Gemma, Vintage Perfection [Banned Retro]

Posted on November 18, 2021 by missamymay

For quite a while I’ve been wanting to get a brown or burgundy vintage style handbag. Wanting it to be medium-sized means modern high street stores likely wouldn’t have what I’m looking for, as even when they lean into vintage inspirations they often then make it comically small (what is going on with the tiny bag trend right now?! Do not understand) or on the larger size, like a tote bag. Considering I already have a burgundy faux croc tote sized bag that I rarely reach for because it is so large, I was being very specific in only buying precisely what I was looking for and not something ‘near enough,’ as I sometimes do when I get frustrated shopping on a budget. Well, my prayers were finally answered when I stumbled across this Gemma bag by Banned Retro. In fact, I loved the style so much I also snapped it up in the green. Sorry, did I mention shopping on a budget? Er, just forget that bit while we look at my TWO BEAUTIFUL NEW HANDBAGS.

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Indiscreetly Fabulous [Banned Retro]

Posted on June 24, 2019 by missamymay

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!

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Handy Little Ivy [Hotter]

Posted on February 27, 2019 by missamymay

When it comes to handbags, I’m a mostly practical woman. As much as I adore sporting chic little box bags or impossibly small oddly shaped clutches for dinners out socialising, on a day-to-day basis I don’t want to have to edit down my payment cards, ID and assorted change into a tiny coin purse in order to be able to fit the necessities into a pretty bag that will elevate my outfit. Realistically, I’d much rather find a lovely bag that fits my actual, whole purse, because that is what adulthood requires. Thankfully, adulthood doesn’t also require that one’s sensible day bag be boring, because this little Ivy number certainly isn’t that.

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Autumn Vintage Dreams Realised [Voodoo Vixen]

Posted on October 16, 2018 by missamymay

There are parts of autumn and winter fashion that just scream ‘chic’ in a way that can’t be denied. Houndstooth print, faux fur accents, moody autumnal colour palettes, capes! This season Voodoo Vixen are ready to serve up delicious examples of each one of those features, and boy, oh, boy, am I excited about it.

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Never Without a Book [Vendula London]

Posted on November 27, 2017 by missamymay

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.

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Absolutely Charming, Maisy [Vendula London]

Posted on April 17, 2017 by missamymay

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.

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All Wrapped Up [Voodoo Vixen]

Posted on November 21, 2016 by missamymay

There’s a lot of ways that being a modern day pinup isn’t the most practical choice. There’s the long pointed nails that make pulling on your seamed stockings a challenge. There’s the need to carry hairspray, hair pins, a comb, a smoothing brush and a headscarf with you when you leave the house if it’s imperative your hair remain perfect for a full day.
There’s the petticoats, which not only make you an annoyance to some of your fellow passengers on public transport, but also make you a danger to yourself when you descend steep staircases, unable to see your own feet or the steps below you beneath the puffy, stuff circumference of your swishy skirt. It might be a fabulous life, but none of us can deny that it isn’t time- or detail-intensive.

There’s little ways in which I opt to adopt a more modern spin on the vintage aesthetic that makes my life easier on the whole. If I’m likely to ruin my tights or stockings at a particular event, I’ll choose a plain nude pair rather than a more expensive seamed set. I keep my nails short and unpolished rather than sporting a chipped, broken gel set within days of a manicure (I am a warehouse supervisor by day, after all.) And even though vintage purses and box bags are gorgeous, more often than not I carry sizable, practical handbags that can fit more than just my debit card and bare minimum makeup touch-up essentials. I like pretty handbags that can actually fit what I need in them, so I was really pleased to see Voodoo Vixen offering just such a handbag this season. Not only is it practical but it is downright cute, and that’s a combination I love.

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Purse Perfection [Lola Von Rose]

Posted on August 5, 2016 by missamymay

Lola Von Rose is a brand-spanking new handbag company, launched in early July and offering vintage-inspired box purses reminiscent of lucite lovelies so popular in our favourite eras past.

I happened upon the brand while scrolling through Instagram and immediately got excited about them. I couldn’t believe these perfect little purses could be out there, existing in the world, without my knowing, so it reassured me to discover that the company was new and I wasn’t habitually missing out incredible vintage-style products that everyone else knew about. No, it’s fine, Lola Von Rose are small and new, but I don’t think they’ll be that way for long. With purses like these, I fully expect them to be a vintage-style household name within our community soon enough.

Lola Von Rose Black Acrylic Vintage Style Box Purse Continue reading →