

Reimagining everyday objects in extraordinary ways, be it an after-dinner liquor or a box of Cornflakes, Anya's bags are statement-making and practical too. Her obsession with organisation and compartmentalisation means they are designed with various sections and zips to provide order ensuring every day, night and holiday runs as smoothly and chicly as possible.

"The things we have the most success with often come out of need," Anya told Harper's Bazaar. "There are two sides to every woman – you want fun, fashion things, but also you need pieces for the boardroom, when you're travelling or on a train. Then you just want something that delivers, that really works. It needs to be able to hold everything; it helps you to be organised and helps you find what you need quickly."

Each of Anya’s bags boasts extraordinary craftsmanship and techniques to ensure it is lightweight, including heat-bonding the leather lining and folding the corners that eliminates the need for heavy stitching and cumbersome forms.

Curating a bag stash that caters to every aspect of your life, from a roomy day tote and soft satchel to a cross-body and elegant evening clutch, is at the heart of Anya's design philosophy.

"I like to think of it as a Russian doll concept," she says. "You have a big coat, then within it, you can have a clutch; a bag that you wear under your arm that you might wear to the corner shop or to lunch; a cross-body for weekends or when you're travelling – but it must be light. Then an evening bag. Sometimes, you need an organised business tote from which you can easily access your laptop and papers. That would probably be it."

Size matters too, and no longer is a big bag the right bag. Thanks to technology, she says, downsizing is here to stay. "We used to carry around a camera, a notepad and a phone – all the things our phone now does," she says. "Even a purse… your phone has replaced many of these things and has made a huge difference. So, we can be lighter and freer, which has made a huge difference to our backs. Ultimately, luxury has to work for you."

We agree. Find your perfect bags here and curate your own bespoke collection:

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