Cut Make Trim Leather Satchels + Exclusive Discount Code

Leather satchels have become extremely popular over the last few years, coveted by fashionable men and women all over the world. No longer just a school staple, they have become the "it" bag that everybody wants a piece of. And who can blame us? Leather satchels are beautiful, chic, and versatile, and practical, too! They go with almost everything and are ideal for a variety of casual, formal, and professional situations. What's not to love?

In my opinion, everybody should have a good quality leather satchel in their wardrobe; I have three, and my favourite is a barrel bag from London-based satchel brand Cut Make Trim. 

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may remember that I reviewed this beautiful Cut Make Trim barrel bag earlier in the year (here). I'm still in love with the quality, design, and craftsmanship of the satchel all these months later, and I highly recommend Cut Make Trim for their high-quality, beautifully made satchels.

I have an exclusive discount code to share with you in just a moment, but first I'd like to share a few reasons why I love Cut Make Trim and their satchels.

♥ The beautiful bags are all made by hand by a small team of skilled leather crafts-people in London.

♥ Cut Make Trim is an English brand, and I truly believe it's important to support our own independent businesses,.

♥ Each bag is made to order.

♥ All of Cut Make Trim's bags are made from high quality leathers and fastenings. The combination of quality materials and skill results in beautiful high quality satchels.

♥ No bag has been mass-produced..

♥ No CMT bag is made in a sweat shop, and nobody has been subjected to unethical working conditions while making them.. You can rest assured knowing that nobody has suffered for your fashion choices..

♥ Each bag comes in up to twenty-two colours, including classics, brights, neons, and pastels. No matter your colour preference or needs, there's sure to be a perfect CMT bag for you.

♥ You could use Cut Make Trim satchels for work, job interviews, school, college, uni, sight-seeing, shopping, and for a variety of other every day situations.

Now on to the good news...

Cut Make Trim are offering Polka Spots and Freckle Dots readers an exclusive 20% discount off their beautiful leather bags! All you need to do is enter the code: polkaspotsandfreckledots at the checkout at cutmaketrim.co. Fantastic, right?

It's the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a new bag this Autumn, or perhaps get started on your Christmas shopping! 

The satchels would make perfect gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, milestones, and a variety of celebrations, as well as pay day treats to yourself! 

The only difficult decision is deciding on which of the five bags and twenty-two colours to buy!

Will you be treating yourself to a Cut Make Trim leather bag this Autumn?

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?

Cut Make Trim Leather Barrel Bag Review

When the lovely people from the London-based satchel manufacturer Cut Make Trim contacted me recently and offered me one of their beautiful bags for review, I didn't need to be asked twice. Well, you know how much I love handbags!

I was allowed to choose a bag to review in the colour of my choice, and I instantly fell in love with their barrel bag, which appealed to me as it was a little different to the average satchel. (More on that in a minute!) There were twenty-one lovely colours to choose from and believe me, choosing wasn't easy! (It took me over an hour!) I eventually decided to do something out of character and went with the fuscia; a colour I have very little of in my wardrobe. I'm not a 'pink' person at all, but the bold colour stood out to me on screen, and when it turned up on my doorstep a few days later, I wasn't disappointed. 

As you can see, the bag is absolutely beautiful! I may have squealed with happiness when I opened the box to find this beautifully crafted bag inside. I instantly loved everything about it.

This barrel bag is Cut Make Trim's fantastic alternative to the classic satchel. The reason I say that is because it's so much wider than the average satchel, which means it has lots more space for all those essentials- without compromising on that beautiful classic style we all know and love! It's the perfect satchel for anybody who likes to carry everything but the kitchen sink around with them in their handbag, but it's just as functional if you prefer to travel light. It's a good medium-sized bag, measuring approximately 31cm long x 19cm wide x 22cm deep (at the widest points).





I took my bag out to the cinema last week, and I was impressed by how much I was able to fit in it. I managed to fit all my essentials in with room to spare, even after the addition of a cardigan, Kindle, and a beverage! It was one step away from becoming a Mary Poppins bag; I was sure if I dug deep enough, a lamp or a coat stand was going to appear from its depths!

