Please help me find a bag and London shopping help

[natascha]

Trying to be effective and ask two questions in one post .

- Handbag dilemma

I need a new everyday handbag that looks professional enough to wear to interviews, etc. The bag I really want is the Mulberry Bayswater but the budget won't stretch that far right now (I bought a new pet pebble , need a ton of other stuff, am leaving for a term abroad and yikes is Paris expensive).

The budget is preferably under $300. I really want leather, black, be able to wear it on my shoulder but still look good holding it in my hand. It needs to be big enough for normal A4 papers (so preferably 14in x 10in). Style wise I like classic styles, more structured than hobo, not completely a plain tote but not too much details. Any recommendation of brands, types, or stores (London) would be very appreciated. I am not a brand person so a good leather store would be great.

I did find a bag that looks nice by some brand called Tula (from the UK) it's called the Betty and I am trying to find if it comes in normal black leather with silver hardware. I did find it in black ostrich leather, which I like, but am a bit unsure if it would look ok for interviewing. What do you guys think?


- Shopping in London: Suit edition

Long story short I gained weight and am now working on losing it. My things from before the weight gain are too small so I need a new suit . I will be in London next week and am planning on getting it there since there is a lot more to choose from (Sweds think it is perfectly fine to wear jeans to the office for the most part).

What is a good place to find a suit under £200? I don't expect it to last for years but I don't want to feel embarrassed about the quality. I just need something for interview season. I have no problem with outlets, last season or even second hand as long as it fits well. The problemo: I am somewhat busty so I can't wear strait up and down blazers. I am hoping to find a dark grey/charcoal suit with a tailored blazer with a pencil skirt and in dream of dreams pants too. Oh yeah I think I am currently a UK size 14.

I looked at Hobbs but they seem a tad out of by budget, wish I was there for the sale. Any advice?

Also I lost my perfect mid heel courts , so I am in the market for those too. Any specific stores for leather shoes that you can recommend?

Just a couple of bad shots of my pet pebble who is currently being reset.

 

[ame]

Man do I love a bays...I also have that on a wishlist pending a serious windfall!

Here are just a few that are fairly similar or niceish and could work that I saw on Nordstrom:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/marc-by-marc-jacobs-petal-to-the-metal-voyage-satchel/3237819?origin=category

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/tory-burch-797-large-satchel/3342391?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=True+Violet&resultback=3535

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/botkier-valentina-satchel/3309676?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Berry&resultback=4986

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/patricia-nash-rodano-large-satchel/3311632?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=6689

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/dooney-bourke-florentine-vachetta-leather-satchel/3287320?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=974

http://www.ebags.com/product/kooba/liam-convertibe-satchel/235761?productid=10195079

http://www.ebags.com/product/rebecca-minkoff/brynn-flap-satchel/234191?productid=10194291

not too big but cute
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/kate-spade-new-york-cobble-hill-leslie-small-leather-satchel/3169096?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=2185

http://www.ebags.com/product/michael-michael-kors/hamilton-18k-ew-satchel/236849?productid=10196920

 

[Rhea]

Oh, I posted in your thread in rocky talk. Didn't realise it was in that section. I just aimlessly wander around here sometimes.

 

[rosetta]

Do you see anything you like in the Osprey sale?


http://www.ospreylondon.com/products.php?subCat=246&gender=4&viewall=true

 

[Deia]

Bags...

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Biba+Vivien+embossed+e/w+tote/158431183,default,pd.html

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/DKNY+Vintage+tote/168622752,default,pd.html

http://www.selfridges.com/en/Accessories/Categories/Handbags-purses/Hamilton-medium-tote_128-3001451-30T03HMS3L/

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/DKNY+Croco+tote/170632666,default,pd.html

http://www.johnlewis.com/231643544/Product.aspx This is the Tula bag you mentioned. They have two black versions. Also available in this other black version... http://www.johnlewis.com/231446971/Product.aspx

http://www.johnlewis.com/114368/Product.aspx#BVRRWidgetID


Suit - if you haven't looked at hobbs sale section, do it, they have good sales.

