Zatchels Polka Dot Satchel Review

I'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to my bag collection, this rather gorgeous polka dot Zatchels satchel!

Isn't it a beauty? It was a birthday present from my older sister, which I convinced her to buy after I spotted it in the Zatchels sale back in June. It was just £31 instead of £110, which was a complete steal, and we both agreed it was too great a bargain to pass up. She paid for the bag, and I paid for shipping, (fair deal, I think!), and it finally arrived on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago after a very long six week wait.

While I was not at all happy about the very long wait- more on that in a minute- I'm pleased to say the satchel didn't disappoint. I've wanted a polka dot satchel for years, and this bag is far more perfect than I could have ever hoped for. It's absolutely beautiful in both design and craftsmanship.

Like all of Zatchels' bags, the satchel was handmade in Britain by a team of skilled crafts-people using high quality leather and fastenings. You can really see the skill used to make this satchel; the stitching is uniformly straight, and there's not a single stitch out of line. It's clear by how perfectly every piece has been put together that it was made carefully and with precision by highly-skilled people. I can also feel the quality of the materials used; the leather is wonderfully thick, and the nickel buckles are so sturdy. You really do get what you pay for with a Zatchels satchel and in this case that means quality!

The satchel features a large main compartment at the back of the bag, and a smaller pocket to the front, which is the perfect place to keep the items you want to grab quickly, like your phone or keys. This satchel is the 13", and while it looks like a big bag, it doesn't have a huge amount of space... but it does have enough room for the essentials. I can fit my purse, keys, phone, iPod, lip balm, Kindle, and some make up in it with a little room to spare. I can't carry around a heavy bag anymore, anyway, so it definitely meets my needs most days.

The bag is fastened by two straps at the front, which need to be buckled and unbuckled by hand. It can be slightly inconvenient when you're in a rush, but it doesn't take too long to do. If you don't like the idea of dealing with buckles whenever you want access to your belongings, Zatchels now offer the option of adding magnetic claps to their bags- although it wasn't an option when I purchased this one, or I probably would've added them.

The satchel also has an adjustable shoulder strap, which has a silver nickle buckle fastening and eleven notches so you can adjust it to the desired length. I love my bags long, and on the longest notch it sits on my upper thigh, or on the hip when worn across the body, which is perfect for me. It doesn't matter how short or tall you are, or what size you are, the shoulder straps on Zatchels satchels will adjust to accommodate most people's needs.

I absolutely adore this satchel, and I would recommend Zatchels satchels to anybody who loves high-quality leather satchels. This bag is my third Zatchels bag- I also have a classic red satchel and a red heart print barrel bag- and I've yet to find a fault with any of them.

However, I will say, I've not been impressed with the length of time I've had to wait for the two bags I purchased (during two different transactions a year apart). Last year, I had to wait a ridiculous ten weeks for my barrel bag to be delivered, and this year I was left waiting for this satchel for six long weeks. Not cool! I started getting annoyed after a month had passed. 

I ordered my satchel within the first half an hour of their sale, yet people who had placed their orders later were getting their bags before me. So frustrating! I personally think they need to be conscious of working on orders by date and not just by design, even if they feel it's more efficient to work from one leather at a time. Their service is extremely slow during sale time and I don't think I'll be in a hurry to shop with them online again, even for a beautiful bargain. I understand that they get flooded with orders during sales and they're only human, but I haven't got the patience for service that slow, even if their bags are so beautifully crafted.

This polka dot satchel was definitely worth the long wait, though, and I absolutely love it! Sadly this design is no longer available, but there are different colours to choose from here which are currently on sale. I think there's only one day left of their sale, so get in fast if you want to snag a bargain!

Do you own a Zatchels satchel?

Wednesday Wish List

Hey guys,

Would you like to see what's on my wish list this week?

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I really like these simple block colour shift and swing dresses from Truly You and ASOS Curve. While it's true that I wear prints most of the time, I also enjoy wearing plain bold colours. The beautiful colours make a statement on their own, but I also see them as a blank canvas to style a thousand different ways with accessories and other garments.