One of the qualities I look for in an every day bag is enough room to carry a book and a drink alongside all the usual essentials, and this barrel bag more than caters to my needs. It's not just stunning, but it's practical too. It's a fantastic bag for both work and play, and will instantly make any outfit look stylish!

Like all of Cut Make Trim's bags, this barrel bag has been hand crafted by a small team of experienced crafts people in a small workshop in London, using high quality leathers and fittings. I have to say, the quality of both the materials and the skills of the team really do shine through in this high quality bag!

The leather is of fantastic quality, which is obvious in the thickness of each piece, the good weight of the bag, the overall sturdiness, and the flawless, smooth texture. The leather is so smooth I can't stop myself from running my hands along it every time I pick it up. (Maybe I shouldn't admit to that?)

The barrel bag is secured by two metal buckles on the front, which need to be fastened by hand. It can be a little inconvenient when you're in a rush to grab your phone or your purse, but with a little patience, it doesn't take too long to buckle and unbuckle the straps. I've yet to see a vintage-style satchel with poppers or clasps underneath the straps, so the buckles are a common feature and add to the beauty of the design.

Each strap has four notches. I keep mine on the tightest notch, but the others will be invaluable if the leather slackens over time, or on those days I pack a little too much.

It features a handle on both the front and the back of the bag. This design doesn't have a handle on the top.

It also comes with a detachable shoulder strap, which can be adjusted to sit on the shoulder or across the body. It can be adjusted to seven different notches, which helps to cater to our different needs and preferences. I'm 5'6'' and the bag, fully extended, sits on my hip across the body, and at the top of my thigh on the shoulder. I'm pleased about that, because I prefer a longer length.

As for the colour, this shade is known as 'fuscia' and it's a stunning deep magenta, which I think looks stylish- and not tacky like some pink accessories can appear. I'm not much of a 'pink person', but I fell in love with it online, and I love it even more in person. The colour is so bold and cheerful, and it definitely advertises my love of colour! It makes a statement, that for sure, and I love how the fuscia adds a modern spin to a classic style of bag.

If pink isn't your thing, the barrel bag also comes in twenty other colours! From classic tan, black and navy, to colourful purple, green and yellow, fashionable neons and pretty Spring pastels, they've got the classics, the trends, and our colour preferences covered! 

The barrel bag currently retails at £84, which is fantastic considering it's a handmade leather bag, using leathers of higher quality than many of the leading satchel manufacturers. The price is affordable and cheaper than similar satchels I've seen by other companies. This is because Cut Make Trim bags are ordered direct from the makers, which means you aren't paying for the expensive adverts or the cost of running brick and mortar shops, so we are able to get their beautifully made products at a smaller price. They also offer free delivery on all of their products, which is brilliant!

Alongside the barrel bag, Cut Make Trim also make saddle bags, and satchels in three sizes (11.5", 13" and 15"), with prices starting at £44. All items can be bought via their website in a wide range of gorgeous colours. They are also available every Saturday and Sunday at the Jubilee Hall Craft Market in Covent Garden, London, where you can see all the designs in person.

I was provided with a special code so that I could 'purchase'* this bag from the website myself, in order to get a real feel for the full shopping experience. The website was very easy to shop from. I shopped, checked out, registered, and paid for my purchase within two minutes! The great thing is that you don't have to register before you add items to your basket; it can be done at the checkout, and only takes a minute. Unlike some websites, you aren't asked to fill in a million details to sign up. It was extremely easy!

The website was very easy to navigate. It's simple, clean, and uncluttered, and I had no problems finding what I was looking for. The information available is quite basic, and I would personally love to see  some advice for caring for the bags- such as what to clean the leather with if something is spilt on it and so on. Apart from that, it told me everything I needed to know, including a little about the brand, their London workshop and the designs themselves.

The delivery service was completely free, and I'm pleased to say my order arrived within three working days without a hitch.