Also, Banana Republic. There are a few stores in London Their suits are good quality. The sizes are US sizes (even in the UK stores) so you should buy a US10 if you're a UK14.

 

[Circe]

Bags: I'm really liking Rebecca Minkoff these days, and you CAN find her Desire bag in black on sale for that sometimes ... no time to hunt now, but will search.

Suits: I'm a curvy lady who had a hell of a time finding a lady's suit that wasn't straight up-and-down, or frou-frou, OR an arm-and-a-leg: I finally hit gold at Brooks Brothers.

Paris: JEALOUS!

 

[natascha]

Sorry for being AWOL, I was at my mothers over the weekend and didn't have access to a computer.

Ame- Isn't it odd that we are willing to spend on diamonds, but not on a Bayswater? Thank you for the links, I have written down a couple of names and will keep my eyes peeled.

Rhea- Yeah that's what I do too, also the reason for why I first posted in RT . Thank you for the shoe tips. How did your next suit hold up? Does it sag after wearing it a couple of hours or get lose threads?

Rosetta- I am crossing my fingers that I can find some Ospreys on sale. They have some really nice bags.

Deia- Oh exactly my taste, I actually have Biba bag on my shortlist. What do you think of it regarding interviews? Do you prefer the Biba or the Tula? Is there any specific store that might have some Hobbs left on sale? Great tip about BR, thank you.

Circe- I will keep my eyes open for RM. It really sucks finding appropriate workwear when you are busty. Finding something that doesn't make you look like a sex siren or a big fat blob is seriously hard. I dream of starting to earn enough so that I can get all my work-wear made to measure and not have to play this game all the time. I actual ordered one of those made to measure button down shirts, let's see how that goes .

 

[Deia]

I love the Biba bag, tempted to buy it myself!! It's a gorgeous pattern and IMO subtle enough for interviewing.

Yea, like Circe, I have issues finding suits too... big hips/butt and not so small chest make it annoying. I am one size on top and another on the bottom (UK12 on top/UK14 on bottom). In fact, I mainly wear dresses to work because of it.

Also try...

Ted Baker - I have a "suit" from there (tailored dress + blazer), nice tailoring.

Reiss could also be worth a try. Plenty of stores across London.

Cheaper option - Mango and Zara have some nice suits too...but Zara is not made for the curvy, at least their pants aren't.

If I think of anything else I will let you know

 

[Rhea]

I don't regularly wear suits for my jobs. I need them for the interview, the first day, and then usually a couple of times a month for court appearances. The Next suit I had held up for a couple of years for these purposes for me. I'm in a job where I wear jeans to work most days. My primary concern is usually price, and I'm highly motivated to pick something quickly because I hate clothing shopping. The only other two suits I've owed were from Macy's (less expensive) and Nordstrom (more expensive), and quality wise it was probably better than Macy's but not by much.

I second the vote for Mango.

I like Reiss, but find it to be more expensive than the budget that you gave.

 

[ame]

Yea I have a mental block on bags at $500. My LPs are $465, but I USUALLY don't buy those til they hit Ebags or something where they're reduced somehow.

 

[Deia]

One more...

I have a suit from Marks and Spencer's that I bought 4 years ago, and it still looks perfect, in fact I really like it. Some of their stuff can look "momsy" or a bit older than my age, but you can find some nice suits if you look around. I suggest you go there too natascha!And it won't be expensive.

Yea, Rhea is right, Reiss will probably be a bit outside budget, but I am thinking you might still catch something in the sale

edit - ok I lied...yet another suggestion... try Massimo Dutti - better version of Zara (in fact owned by same people)

 

[natascha]

Giggling like a schoolgirl because I found a block of cheese composed of 5 different cheddars . I have a weird relationship with cheese.

Can't make a poll, but what do you think of black suits for a woman? I want a dark grey one but that is practically impossible to find. Don't get me started on the unfairness of guy suits vs girls suites. Guys have it so much easier. I mean, do they seriously expect us to just stay home and get pregnant?