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I'm finding myself drawn to a lot of black and dark reds at the moment, now that my thoughts have moved on to my Autumn / Winter wardrobe. The online shops have no shortage of either, and ASOS Curve have some lovely understated yet classic pieces, like the three dresses above. I can't decide which one I like best.

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Modcloth, New Look, F&F at Tesco and ASOS also have gorgeous pieces in the same colour palette. I've grouped this lot together because I would mix and match, and wear most of the pieces together. I'm particularly smitten with the polka dot button-down skirt, and the cat ears bag.

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These three fit and flare dresses from Modcloth are just beautiful. They all go from a size XS up to a 4X, which is fantastic! The plaid would be perfect for Autumn, and the polka dot beauty reminds me of a dress my Mum had when I was growing up.

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These two circle skirts from Lindy Bop are absolutely stunning. The pink is covered in a martini-glass print!

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It's been so chilly here in England this past week, so I think it's almost time to stock up on cosy slippers, and PJs. I love the Bambi lounge wear from F&F at Tesco; they'd be perfect for curling up on the sofa with a couple of movies when the nights start rolling in. 

The slippers are all from Accessorize, who make the comfiest fleecy slippers. I have a pair of slipper boots from a previous season, and they're so warm and soft. I'd like to treat myself to the fairisle boots if they're still available a little later in the year. (FYI, they have plenty of room to accommodate chunky legs)!

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And finally, I've found a couple more satchels from River Island that I'd love to have in my collection; they make the best satchels on the affordable end of the high street. I'm still smitten with the burgundy version I shared in last week's wish list, and it's likely to be my next purchase.

What's on your wish list this week?

Which of these are your favourites?

My 10 Favourite Body Shop Beauty Products Part 1

The Body Shop are and have been one of my favourite beauty brands for almost two decades now. I can remember using their shower gels and body lotions as far back as age ten. I've long admired them for their ethical values, and in particular for the fact that their products weren't / aren't tested on animals.

When I first began shopping with them in the nineties, only a handful of beauty brands were commonly known as cruelty free (to me, at least), but I knew I could go to The Body Shop to buy beauty products with a clear conscience. I've always been against animal testing for cosmetic purposes, and the thought of animals being abused so we can wear make up or strawberry scented shampoo makes me feel ashamed, and disgusted. That's why I love The Body Shop. I can indulge on lovely, frivolous, beauty products and not feel guilty that an animal is suffering for my vanity. Everything is 100% vegetarian, too, and they also trade fairly in a way which benefits communities, so in my opinion, there are so many reasons why The Body Shop are worth shopping with. One being that their lotions and potions smell amazing and work like a dream.

As I use The Body Shop's products more than any other beauty brand, I thought it was time I shared some of my favourites with you. I've compiled my top ten favourites, half of which I'm going to talk about today.

Coconut body butter

I've been using Body Shop body butters for a very long time, and at present, I own the body butters in four different scents, including vineyard peach, satsuma, cranberry and coconut. While I do dabble in the different flavours from time to time, my favourite has always been the coconut, and it's the one I use and buy most often. It's enriched with Community Fair Trade virgin organic coconut oil, and the tropical scent never fails to make me nostalgic for past summer holidays. I like to use it on my legs, feet, and elbows during the summer months because it's heavier than a body lotion, and it works wonders on moisturising those dryer, hard-wearing areas that need a little extra TLC. Each time I use it, I get great results immediately, and I'm left with the softest, smoothest skin. I particularly love using it after shaving my legs because it gives me the silkiest pins I could ask for. And it smells amazing, too.

Coconut lip butter

I get badly chapped lips on a regular basis and have tried countless lip balms over the years but none of them have ever made much of a difference. That was until I bought a pot of the coconut lip butter for the first time last year. Unlike all the others, this lip butter actually hydrates, moisturises, and softens my lips, and that is a bloody miracle! It contains organic virgin coconut oil and has a thick butter-like consistency which work together to deeply nourish even the driest of lips. The butter seems to create a barrier that keeps my lips in shape for a couple of hours after being applied, which may not sound that remarkable, but for a girl whose lips usually become dry and chapped minutes after applying a lip balm, it's extremely impressive. I couldn't live without this lip balm now and always carry a pot of it in my handbag.