The only thing I feel is missing from the design of the bag is an indication of who made it; there isn't a label inside proudly displaying the brand! It would also be useful to have a dust bag to protect it when its not in use; a leaflet or label provided with care advice; and perhaps a little information about where it came from!

However, the main factor is the product, and I'm extremely impressed with my beautiful barrel bag. It's wonderfully made, stunning, and practical, and I have a feeling this bag is going to stay with me for many years to come! I love this bag so much, I'm already thinking about saving up for the same bag in fluorescent orange!

I'm smitten with Cut Make Trim's striking designs and wonderful craftsmanship and I think we should expect good things from them in the future! 

If this review has interested you, why not pop on over to their website here where you can get a closer look at the full range of designs available!

Thanks for reading.

*The barrel bag was gifted to me by Cut Make Trim in exchange for a review. As always, all words, opinions, and photographs are my own.

Zatchels Classic Satchel Review

A couple of weeks ago, I became the proud owner of a beautiful Zatchels satchel after winning a Facebook competition. I enter giveaways on a fairly regular basis never believing I'll ever win, so to say I was surprised and elated to find out I'd won is an understatement! I still cannot quite believe I won such a wonderful prize, but I guess luck was just on my side that day.

Two days after I was notified by the competition holder, a large cardboard box appeared on my doorstep. I'd assumed (for some reason) it would be the smallest satchel in the range, but the satchel concealed within a black drawstring dust-bag looked enormous. I soon learnt I'd won this 14.5 inch Classic red satchel!

I thought I'd review the bag for you, since it's so beautiful, and also because I know some people aren't sure what to think of Zatchels after being disappointed by the length of time they had to wait for orders from their birthday sale back in April. I personally had to wait ten weeks to receive my heart print barrel bag, but I discovered it was worth the wait. And this one would have been, too. I should add, this is NOT a sponsored post or a condition of the competition; this is solely a review of a product I am pleased with.

Zatchels's Classic satchels have to be my favourite out of the eighteen collections they currently have to their name (closely followed by the Love Hearts and Polka Dots collections, naturally). I've been coveting a simple block-colour leather satchel for many years; there's just something so effortlessly stylish about this style of satchel. A simple, unspoiled design based on those from the past. It's the style many people would associate with school bags of days gone by, although sadly growing up in the eighties and nineties my school bags were never so chic.

My Classic red satchel is made of matte leather of the finest quality I've probably ever seen, which can really be felt when you pick it up or run a hand across it. It's a heavy weight, thick, and so sturdy. It's so perfectly put together, with the neatest stitching and not a single defect. I'm truly impressed by how beautifully made it is; especially knowing that it's been hand made! Zatchels make all of their bags by hand, using a small team of expert craftsmen, and I really believe that to be true. The satchel has been made with true skill, far superior to the quality of anything you find on the high street. It's a work of art!

If I had chosen the colour myself, I would have gone with either navy or red, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to own a satchel in a colour I've lusted after for years. The red is a beautiful deep dark red, darker than these photos suggest. The best comparison I can make is to liken it to the colour of a deep red apple. It's a very Autumnal shade; it's classic; it's professional... something I can imagine using for a job interview in the future.

The satchel features two silver nickel buckles which need to be unfastened and fastened by hand. This is in my opinion, a little inconvenient, but on the other hand, it helps to keep the contents of the bag secure from pick-pocketers.

Inside, the bag has two compartments, a large main section with tons of room for those daily essentials and

 wide enough to hold A4 items, and a smaller section at the front with plenty of room for keys, your phone, and other items you need to grab quickly. It's a large day bag, and great if you're like me and like to bring the kitchen sink with you when you're out for the day.

Something which I'm particular with when it comes to bags is the length of the strap. I like cross body bags to be long enough to sit on the hip, but they're often far shorter. This satchel, however, can sit beyond the hip on the longest notch, which I am thrilled about! It has a 150cm long strap which can be adjusted to several different lengths to cater to different needs and preferences. Perfect!

