26 Jul 2011

Healthy Back Bag Review | Leather Biker Style, Anniversary Edition



Most women I meet expect their handbag to be the height of fashion and to perform like a work horse carrying all their daily essentials, quite often the two top qualities we are searching for in the perfect handbag disappointingly are often not found in the same bag. Finding an independent handbag label that produces stylish bags with practical design features that set it apart from other bigger luxe handbag brands can be a rarity.



So when The Healthy Back Bag Company gave me the opportunity to review one of their anniversary bags and share my thoughts here, I had to try this practical bag and its eco friendly stylish credentials on for size!



First impressions


The bag I received was part of the companies anniversary range, tear drop shaped in black drum leather with stud and rivet detailing. A style classic perfect with jeans in the daytime and to toughen up a pretty dress or add edge to an evening look .


• Delivered swiftly by couriers service, in pretty standard issue plastic bags.


• The bag contained a handy card with instructions for cleaning the bag and a guarantee of the product for the lifetime of the bag.


• The bag can be worn either on one shoulder or across the body, to get full benefit of its ergonomic design, designed with a doctor to reduce stress on the back area and avoid back pain.


• The bag is designed to rest snugly in the hollow of your back and the main zipper faces toward your back, keeping the contents of your bag secure.
 



How did The Bag perform?



The amount of pockets this bag contains is staggering! I counted 11 of varying shapes and sizes, two large outer zip pockets and some very small, perfect for storing my lip gloss and makeup brushes. One of the inner zip pockets is large enough to double up as a generously sized makeup bag and the bag will comfotably house much more from a full sized bottle of sun lotion, purse, phone, sunglasses, makeup wipes etc.


• Biggest plus? The Silver lining is really well thought out and means along with the organised pockets and key fob you would struggle to lose anything should you need it in a hurry.


• I put the bag through its paces to test the comfort factor (not being a cross body bag wearer I was a little unsure what to expect) when I went to the Ben and Jerry's music festival, packed to full capacity and worn across the body, after eight hours of standing and vigorously dancing I almost forgot my Healthy Back Bag was there until I needed a drink or my lip balm which I found with ease. However I would have liked a recess on the body strap for my mobile so I could have the option of easy access to my mobile when wearing the bag across my body. 






Finale Word


This bag is a miracle of design The Healthy Bag Back Bag comes in four sizes and a variety of exciting designs and fabrics including a on trend tweed version from their designer range and a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles (pet) as well as a baby changing bag range. From a fashion point of view I love the biker feel, but I would have liked to see a big leather tassel on the zipper and some additional stud work. With back saving properties and the brands guarantee of workmanship for the lifetime of the material, I was impressed! A great bag for buisy style conscious women on the go and makeup artists! 

 


 


















25 Jul 2011

My Passport To Style | Visits Ben And Jerrys Festival At Heaten Park Manchester!



I had a bit of adventure this weekend in Heaten Park Manchester, I would have to say my favourite kind of adventure would generally include free ice-cream and great live music, this ticked both those boxes. Hosted by the very Fair and Lovely Ben and Jerry, they and their team were clearly very serious in their mission for everyone to extract as much fun out of the day as possible! If You want to check out my Dita Von Teese inspired festival outfit go ahead! With free vintage fairground rides and a chance to try all the Ben and Jerrys flavours in exsistence I tried four ice-cream flavours yesterday and I lost count of the previous day, it amazing how you think you just can't eat another mouth full then hit your stride! I watched a giant macadamia nut hitch a ride with a toddler! Exhilarating music by Gary Numan, Sound of Rum, Fun Loving Criminals, Steve Cradock and Ocean Colour Scene and Duke and King. Maximo Park has to win the the prize for most stylish lead singer, with his black bowler.



Fun Loving Weekend With Ben and Jerry

Toe wrestling was on offer and for some reason there were many french men dotted about wearing strings of onions and of course many dairy cows! The chill out tent was complete with bales of straw, deck chairs to lounge on and coconut boules in the sand and the witty option of hand decorating your own cow shaped biscuits to take home.Ben and Jerrys live their values, they deffinately gave back to the UK, with tickets priced and at just £17.00 each and free admission for children under 12 and free ice-cream and activities. It was a great way to share their fairtrade message, I can't wait till next year!





Can you spot the macadamia nut??


Fun Loving Criminals




 Favourite Track Of The Day Ocean Colour Scene click on the link


If you want to win a year supply of Ben and Jerrys ice- cream then upload your best Sundae Ice-cream photo to their face book wall. Mmm ............... I think Torie Jayne might be the perfect person for bowl inspiration and to order some colourful sprinkles from!


23 Jul 2011

Shoe Sale Shopping | Don't You Love It When A Plan Comes Together?!


neon brogues - The Pessimiss



Hi Gals, I am planning my A/W 2011 wardrobe revolution at the moment and was happy as a girl in a champagne bath when I happened upon sale shoes from Clarks limited boutique collection, that are so comfy sales shopping will never be a chore and better still they fit with the monchrome and 60's looks that are set to be hot this A/W season, these buttery soft brogues (Brisk Walk) with studs will add a contempory edge to my gold tweed trousers and a simple black or cream polo.