Peppermint cooling foot lotion

I have been using the peppermint cooling foot lotion since I was nine or ten, so my love affair with this lotion goes back nineteen or twenty years! I don't use many beauty products today that I was using twenty-years ago, so I think this shows just how much I love this foot lotion and how satisfied I am with it. It's a multi-functioning foot lotion. The mix of peppermint oils and cocoa butter not only smell fantastic, but work to banish foot odour, no matter how sweaty and pungent your feet may be. It cools hot, tired and swollen feet, which can provide some much-needed relief after a long day travelling or on your feet. And of course, it works to keep your feet well moisturised and softened. I like to apply this lotion after soaking my feet in a foot spa for ten or fifteen minutes, and I'll then cover my feet in a pair of cotton socks for a few hours to give the lotion time to sink in and work its magic. It never fails to give me extremely soft skin, but I get the best results when I pop the socks on after applying it to my feet.        

Banana shampoo and banana conditioner

I've confessed my love for the banana shampoo and conditioner before, and I'll declare it again: I love the Body Shop's banana shampoo and conditioner. They both have a nostalgic banana scent which reminds me of banana yoghurt, and I could sit and inhale the aroma all day long. Both the shampoo and the conditioner are made from real banana puree, and they really do smell good enough to eat.

The banana shampoo always leaves my hair feeling beautifully clean, even when I begin the shower with greasy hair. It may be a gentle shampoo, but it's a feisty little thing . Once my hair is dried, it feels incredibly soft and light- not unlike the results I get at the hairdresser's- and every lock looks shiny, healthy and glossy. I often use the shampoo on my fringe in between hair washes, without following it with a conditioner, and it gives the same great results used on its own, too!

The banana conditioner is one of my all time favourite hair care products, and I've only been using it for about a year and a half. The Body Shop describe the conditioner as being "thick and creamy", but I personally think it's quite a light conditioner compared to a lot of others I've tried. Don't let that put you off, though; this conditioner is worth its weight in gold. When I massage it in to my hair, I usually leave it to sink in for a minute or two before I rinse it out, and afterwards my hair feels wonderfully conditioned. It leaves me with very few tangles, so my hair is really easy to brush through before I attack it with the hair dryer. And once my hair is washed, dried and styled, I'm left with the softest, shiniest tresses I could ever dream of having. Not bad for a cruelty free conditioner that costs an affordable £4.50!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about five of my favourite Body Shop products. Keep an eye out for the second part of this post coming up next Monday when I will be talking about another five of my favourites.

What are your favourite Body Shop beauty products?

Red Gingham and Strawberries

When I first began blogging, I was happy to post photos of my outfits on my blog regardless of the quality of them. Grainy, shadowy, dark... I took what I got and just shared them. Now I have much higher standards, and try to use only the best photos my little point and shoot camera can take. (Which, let's face it still aren't great). I just like to do everything as best as I can. That's the control freak in me.

Today's photos have been sitting in my drafts for about a month. I wasn't going to share them because they're awful. I took them on an insanely hot sunny day during last month's heatwave, so they came out so over-exposed. Our garden doesn't get any shade from dawn til dusk. I had hoped to re-shoot this outfit, but I've not been physically able to, and I'm not sure when I will be, so I've decided to share them anyway. I wanted to show you guys this dress before Autumn starts creeping in because it is a real gem of a summer frock, and I'm too aware that summer is swiftly ticking away.

Introducing my very first Lindy Bop dress- the Audrey red check swing dress!

I adore it! 

I'd been on the hunt for the perfect red gingham dress for a couple of years, so when I found it and realised it came in my size, I just had to have it. I hadn't worn gingham since primary school and back then I was forced to wear a red gingham shirt dress every summer with a red sweatshirt and white socks. I loathed that uniform. When I left Primary school in 1996, I was determined never to wear gingham again... and for eighteen years I didn't... until last month when I found this dress and fell in love with it. I blame blogging; blogging has made me love gingham again! That and the fact this dress is an absolute beauty!

