The Bag That Will Make Me Thinner...



...Because i can't afford to eat.  

Okay so a little bit of an exaggeration. But everyone has been there. This is what happens when you go wandering around shops when you really really do not have the spare cash.  This is what happened to me last Sunday. Its something i fall victim to quite alot. Although not as much as i used too.  You know the score, you wander about 'killing time' and as i think to myself everytime it happens:  'if you look, then of course you will always, always find.'  So very true.  The sort of purchase which makes you mentally add up the remaining outgoings and expenditures for the rest of the month versus whats actually left in your account and then how many weeks of the month are left until you are nest paid.  Quite sure this is not just me?! Course you can eat porridge for breakfast, lunch and tea...




However, i am very excited about my new find and even more excited because its the best kind of rare and fantastical ones.  Its particularly special because its from Tk Maxx.  And as any discerning shopper in Carlisle knows, if you have got the time, you really really can come up trumps in that place.  In the past i have had a beautiful Marc Jacobs scarf, Philosophy perfume and lipbalms: and some beautiful Jigsaw bedding at but a snippet of the price.  



On sunday however i came across the most lovely lovely Gharani Strok satchel! It is the perfect size and made of super soft chocolate brown leather and wicker.  In typical *satchel-esque style, it comes complete with a much longer, adjustable strap so the bag can be worn cross body, or over one shoulder and then the little handle on top, as you can see, means you can also carry in a little brief case sort of way.  

Gharani Strok was set up in 1995 by Nargess Gharani Strok and close friend of nineteen years, Vanya Strok.  Over the past few years Gharani Strok has established itself as a worldwide fashion brand with an eye for unnusual print and colour combinations, setting it apart from everything else out there.  Right up my pipe.  Not only do they produce beautiful, and a little bit different bags and accessories, but they also design clothes and a beautiful homeware range with quite a hippy,ethnic edge. Not dis-similar to Matthew Williamson for Debenhams.


So very clearly an investment.  For those of you who know me well, i really struggle with bags, only owning a handful of very bashed and loved ones which i did not buy lightly. This bag is perfect worn now with a winter coat,thick tights and chocolate brown brogues yet will work brilliantly in the summer with a floppy straw hat, ankle socks and a cotton sundress.  And the older it gets, and the more scrappy and bashed, the lovelier it will be.  


Here i popped it with a very old Monsoon bleached denim lila tunic,90 deniers and a printed Monsoon SS10 cotton cardigan.  And i have used it pretty much from the day i bought it, constantly - i could't wait to get the tags off.  And for me thats always a sign this bag will be used until it falls apart and can't be used anymore….how it should be.  



* Satchel-esque - satche-lly in appearance, satchel shaped :)