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?

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?

Heart Print Zatchels Barrel Bag Review

If you're a style blogger, or just have a passion for fashion, you may remember that back in April satchel manufacturer Zatchels threw a flash-sale to celebrate their second birthday.

The promotion was an irresistible fifty percent off all bags for one day only, and understandably, the demand was substantial. Customers flocked to the website desperate to buy an authentic hand made leather bag, and... the website crashed immediately. I spent two and a half hours (from the moment the clock struck midnight) hitting refresh while they worked to fix the issue, determined to make my purchase, and after a few more hiccups, my bag was bought and paid for at 2:45am.

Zatchels' customer service during the server crash was above and beyond. They kept everyone updated on Twitter and Facebook, and apologised profusely. They even extended the promotion for a further 24 hours as an apology for the inconvenience! In the weeks that followed, there were several emails keeping customers updated about time frames for receiving our bags, explaining about just how many orders they were dealing with and that their small team was working their socks off to fill them.

I knew from the beginning that the demand during such a generous promotion was going to be overwhelming, so I was patient as the weeks passed by. By week six, I started to lose that patience. I placed my order two and a half hours in to a forty-eight hour promotion, yet others were receiving their bags weeks before me. On week eight or nine, I found myself a little annoyed to see satchels in the print I was still waiting for in their Bicester Village pop up shop. On week ten, my bag finally arrived!

While I wasn't impressed with the length of time I had to wait for my bag, I certainly wasn't disappointed with my order. Just look at this beautiful bag! This is the red and white love hearts barrel bag, which retails for £50. I paid about £30 for the bag (including delivery) during the flash sale, which was an absolute bargain!

All Zatchels bags are made to order and are made by hand by a small team in the UK. Zatchels is a young brand, but their company has been making leather shoes and bags for many years by highly skilled manufacturers- and believe me, you can tell!

This barrel bag is a high quality accessory! The leather is so thick and sturdy; you only need run your hand over the fabric to feel the quality. It's so smooth, and the bag looks likely to keep it's shape.

The stitching is flawlessly neat, and it's clear there's little chance of any of it coming loose! The attention to detail really is fantastic, and it's obvious just how carefully crafted this bag was. The leather has been neatly cut and is perfectly straight, as is the buckle and strap.

I love the deep dark red of the bag, and think it fits in to my style so well. The heart print is lovely, and it's definitely very me.

The bag is fastened closed by a strap and buckle. It's great for keeping the contents of your bag secure, but a little inconvenient when you're paying for something, or are in a rush. It would be easier if there was a popper fastening, although I believe it wouldn't fit with the vintage style of the bag very well.

The inside of the bag is red, too!

It has enough room for all those essentials, and is quite roomy for a small day bag. I got my purse, phone, iPod, lip balm and keys in the other day with room to spare.

The fastening has four notches, which is handy if the bag becomes a little full. It will also be useful if a notch becomes a little worn as time goes on.

The bag comes with a long strap which can be worn across the body or on the shoulder. It has eight notches so it can be adjusted for your needs or length preference. I personally like my cross-body-bags long, and it could be a little longer... but, it is comfortable to use and still reasonably long.

The back of the bag is just as neat as the front.



Such a cute print!

This is it hanging on my full-length mirror on the shortest notch.

So, I honestly adore this bag, and the very long wait was worth it in the end! I really can't complain as I was able to buy a high-quality British custom and hand made leather bag for the price of a pleather bag on the high street. You can find the bag here, but of course, there are lots of other designs to choose from, too.

I have a feeling that this bag is going to last for decades without falling apart or ageing, and I would happily shop with Zatchels again. As luck would have it, today I won a classic red satchel, and I can't wait to receive it, and review that one, too!

Did you buy a Zatchels bag in the flash sale? What are your thoughts on the brand?

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?

Zatchels 2nd Birthday Flash Sale

If you're a blogger or a reader of blogs, I'm sure you're probably already aware of Zatchels' fantastic birthday sale. News of the generous sale has spread across the blogosphere like wild fire, and caused quite a stir of excitement- with myself included!

Basically, Zatchels are celebrating their second birthday with a flash sale of 50- yes, 50 percent off all of their beautiful handmade bags!

 That's fifty percent off an authentic, good-quality leather bag, lovingly handmade to order in England by skilled craftsmen. Bags of such quality and craftsmanship obviously cost a little more than those mass-produced for the high street, but with fifty percent off they're far more affordable- which is why this flash sale is so fantastic! For instance, an £86 satchel, is currently just £43! Amazing

This sale was originally until midnight tonight, (Saturday 20th April), but due to a few technical difficulties last night, Zatchels have extended it until 5pm tomorrow, (Sunday 21st April). If you're looking to get yourself a new leather bag, now is the time to do it!! Go, go, go!!

Here are my favourites from their website...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 //

If I had the funds, I certainly would have treated myself to a satchel or two, as I've longed for one for years. I love the polka dot designs, and the bold block colours. I did, however, be irresponsible, and treated myself to the red heart print barrel bag as it was a little more affordable, and I've coveted it for months. I can't wait to get my hands on it! 

It did take me two and a half hours to order it as the demand caused havoc to their website as soon as it hit midnight, but I got there in the end! I'm so excited!

Will you be buying yourself something from Zatchels, or have you done so already?