Sure, I may look like a table cloth threw up on me, or that I've just come from a 1950s village fete, but I love it. It makes me want to go picnic down by the river, make daisy chains and read old Enid Blyton novels.

What I love about the dress is that it's so beautifully made and high quality, yet so inexpensive. This dress was just £29.99! Lindy Bop is the most affordable vintage reproduction brand I've personally come across, and the quality is far greater than most dresses you can find on the high street for the same price. They're a great brand to start with if you're thinking of dabbling in rockabilly fashion but aren't quite sure what styles work for you yet, and they're equally great for anybody on a tight budget.

One size up // Two sizes up

What I didn't know before I bought this dress was that Lindy Bop cater to plus sizes! They stock UK sizes 8-22 with many pieces up to a 26, and instead of creating a separate plus size range, all clothes are available to all sizes they carry (well, at least up to a 22) with is fantastic. I'd always assumed that they wouldn't stock my size, so I had only admired them from afar. I could kick myself for not checking sooner! 

As for fit and sizing- I ordered a size up to begin with, as I usually do with fitted waist dresses, and as you can see in these photos, it fit well everywhere but was a little snug on the waist. Snug clothes hurt my spine so I decided to send it back and got the next size up, which was a much comfier fit on the waist, but as usual, baggy on top. 

It's rare that I get the perfect fit. I'm broad-shouldered, but only a c-cup, and my waist is only two or three inches narrower than my bust, so if I want a dress to fit comfortably on the waist, it will usually be loose on top. It's not a big deal to me because I always cover up with a cardi in public, but I think I'll probably get my tailor (read: Mum) to take this one in for me. (I really need to learn how to sew). 

I've seen other bloggers call this dress true to size, so all I can say is use the size guides on their website against your measurements if you're unsure. 

The good news is, if you need to exchange anything for a different size, you can send it back for a straight swap instead of having to return and reorder! My exchange was with me in less than a week. The bad news is, you have to pay the postage costs to return anything, which sucks.

I styled this dress with a strawberry necklace, strawberry cross-body bag, yellow polka dot pumps, and a red shrug. My only mistake was putting the cardigan on in 32'c heat for a couple of minutes. It wasn't my wisest move. I thought I was going to pass out! I started feeling sick and had to get a cold shower to cool my body down. I'm not the brightest crayon in the box.

The print would make a great table cloth, but it's an even better dress! I wish it came in other colours!

The strawberry necklace came from a vintage shop / stall in Camden called Berty and Gerty. I'm pretty sure it's not vintage, but I love it just the same.

The white flowers remind me of strawberry blossom, so I had to use it as a background for my strawberry bag. I think the bag is perfect with the gingham dress, because red gingham makes me think of summer picnics and you can't have a summer picnic without strawberries! 

The bag came from Accessorize about a year ago, so unfortunately it's not a current line.

I don't own the perfect pair of shoes for this dress, so I just wore my new yellow polka dot ballet pumps from New Look. Aren't they cute? They're from the wide fit section and were only £9.99, so naturally I had to buy them in navy as well. They're not available online anymore, but it could be worth checking your local store just in case.

Outfit Details

Dress- Lindy Bop. (Sizes 8-26).

Cardigan- M&Co. (Similar, sizes 8-22).

Necklace- Berty and Gerty.

Bag- Accessorize.

Shoes- New Look. (Wide fit sizes 3-8).

Since ordering this dress, I've purchased another two Audrey dresses- this one and this one- and I'm hooked. I'm coveting so many other Lindy Bop clothes that I know this is just the start of what will be a large collection. I can't wait to show you my two polka dot Audreys this Autumn!

Are you a Lindy Bop fan?

Wednesday Wish List

Well hello there!

