It’s often considered the mark of a book lover that they can’t leave home without a book. That’s something that is remarkably easy to do these days given even our phones can house a digital library of hundreds, even thousands, of audiobooks and eBooks for us when we’re on the move. Personally I’m perfectly happy to forsake the beloved paper and ink format of a real book when I’m out and about because instead I can rest content in the knowledge that when I finish one book I have the choice of hundreds of others to hand on my phone instead of one single choice stashed hurriedly in my bag from earlier.

I do kind of miss how nice it is to have an actual book to hold, but thanks to this Vendula book bag, I can take that ‘can’t leave the house without a book’ feeling less literally and more fashionably.

Bag: Books Shaped bag C/O Vendula London
Cardigan: Purple MAK Cropped Cardigan / Available here
Top: Teal Pleasant Peasant from Doll Me Up
Brooch: Deathly Hallows pin by FandomFlairPins Etsy
Skirt: Bridget skirt by Voodoo Vixen
Bangles: Assorted Fakelite by Splendette

I first spotted this bag quite a while back and it was instant love, not just because I adore a book shaped clutch and this is a fun twist on that style, but also because the colours of the bag remind me of my much loved and much read (and thus very battered) original UK editions of the Harry Potter books. The colours make for a fun and lively combination, while the additions of gold embossments and more traditional spine design-work make this feel like a glimpse into the corner of a very beautiful and well preserved shelf of fairytales in an old library.

The detailing on the bag as a whole is just gorgeous, from the different but complimentary designs on the spines down to the brass latch and the little crown etched in the centre of the handle, which recalls the stories of royalty we were all told in our childhoods. The exclusive lining inside is printed on cotton, a London theme that includes cups of tea, the union jack, lipstick kiss marks and red phone boxes surrounded by ink splotches that look like manuscript pages.

The bag comes with a pink dust bag for storage and with a detachable purple vegan leather shoulder strap so that you can be as practical and quirky as you like on a day out as well as using it as a statement clutch bag in the evenings. It’s a small piece, measuring 15cm tall, 16cm wide and 8cm deep, so if you’re someone who hates carrying bulky bags with endless amounts of unnecessary tat inside this would be a great size for you. There’s one inner wall pocket compartment just the right size for storing your cards, a compact and a lipstick.

If you have a special bookworm in your life this would certainly make for a memorable holiday gift–I know I’ll be bringing mine along to a Christmas party or two!

The Books Shaped Bag is an online exclusive and costs £98.60. Vendula London ship internationally.