Well I tried on Hobbs, Jaeger, Planet, and a couple of other brands. Erm when is someone going to start making things for us curvy/busty girls? We are all not strait up and down. I have boobs but I don't want to look like a hooker, niether do I want to dress like my granmother in a two sizes too big suit . Oh and there is some serious generous sizing going on, just to confuse the matter further. Their conversion charts tell me that I should have a size 16-18 but I am really a 12-14 . This is just one of the reasons as why I won't order clothing on the net. Rant over, sorry for that. Sometimes I just wish I had one of those wonderful lean bodies that fit everything.

Deia- Yay for the Biba! Thank you for the tips, they are going on my list. When I am at a lower weight Zara's pants actually fit me well. My body is a bit of false marketing, from the front it's va va voom with lots of curves but I don't have the butt to even it out (that's the great thing wth being with a Swede, they don't expect big butts and appreciate my small behind ).

I usually find that momsy places have better suites for us curvy ladies, although the cuts are so so.

Rhea- Oh I am jealous that you get to shop in the US when living in the UK. Planning on heading over to Next tomorrow to see what they have. I kinda need the same thing from this suit, some interviews, etc.

Ame- The mental block thing is horrible. Now you need to get a new baby bag, isn't that a good excuse for an expensive bag .

Question regarding material: How important do you think it is that the suit is a proper wool one?

 

[natascha]

Update:

I am not kidding when I say I tried on 23 different brands and usually at least 2-3 different models of each brand before giving up . Once again it was hammered home that I have an odd body . Being a mixed mutt is great for somethings but ain't that great for finding clothes that fit (although if I do say so myself I look pretty fine nekkid ). I have a very hourglassy figure with lots of boobage and a short torso from my latina side (like my grandma who is 4ft10, buys shoes in the children section and has a chest so large that the doctors have issues taking her heart ultrasounds). Then we have my Swedish side with a 6ft tall grandma , I got really long slim legs from that side (oh and -burn to a crisp at the slightest hint of sun- skin). Thankfully I grew into my mixed heritage (looked pretty odd as a kid), except for the issues in finding clothes.

So I finally found a suit that fits well. Kicker is I need the blazer in petite and the bottom in regular . I think I ended up explaining the issue at least 10 times to different sales assistants since they would always assume I got it mixed up, offer to help and sometimes point out that I am tall so the petite range is not for me.

I ended up with a suit from Next since they have the some of the same lines in both petite and regular so I could mix them. Wish I could have gotten the matching dress but the petite version ended mid thigh and the regular left me tonnes of extra material at the waist. I got this one http://www.next.co.uk/x5068s3#788939x50 with the matching skirt (those wide pants did not look good with my body type). It worked great since it had three buttons close together at the waist (with my boobs buttons over the chest don't work and having just one button creates a weird v shaped line no matter the size I tried on). The fact that it has the detailing above and below the waist works miracles for us hourglass figures, no odd creases to be seen .

Does anyone know of any other brands that do a petite and a regular range in the same models?

 

[Deia]

I think M&S do Natascha

 

[Buttons]

Natascha have you tried Benetton? I complimented a colleague once on her beautiful grey wool suit and she said it was from there and she highly recommended them "for people like us with curves and really long legs". I cracked up because while I do have the curves I certainly don't have the legs! The recommendation stuck in my head as I found it so funny. This girl is about 5'10", with slender arms and legs (the legs go up to her armpits), a teeny tiny waist and, eh, an ample bosom Might be worth a look?

I have had great success with suits from M&S, I find they wash really well and I can make an M&S suit last me a couple of years (I wear a skirt suit to work every. single. day.). Re petite & regular versions of the same thing, I would add Principles, Dorothy Perkins, and Wallis to the list. Also the Calico and Collection concessions in Debenhams might be worth a look.

 

[Rhea]

Yay! Go Next! I bought so many interview clothes there.

I second M&S for mixing sizes.