The Classic leather satchels come in five different sizes from 11.5 inch to 17.5 inch in width, starting at £86. I was given the medium size, 14.5 inch, which is £92 before adding in extras such as a handle, strap slider, and / or personalisation. My satchel was given a handle which would cost an additional £8, bringing this beauty to £100. I'm pleased it has a handle as I personally prefer the way it looks with one, and I like having the option of carrying it by hand. It's an extremely sturdy handle, and I can't imagine it losing shape over time. This bag also has a card holder on the front, which seems to be part of the basic design for satchels over 13 inches... although, I'm not sure if I'll ever make use of it.

So, I'm completely impressed and in love with my Zatchels satchel, and I've yet to find a fault in it. It's high quality, beautifully made, and has all the features a good day bag should have. I can see this satchel complimenting a variety of different outfits, and I'm especially looking forward to accessorising my Autumn outfits with it. I'd happily have paid good money for this satchel, and I'm likely to collect others in the future. I have my heart set on buying a violet pastel polka dot bag one day.

I'd recommend this satchel if you're thinking of purchasing a leather satchel, and to my knowledge, Zatchels currently have a pop up outlet shop at Bicester Village, and a factory shop in Leicester, if you're looking to grab a bargain!

Do you own a Zatchels satchel? What do you think about them?

Polka Spots and Love Hearts

Morning folks,

I was going to ask how your day was going, and wish you a great day, but then I remembered it's Monday and how everybody universally detests Mondays, so I thought I'd keep my mouth shut...

How about an outfit post, instead?

Another polka dot dress, I hear you say? Yes, you would be right! I purchased this little beauty from Rachel's sale blog at the end of last week, expecting a lovely dress, but I didn't think for a moment it would be so perfect. Granted it's a little big in places, so I've cinched it in at the back, but it's the perfect shape and style. It's fitted perfectly on top, with comfortable sleeves (sleeves!), nips in at the waist, and flares out at the hip; a mix of a tea dress and shirt dress. I feel so comfortable and feminine in this dress! It reminds me a little of a dress my Mum had when I was growing up, and also of Liv Tyler in Armageddon. I actually can't believe this is a Tesco dress! I'm so in love with it!

I wore it bare-legged around the house on Saturday as it was so muggy. Ordinarily, I would wear something like this with black or coloured opaque tights, but I can't cover my feet with socks, shoes, or tights until my toes have healed. Although, I'm positive this dress will make another appearance, restyled with tights, at a later date!

I kept the accessories simple, and went for a classic black and red theme. I picked out a few simple red pieces; my Cath Kidston rose bracelet; a pair of red lips earrings from Camden; a heart-petalled flower ring from Evans; and added in some pink in the form of my new Flower cameo brooch.

I was browsing on Etsy last weekend for accessories, in particular for cameo brooches, when I came across this little brooch from a UK company called The Devious Owl & Pussy Cat. I thought it was adorable so I snapped it up before I had time to change my impulsive mind. It was just £2.00, and shipping was £1.90, so it was a bargain. It does look quite cheap, and the glue is visible on the back where the pin has been glued to the cameo... but, that can't be seen when it's pinned to clothes, and overall I love it. It's so kitsch and tacky, but oh so cute!

I was playing around with my new Zatchels barrel bag with this outfit, which finally arrived on Thursday, thirty-six hours short of a 10 week wait! I'm not going to talk about this bag today, as I plan to do a separate feature and review of it this week, but I like how it looks with this dress. I think I'll be using this bag with the dress a lot!

Outfit Details

Dress-Rachel's Blog Sale (Tesco) // Bag-Zatchels // Bracelet-Cath Kidston // Ring-Evans // 

Earrings-Berty and Gerty // Brooch-The Devious Owl & Pussycat via Etsy //

I really am so pleased with this dress, and more so because I got it for just a few pounds! I know it's going to become one in my regular rotation. Thanks, Rachel!

Have you ever bought something from a blog sale, or an auction site such as eBay, which turned out to be one of your best ever purchases?