What I Did On My Holidays by Retro Chick aged 32 and 1/12
June 20, 2011Vanity Sizing, Vintage, Claire (from Steps) and Living TV
June 24, 2011Woo Hoo!
I’m going back to this post from January 2010 again. It was the one where I wrote about 4 things I’ve always *really* wanted to own, but have never quite managed to get at the right price or quality.
Earlier this year I ticked “cloak” off the list with thanks to a Topshop sale. And now I get to tick off Leather Satchel too.
Shortly before I went on holiday I was contacted by The Leather Satchel Co. I have to confess here that they gave me a choice, I could have a satchel for review, or one to giveaway. I apologise profusely to you all, but 25 years of reading Enid Blyton and desperately wanting a leather satchel led me down the selfish route and I got one for myself. (You can’t say I never give you anything though, I bought you back a pen with a floating boat in it from Germany AND a souvenir shot glass and fig liqueur, if you haven’t seen it then take a trip here)
I’m not sorry about it either as I am in LOOOOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
It’s sturdy, dark brown leather, all perfect buckles with a little name and address tag on the front. I went for the 15″ extra tall version and wonder of wonders it fits my laptop perfectly. Far classier than the free laptop bag I had been using from the stationary company I used to work for!
I am completely chuffed with it and I kind of can’t wait for it to get bashed about a bit. It feels like a proper heirloom and I imagine someone finding it in a vintage shop in 50 years time and wondering about who owned it before. I might even write on the inside!
I hadn’t heard of The Leather Satchel Co before, but I think that’s because I do most of my shopping online and it seems from the communications I’ve had that it’s a small family company that are only just really getting involved in promoting themselves online. (I hope they don’t mind me saying that, but I actually really like that about them!) They’ve been around making satchels since the late 60s, so they’re presumably pretty good at it by now, but just in case they have an off day all the bags come with a 5 year guarantee.
Getting the bag delivered was pretty good fun too. It comes all wrapped up in brown paper and string, with a special gift tag attached. I took many lovely photos of the pretty packaging. Then I put them in a folder called “Satchel” on my computer. That folder now appears to be mysteriously empty, I’m very confused. I kept the tag though, so I took another photo of that!
You can find the Leather Satchel Co on their website (they sell through Amazon
Even better, they do special offers on their Facebook page. If you click the “Buy Online” link in their left hand menu and “Like” the page then you can get the 15″ “Tall Boy” in Chocolate Brown leather (which is the one I have as a laptop bag) for just Ā£54 instead of Ā£89. That’s a fantastic price for a leather satchel, and if I’d known I could get one for that price before they contacted me I’d probably have bought one (or asked for one as a present, I’m not stupid)
21 Comments
Aw you lucky thing! So many people love satchels I know but I’m rather averse to them as I had to carry one to my piano lessons when I was younger and used to get made fun of!! I don’t think I’ll ever get over that ;o)
Ha ha! I think people who were forced to have them as kids hate them. I desperately wanted one and never had one!
Ah I have a lather satchel on my wish list too! I think I’m going to have to give in a but a new one, as much as I would love an old one, I don’t think there poor worn out straps could cope with the amount of stuff I carry around and I would be so upset to be the person that broke a bag that’s lived since the 1950’s!! I loved Enid Blyton too, I guess children don’t read those anymore. I was still reading them at 11, I can only imagine most 11 year olds reactions to those stories. (feeling very old now!)
x
I just love the idea that I’ll be the person that gives this one it’s battle scars!
It only works if it’s something really good quality that’ll last forever and go onto live with someone else after I’ve finished with it!
What a wonderful gift, I don’t blame you for keeping it, it’s so beautiful:). I like your idea of writing in it for posterity – great idea!
Yay! Chuffed for you. What a lovely bag. Now what’s next on your list?
The perfect 50s frock, which I doubt I’ll find at a price I can afford, and a crinoline and muff are the last things on my list!
OMG delightful xxx
You did just the right thing. And I am WELL JEALOUS!
Ahh ha! Another LSC satchel in the vintage loving world! So pleased I found them back in March – I am still besotted with mine š
well.. I think you’re very selfish š I’d have done exactly the same! I love it when you get something you have coveted forever! I feel like that about my necklace from tiffanys i got for my 30th. And for that price (what a bargain!) and with a birthday approaching…ooh off to investigate if i could fit nappies in one!
I’m sure you could, nappies are flat!
Oddly enough…when I got home yesterday I was greeted by my lovely new brwn leather satchel. It’s not a shiny and lovely as yours…it’s a light brown, slightly battered looking bag…but it’s MINE!
Only took me nearly 27 years to own one..but now I do and could not love anything more right now!
Tee hee, another blog post from a vintage gal happy with her LSC satchel! I have most certainly not regretted treating myself to mine (the same delicious chocolate brown one you chose), and it has gone literally EVERYWHERE with me since its purchase. I <3 LSC xx
That’s very lovely!
I am just gutted that my mum gave my younger siblings HER old satchel (required at her all-girls school) to play with and they drew on it in felt tip. Aaaaargh. Even then (in the early 90’s!) I was distraught, I really fancied it for Uni. Sigh.
I assume the need for a crinoline and muff comes from Little Women!!! You will need to renew your wedding vows to be able to get away with wearing a crinoline!!!!
Very delicious! I never had a satchel, as a child I had an ugly-but-practical ‘Russell Athletic’ rucksack which I am still rather fond of in a battered-up-memory-of-guide-camp way, but wouldn’t take out and about with me.
I have always admired satchels, they remind me of pretty intellectuals cycling round university towns in tweed, sometime shortly after the war. So practical and yet all the more beautiful for it.
Cute! Love it.
What a lucky opportunity to own such a pretty satchel! I want one for school so badly. Particularly to carry my laptop just like you. These bags are so vintage-looking and amazing though. Perhaps someday I’ll own one!
I think I just turned green with envy!!
I wanted to reach out and stroke it!!
When I was younger we had a small satchel that knocked about for years and eventually dissapeared, every so often I would think of it and wish it was still in the family. Like you, I have always coveted one, the Famous Five have a lot to answer for!
Anyway, I’m glad you got one!
Wow, that’s gorgeous! Lucky you š I’m definitely going to check them out because I need something a bit more sturdy than my What Katie Did canvas tote for when my handbag just isn’t big enough.