Clarks delivered a double helping of shoe paradise when I chanced upon another pair of shoes from their Limited Boutique collection, Ski Lift in black, that will add sharpen up this black and white poka dot dress also from the Jaeger sale.They say third time lucky, well I have to say I felt extreemly lucky when I discovered these classic chelsea boots at Hobbs outlet sale, great with a simple shift dress and thick opaque tights, although I might choose yellow I can't decide.   


Clarkes Sale - Brisk Walk


Clarkes Sale - Ski Lift


Jaeger Sale- Polka ruffle tier dress
Chelsea boots- Hobbs Outlet Sale


60's inspired Shift- Jaeger Sale


The one that got away ?



I was nearly made it to 4th time lucky when I came across the most darling pink patent Mary Janes
 (Madeline Punch) also in the Hobbs Sale, but fate intervened and my computer crashed! My 5.5 are now winging there way to some pink, patent loving lady...  


21 Jul 2011

My Passport to Style | Alphabet Chic




source M's Art Impressions



R is for a rams head made entirely from wool, complete with stylish dicky bowtie, perfect for mounting on your wall, animals and handmade are huge trend in fashion this A/W 2011.What knitted creation would you commission for your wall?

please visit the lovely Martina from M's Art Impressions she writes such creative posts.

20 Jul 2011

Emma Watson Covers Vogue



I have loved seeing the beautiful Emma Watsons evolving style, but I could not help but think how fun it might have been to have had a slightly alternative look on the front cover of Vogue magazine and feature the lovely Bonnie Wright. Poor Daniel Radcliffe a rose caught between two very sharp and stunning young women! What's your view gals, classic beauty or quirky pre-raphaelite?
















16 Jul 2011

My Passport to Styles | Alphabet Chic




c is for crochet swimwear. 

is for blanket.

but how did someone go from making a blanket to making a bikini out of wool and did they have the right idea? Would you prefer to snuggle in crochet blanket bliss? Or happily risk itching for sporting the latest in swimwear trends?






Will You Be Shaking A Tail Feather Or Two This A/W 2011 ?

credits-Bold Bright & Beautiful


What do you make of the latest trend for feather wearing? Do you love it or loathe it? Do you think it's only for the brave at heart or can shy girls gain the advantage and use their peeping power to their advantage by sporting a large fan or big collar to hide behind, thus creating a mysterious aura ? Personally I think there is something very feminine about the flutter of marabou feathers on the hem of a dress or a purse and I'm loving the vibrant colours new feather headpieces and earrings are popping up in. (for more sumptious feather designs read on!)

15 Jul 2011

Get Dressed In Style With Eco Company | Furniture Divas



Postage stamp chaise lounge

I have a theory that where you get dressed, just like where you eat is very important to how you feel each day. Getting ready each morning is really just like playing dress up and should be fun and inspirational .Essential to every woman's dress up experience are great props or furniture, your dressing room should be a lavish tardis where you can transport yourself to another world for a while and revel in reinventing  yourself. For a chic place to sit and do up your t- bar straps or an opulent place to lounge while you flick through the pages of Vogue Italia, boudoir inspiration comes courtesy of award winning furniture company Furniture Divas, who scooped the highly commended award in the sustainable products category  this 2011 from the British Institute Of Interior Design. They were impressed by  Furniture Divas commitment to using recycled, organic, fair-trade and reclaimed fabrics in their bid to breathe new life into worn out period seating.The British postage stamp chaise lounge is on my wish list!  

  



turquoise salon chair

sepia deckchair

To see more of Furniture Divas ethical furniture makeovers visit http://www.furnituredivas.co.uk/

12 Jul 2011

Goodbye Hemione Hello Emma Watson!

 

As the eagerly antisipated Deathly Hallows comes to a conclusion I thought it only fitting to wish Emma Watson good luck with her future projects, she looked stunning durring her red carpet debut and I will miss seeing the smart sassy Hermione at Hogwarts. I love these images of her.










My Passport to Styles Happiness Clinic | Lost And Found





Hi gals,  I  recently discovered something new that was a revelation and makes me feel really happy and is completely free, the title of today's post just about sums it up, I lost my favourite Sanctuary lipstick in naturally nude about a week ago. I love that it is non tacky and natural looking and contains some great botanicals and also is the only lip gloss I know containing an SPF, you may know of other lip glosses that contain a good spf, if so do leave me a comment to let me know! So ok, the lip-gloss was not free I bought mine from Boots in the UK, but what gave me that warm glowy happy feeling was  having lost my favourite lipgloss for about a week I found it again this morning! The embarrassing part was after turning my house upside down and looking everywhere from under my mattress to inside my fridge it was actually just snuggled up in the bottom of one of my handbags, there is a downside to having more than one bag.