Figuring out the distinction between Banned and Dancing Days has become somewhat more confusing the last few months because now Banned Retro has been added into the mix. I think that is down to a rebranding that coincided with them finally launching their own retail website. That’s much appreciated news for me since tracking down specific items I wanted was always quite difficult before without access to a catalogue of product names, let alone a list of stockists who may have been carrying them. Now, all their pretties are shoppable in one place, and this particular pretty caught my eye, and then, once purchased, won over my heart. The Indiscreet bag is a gem!

Bag: Green Indiscreet bag by Banned Retro
Dress: Old style by Louella DeVille
Bangles: Sage, Lichen, Amethyst and Lilac Splendette bangles
Cardigan: Lavender cropped cardigan previously gifted by MAK Sweater [Affiliate code yemak-amymay for 40% off]

I’m someone who doesn’t generally subscribe to the notion that if you love vintage style clothing you have to follow that era through to full authenticity in every aspect of your outfit. I’m perfectly happy to wear a dress that screams 1950s, then pair it with a modern bag and shoes. I dress the way I do as an expression of the things I love and enjoy, not because I am trying to accurately encapsulate a bygone era. As such, a large chunk of my handbag collection is modern and distinctly mainstream, partly because most of the time I refuse to give up the practicality of a spacious bag for a slim, era-appropriate vintage bag that will only fit a compact, lipstick, and society’s narrow definition of what it means to be a woman. This Indiscreet bag, though, gives me a little of all that I love, both modern and vintage, and in the perfect shade of green.

I longed for this bag for several weeks before I finally said, fuck it, treat yo’self, and bought it. I’ve been on a real green accessories kick the past few months, accumulating shoes and jewellery in green tones, so having a bag to match my other new purchases just made sense, especially since olive green is one of my favourite colours.

I love the true vintage feel to the shape of this bag, with the curve at the bag’s brim that reminds me of a sweetheart neckline, paired with the accordion style expansion and the faux crocodile leather finish.

I’m just as thrilled with the inside of the bag, which has three compartments that close with gold magnetic poppers. There’s also an open-top compartment accessible on each side of the bag for quick-access that doesn’t require you to open up the magnetically sealed sections. One of these compartments has a zipped wall pocket for safe keeping of small objects, and the other has 2 open topped wall pockets, the standard ‘phone and something else’ pockets we all recognise from every modern handbag we’ve ever carried.

The beauty of all these different compartments is that you can stow away your essentials in each section, in as organised a fashion as you so wish, and will easily be able to find them when you open up the bag, rather than launching once more upon the eternal struggle to find your key bundle at the bottom of one large compartment, as most bags offer. (Why is it your keys are always the very last thing you can find in your bag, when they are they only jagged, very jangly, probably-last-dropped-in-your-bag item in there??) Finally, this bag comes with a removable shoulder strap. I never really use shoulder straps for bags like this, but I always appreciate the option.

The bag is 30cm in length, 13cm deep and 22 cm tall. Fully loaded, the base can expand to 19cm wide. It’s so wonderful that now I also want it in black!

The Indiscreet bag comes in green, red, and black, available from Banned Retro or from their various stockists around the world. New subscribers to Banned Retro’s email newsletter get 10% off their first order.

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Disclaimer: The cardigan worn as part of this outfit was previously gifted to me for review by MAK Sweater. All opinions expressed are truthful and my own, with no input from any of the companies listed or any other individuals.