Hello loves,

I thought it may be fun to write a post about 'What is in my handbag?'.  I really enjoy being nosey and finding out what other ladies may be hiding in their bags.

Often girls can be so resourceful on what they manage to fit into their bags, but my resourcefulness may not reach these levels. I'll leave it for you to judge.

So without further ado....

My handbag is just a small black faux-suede mini satchel bag from River Island. If you wanted to get your mitts on this little bag, just click here. These are also available in other colours, but I'm particularly liking the oxblood one and the leopard print hybrid. There is plenty of room for everything you need to carry, and the magnetic latches are very sturdy. The price is also not too bad!

And this is literally all the goodies that I tend to carry in my little bag. I've really been into carrying smaller bags, compared to my usual larger totes. I just think that my poor shoulders needed a good break! The time to downsize had come along and now I'm just embracing it.

  

I have my wallet in my bag from River Island also. I know that there is a bit of a trend here for River Island, however I just found it a really convenient size. It has a white flap and gold/grey clasp with the main body being a lime green. It is a really nice colour combination and was perfect to celebrate the start of summer. I've always used the River Island large purses, and they have enough space for cash, cards and coins. They are literally all I have been using. However, please watch this space on the blog for some 'lust-have' accessories, which should be coming up soon! 

Another essential is my gold iPhone (not pictured here) and my iPhone headphones. The headphones aren't very comfortable but I just suck it up as they fit so nicely in the little case. I also carry a small diary and a pen to keep up-to-date with appointments. I know I could use my phone in this wonderful digital age, but I'm a bit old school and still like to keep a diary on hand.

 

My sister-in-law also kindly bought me a Gucci hand-mirror which is beautiful. It is quite heavy but such a nice piece to carry with you and whip out to fix make-up. I also keep Kleenex blotting sheets with me, in case my T-zone gets oily. Previously I've also used the DHC ones (which I really like). 

I keep minimal make-up on me during the day, however lippy is a MUST. My latest lip muse is MAC's Snob, which is just the prettiest pink that is a hint off your own lip colour. It is not too garish or too bold and hits the right notes for a pretty look.

The other pieces that I have to carry with me is without a doubt my Soap and Glory Hand Maid anti-bacterial gel. This is scented quite heavily so if that is not your thing, steer clear! The scent is definitely not unpleasant and it really keeps those nasties at bay. I also carry Soap and Glory's Endless Glove hand cream, which is super nourishing on my mitts. I've had dry hands on quite a few occassions lately, and this whips my skin back into shape.

I have to always have a lipbalm on hand and my current favourite is the Burt's Bees Mango lipbalm. The butters in this baby is awesome and keeps my lips amazingly soft and kissable. I also keep a lipgloss on hand just in case I need some sheen on my lips and at the moment that is in the form of Urban Decay's Naked gloss in Sesso. This is a rose colour with pink shimmer in. It looks great if you want to give your look a boost or polish. And the final items I always keep on hand is the Yes to... cucumber wipes in travel size and some polo mints. They are fairly self explanatory. Wipes if something spills or my face needs a wipe and polo mints for minty fresh breathe. Not the biggest fan of gum anymore, so mints are great.

What do you keep in your bag?

What’s inside the fash-packs handbags?

There has been lots of buzz in the past few days about a new exhibition by German artist Hans-Peter Feldmann at the Serpentine gallery, Hyde Park, which reveals the contents of six women's handbags laid out in traditional museum vitrines. 

The result sees cases full of painkillers, mobile phones, business cards, crumpled receipts, sanitary products, make-up and various other items.

I thought it might be interesting to find post over the internet showing women in the fashion industry's handbags and the contents of said handbags.  To see exactly what 'essential' items they carry around with them every day.  Here is what I uncovered...

Holly Dudley, eCommerce content manager at L.K.Bennett

Handbag essentials:

L.K.Bennett pink Suki flats

'I'm a heels girl at heart, but sometimes when you're rushing between meetings having a pair of flats to throw on is a godsend!'

Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche sheer moist mist

'Perfect when I need a little pick-me-up, this is my signature scent.'

Filofax

'My friends laugh at me for still using pen and paper, especially as I work in a digital industry, but I can't get by without my diary.'

Donna Ida, CEO

Handbag essentials:

Lipgloss

'I have lipgloss and lip balm everywhere, in my car, on my desk, in my bag.  I have tens of them and always top up.'

Nail files

'I like really short red nails so keep my nails filed down constantly.'

Business cards

'You never know who you might bump into, always be prepared - I have business cards in every single handbag, including evening bags.'

Nikki Gatenby, managing director of Propellernet

Handbag essentials:

CD's

'I love music, and although I always have my iPod with me, I keep a couple of CDs in bag too - I like to have something fun to listen to when I'm in the car.'

Vaseline Rose lip balm

'This is one of my beauty essentials and I don't leave the house without it.'

Two phones!

'I really need both of these phones - my Blackberry is ued purely for work and my iPhone in the one I catch up with friends and family on.'

Dearne Sutherland, digital marketing executive at Westfield London and fashion blogger

'I love having a sneaky peak at what other women carry around in their bags.  I guess it's the whole curiosity factor, and whenever I see a woman carrying an extremely large bag I always think 'what on earth do you have in there?!'

Handbag essentials:

Mulberry pouch To keep my bag tidy (for painkillers, hayfever tablets, and pens).

Chanel sunglasses

MAC lip gloss.

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And that concludes looking into other ladies in fashions' handbags!  I'm loving all the items they keep in there, and find that it is very similar to the contents of my own handbag!  It must mean I'm fairly normal then.

Hope you've enjoyed this rather different post.

Keep well,