I’ve featured Vendula London here on the blog several times, a handbag and accessories company known for their quirky designs and funky style. Last Autumn I was in raptures over their romantic storybook style clutch bags, pieces I’m still in love with, but now that it’s spring I’m looking forward to outfits that revolve around sundresses, chunky wooden bangles, bright and light colours that feel good in the sun. In summer I flit back and forth between wearing bold colours and nautical theme ensembles, so I’m often on the look out for a bag that can pair with both. Enter the Maisy charm bag, the perfect versatile handbag for my summer style.

Bag: Off White & Tan Maisy Charm bag and Beside the Seaside Charm set C/O Vendula London
Dress: Lana dress by Dolly & Dotty
Cardigan: Rachael cardigan by Hell Bunny
Wedges: Old F&F
Bangles: Woven Bamboo by Splendette & Assorted bamboo bangles

For a long time having only a red daily handbag worked well for me because I accessorise with red so often that it almost always makes for a match. Last summer, though, I found myself focusing on brown accessories a lot; wooden bangles, faux leather and cork wedges, and tan belts, but none of my practical handbags really worked with that choice. Maisy is going to fit with that accessories scheme beautifully.

The wonderful thing about this bag is just how incredibly versatile it is. I tend to like my handbags to hook over my hand to hang from my wrist or forearm as I go about my business, but this bag comes with a detachable shoulder strap so you can wear it hanging from the shoulder when it suits you. The inside of the bag–lined in a sweet pink and white striped fabric featuring penny farthings–is spacious and well-divided. For storage on one side there’s two small zip compartments and one open pocket, and on the other two different sizes open pockets for your devices and other small bits. There’s also an outer zip compartment on the back of the bag, meaning that altogether you’ve got plenty of options for organising your stuff into easy to access, separated areas of the bag. You won’t spend half your time that your bag is open scrambling around blindly inside with searching fingers looking for your lipstick or door key, which I am so loathe to do.

The other most obviously versatile feature of this bag is it’s ability to transform with charms. Worn by itself, it’s a classic, chic piece that can match with many an outfit without distraction. When you feel like mixing it up, though, all you need to do is hook the charm chain onto the front of the bag and attach whichever charms you feel like flaunting that day. Given that there’s 8 different charm box sets currently available, from this seaside set I chose to a Frida Kahlo set or a London set, there’s a wide range of style themes you can opt for. Even then, if you only choose one set you’ll still be able to mix and match which charms you choose to wear at any given time, or what placement you want to give them on the display chain across the bag. My Beside the Seaside set features a mix of designs with varying degrees of novelty factor, so I can easily choose to play it safe with the 3 beach huts that are so famously reminiscent of the English seaside, or I can mix it up by including the crab charm and the lady swimmer with her swinging legs.

The bag itself is 31cm wide, 25cm tall and 14cm deep at the base, making it a great size to fit everything you’ll need from day to day without crossing over into being considered ‘bulky.’ There’s stud feet to protect the bottom and it’s made from a high quality PU leather, so it will be easy to wipe clean if need be, making the off-white shade much less intimidating for those who are constantly in fear of spills or scuffs. Basically it’s my ideal kind of bag, and I can’t wait to tote it around with me all summer on my adventures, whether they’re beach side or city centered–the bag certainly won’t be forcing me to choose.

The Maisy charm bag comes in 12 different colour combinations priced at £80 each and the charm boxsets come in 8 different themes each costing £30, all available from Vendula London for free delivery in the UK on orders over £80 and available for international shipping .