How is it Wednesday again already? It doesn't feel like a week has gone by since my last wish list post, or my last trip to the hospital. The last few weeks have ticked by so quickly and I've no idea where they've gone.

I've got lots of beautiful pieces to show you this week, but I'm going to keep the words short and sweet because I'm struggling to sit here and write. I had multiple facet injections in to my spine last Wednesday under local anaesthetic (I lost count after eight), and the pain in my back has been raging far worse than normal ever since. My spine and lower back are on fire. I haven't been able to lie on my back or sit up against anything since they were done, because my back hurts so much, and the extra pain is making it difficult for me to function for any length of time. I'm not quite sure when the pain will ease off, since I was told I'd bounce back after a day or two, but hopefully I'll be back to my normal level of pain soon. I'm beginning to doubt that the injections are going to make a difference to the pain, but I guess we shall see.

I can at least see that this isn't short and sweet at all, and I just wrote an essay! Let's move on to the wish lists before I send you all off to dreamland!

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I'm currently obsessed with everything red, black, burgundy, plum, and forest green, not that you'd know  it from the wish list above... I'm loving a bunch of beautiful dresses from Lindy Bop and Hell Bunny, but my most sought-after piece this week is the gorgeous burgundy satchel from River Island. I need it, I want it, and I have to have it! It would go perfectly with so many AW outfits. I already have two very similar RI satchels in green and gold, but it wouldn't hurt to add a third to the collection... the colour is proving impossible to resist.

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My wish lists wouldn't be complete without a good dose of colour, and a quirky accessory or twelve. 

Aren't the 'Little Moose' sloth and octopus accessories amazing?! Char shared them in her Friday Favourites post last week, and made me fall in love with them all! They are hands down some of the cutest accessories I've ever seen.

Dress // Jumpsuit

I forgot to add these to the first collage, but I really love the spot prom dress and black lace jumpsuit from Claire Richards' collection for Simply Be. The jumpsuit is stunning!

What's on your wish list this week? 

Which of these are your favourites?

Cut Make Trim Leather Satchels + Discount Code

If you've been following my blog for a while, you may remember that a little earlier in the year I had the pleasure of reviewing a beautiful handmade leather barrel bag from British satchel manufacturer Cut Make Trim. [Read the review here]. 

The bag is one of the most beautifully-crafted, high-quality bags I've ever owned and over the last few months, it's become one of my firm favourites. I've enjoyed using it time and time again, and I couldn't be happier or more impressed with it.

So, I'm pleased to be able to offer an exclusive Cut Make Trim discount code for Polka Spots and Freckle Dots readers today. (Coming up at the end of this post).

First, let me tell you a little bit about Cut Make Trim and the bags they make.

Cut Make Trim are a small team of experienced crafts people who make high-quality leather satchels by hand at their workshop in London using high quality leathers and fittings. At present, their collection is made up of five designs which come in up to twenty-two stunning colours including neutrals, brights, neons and pastels. There's sure to be a design for you no matter what your colour preference and handbag needs are.

The 11.5 Inch Satchel

Powder Pink // Pink // Fuscia // Purple

The 13 Inch Satchel

Powder Blue // Royal Blue // Patent Grey // Black

The 15 Inch Satchel

Tan // Ranger Cognac // Dark Tan // Chocolate

Cut Make Trim's beautiful handmade leather satchels come in three sizes, so whether you like to travel light or prefer to carry everything but the kitchen sink around with you, they've got you covered. Each size comes in 18 or more classic and fashionable colours, and feature brass buckles and adjustable straps. These classic satchels are stylish and will never go out of fashion, so they're a great investment for your handbag collection and capsule wardrobe. They're ideal bags to take to college, uni, and work, as well as for every day use, like going shopping or doing a spot of sight-seeing.

The Barrel Bag

Red // Fluorescent Orange // Green // Yellow

The barrel bag is a fantastic alternative to the classic satchel, and it's my personal favourite because it has much more room than the average satchel. It's the perfect bag for anybody who wants the charm of a classic satchel but needs something with a lot more space for all those essentials, and perhaps something a little bit different.

