I should coco

Another fab or frugal comparison for you here, in the shape of the much-coveted Alexander Wang Coco Duffel bag. I've loved this long time, but even in the sale the grand price tag knocked it clear out of my budget.
But hark, a few dopelgangers have cropped up and they're pretty impressive... in the so-close-it-must-be-criminal corner is this baby from the ever-reliable Lush

The quality of this pic isn't great, so head over to shoplush.com for the original. It's still not cheap, but real leather for around £100 isn't bad. A pretty impressive knock-off if you ask me!
And if you'd rather pay homage than sport a tote-al rip-off (getit?) ASOS has jumped on the studded bandwagon.

This baby's also in the sale - a snip at £22 - and is more like the dove grey verison of the Wang, which would be much better for the summer, but is not quite as rock and roll. (Also available in nude).

There are also some dodgy replicas on ioffer, but I didn't tell you that...

Grotbags

So, the minute I clapped eyes on this bag (oh, about five and a half years ago) I wanted it more than I'd ever wanted anything in my life...

Obviously at the tender age of 20 - who am I kidding, even at the slightly riper age of 26 - I don't have the dough for a Balenciaga, but thankfully, the lovely people at Lush came up with 'their own version' (read total rip-off) which some amazing people bought me for my twenty-first.



It went everywhere with me... even to the fancy-dress party I'd just been to above, where I was inexplicably dressed as a Guns 'n' Roses groupie. After reading how Mary-Kate's was stained with red wine, Marlborough Red burns and the general markings of a good night out, I became a little devil-may-care with its welfare, and it bears the scars today.

When the picture of Mary-Kate popped up on Olsens Anonymous last week, it made me dig out the little charmer, and vow to start taking it places again. It deserves to be seen. Now I just need that amazing neon pink nail varnish I've been coveting for years - any suggestions?

The last straw

So, summer’s here and I want an appropriately beachy holdall.

The nude satchel I’ve been toting is great and all, but I fancy something a little more laid back for afternoons at Broadway market, and it needs to be big enough to stuff a few thin layers in, to cover up when the sun subsides.

So I’ve settled on straw. There are a few options out there, but I think my favourite is the lovely h and m shimmery holdall… shame I haven’t seen it anywhere in London…

From left to right: Cath Kidston at ASOS £30; h and m £12.99; Tesco £11.25