I have one in fuchsia and it's not only functional and practical but one of the most beautiful bags I've ever owned. I can fit so much in it, it's one coat stand away from becoming a Mary Poppins bag! I couldn't recommend this bag enough, and if fuchsia isn't your thing, it also comes in 20 other colours. If you'd like to read my full review of the Cut Make Trim barrel bag, you can do so here. 

The Saddle Bag

Fluorescent Yellow // Fluorescent Green // Fluorescent Orange // Fluorescent Pink

The saddle bag is a smaller but just as stylish alternative to the satchels and barrel bag. It comes in 22 gorgeous colours, so whether you love brights, pastels, or classic neutrals, there's sure to be a saddle bag for you! This design would go perfectly with jeans and a tee, or worn over a dress, cardi, and tights.

So, now I've shown you Cut Make Trim's beautiful leather bags, it's time for the good news:

Cut Make Trim are offering Polka Spots and Freckle Dots readers an exclusive discount of 15% off all Cut Make Trim bags at  www.cutmaketrim.co using the code: polkaspotsandfreckledots!

Fantastic, right?

This code is available to the first 50 customers who use it, and all you need to do is enter the code at the checkout at www.cutmaketrim.co once you're ready to pay for your order. It couldn't be easier.

Why not take advantage of this exclusive discount code and treat yourself to a beautiful new bag for Autumn or the new school term? I promise you won't be disappointed!

Will you be treating yourself to one of these lovely bags? Which one is your favourite?

*The exclusive discount code is available to the first 50 customers who use it, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Literary Listography: My Reading Life In Lists Book Review

Over the last year or so, I've expressed my love of the Listography books on several occasions here on Polka Spots and Freckle Dots, and I'm here to do it once more.

I recently added a sixth Listography book to my collection, the newly released Literary Listography: My Reading Life in Lists book, and as an avid reader and list-maker, I've been looking forward to this book for months! When I finally got my hands on a copy last week, I wasn't disappointed.

Like the others, Literary Listography is a fun creative journal book full of prompts to create lists from. In this case, all of the lists are reading themed, providing you with a place to record your reading life; the books you love, the authors you admire, the fictional characters you adore and so much more.

There are more than 70 lists spanning 160 pages, and they really have covered everything a book lover could ever wish to document.  I can't list them all, but here's a little taster of some of the lists the book has to offer.

Some of my favourite lists in the book include:

♥ My top 20 most beloved books.

♥ My favourite authors.

♥ Dystopian books I love.

♥ Books that made me cry.

♥ Books I hope they make in to films.

♥ Fictional characters I connected with.

♥ Books I couldn't finish.

♥ My favourite book covers.

♥ Books I could pin a song to.

♥ Favourite films adapted from books.

Each list is given a double page spread, with a water colour style illustration on one page, and the writing prompt and space to list on the other. 

Some pages have a full page of lines to write on..

 ...while some are split in to two columns.

There are also pages at the back of the book dedicated to favourite book beginnings and endings, favourite quotes and books to read before you die. These topics have been given three or four pages of writing space each, and one for the illustrations.

I love the beautiful watercolour illustrations. Just look how stunning the tiger is for Life of Pi!

The reason I love the Listography books is because they're fun to fill in and they get me thinking about a variety of different subjects, some I may never have given a lot of thought to before. I love documenting my life in this way; it's like creating my own autobiography through lists! I think the completed books would be interesting for family members to discover in fifty years time, stored away at the back of the cupboard with old photos and mementos. I know I would have loved to have found books like this filled in by my parents or grandparents. 

I can't wait to work my way through the Literary Listography. I've already filled in several lists, but I'm trying not to fill it in all in one go. I could happily sit for hours and work from list to list. I tend to pick up these books whenever I feel inspired and fill in a list or two at a time.

Literacy Listography: My Reading Life In Lists really is perfect for any book lover, and I think the selection of lists covers everything even the most book-obsessed person would hope to be included. It would be an ideal gift for any book lover, and an even better present for yourself!

Will you be picking up a copy of Literacy Listography?

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