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?

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. 

May 31 Day Blogger's Challenge: Day 9

The Item At The Top Of My Wish List

I don't know about you, but I'm usually lusting over multiple gems at any given time. In an ideal world, money wouldn't be an issue, I'd live in a mansion by the sea (with a town house in Manhattan, naturally), and I'd be free to spend frivolously on all the lovely things I laid eyes on.

Of course, I don't live in a fantasy land, which is probably a good thing. I'm sure my conscience would eventually remind me the money could be better spent helping others than filling a huge walk-in-wardrobe! (Which of course would be the main feature in my imaginary town house). I haven't lost the plot, I promise!

Anyway, I've been spending often but wisely over the last few months, and I finally feel like I'm the owner of a beautiful wardrobe. As you all know, I love dresses, and wearing them during my injury has almost been like a type of therapy for me. Wearing a pretty dress really does have a positive effect on my mood, and there have been so many gorgeous ones around this Spring that I've bought a fair few.

I've been snapping up so many Dorothy Perkins dresses this year, but I still have my eye on so many others. I particularly love the palm tree printed dress (top centre), and the pretty floral one (bottom centre), but love all six. The unique patterns have all caught my eye and they're all calling to me to take them home. I'm a sucker for a pretty, floaty dress with a nipped in waist and a flared skirt. The black asymmetric dress is in the sale, and I think it could potentially help me on my road to bare-leg acceptance.

Another selection from Dorothy Perkins! What can I say? They have me addicted!

I'm on the lookout for a biker jacket to add an edge to all the pretty dresses I'm wearing. This one comes in a range of colours. The black is already sold out in my size, but I love the 'mink', too. I'm also craving another light-washed denim jacket. The one I purchased a month or two ago isn't fitted enough over dresses for my liking. I love both of these but especially the pin-stripe design. I love the style of the brown swan dress, and after showing you my polka dot sun dress yesterday, I'm tempted to buy it in these two other designs (bottom left and bottom right).

These two dresses are both ASOS and I've had my eye on them for a while. I like the simple style and detail of the red shirt dress, and the fun summery florals of the halterneck.

I'm almost always lusting after accessories, too.

I have the Accessorize saddle bag in coral already, and I love it so much I want to buy the purple, too. Coral obviously doesn't go with everything, so an alternative colour seems like the perfect solution to me! It's the perfect small day bag!

I recently picked up the Topshop studded slippers in black, and as a fan of anything studded, I naturally want the nude ones, too.

The Urban Decay Naked 2 pallet has been on my wish list for ages now. I'm adventurous and experimental when it comes to eye make up. I have a good collection of coloured eye shadows, but have yet to find the perfect neutrals for me. This one has a great variety of shades, and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

I also love this Britannic butterfly patterned travel bag from Accessorize. I have a similar floral one, but lent it to my sister last Autumn, who accidentally tripped on the longer strap it came with, and tore the buckle off one side. I was gutted, as the bag was my favourite and had followed me all over the UK and Ireland. It's still functional, but a little tatty now. We both came to the realisation that I wouldn't be able to travel anywhere for a while, so she brought me a backpack to apologise, instead of a new weekend bag.

I also keep admiring Pin Up Girl Clothing dresses which are a little out of my price-range right now, and the petticoats from Domino Dollhouse.

What have you all been lusting after?

My Battle With Self-Confidence

The main purpose of this blog, besides having something to focus on during my injury, is to help myself gain more confidence with my body.

I've always been self-conscious of certain parts of my body, and dress to flatter my figure as much as possible. That means staying clear of certain styles of clothing, and not baring certain body parts. I know us girls all have insecurities about our bodies, and we all have parts we don't like and aren't very confident about showing off. For me, that's my legs, and my upper arms.

My upper arms are always covered when I leave the house. I haven't gone out of the house baring my legs in several years. I spent a week baring them in New York last August as it was just too hot to cover them, and it felt so liberating, but I haven't found that confidence at home in England. I wish I could walk around in the sunshine with a floaty skirt on and no leggings underneath, but I haven't found that confidence yet.

So, posting these photos of today's outfit is a big step for me. They're the kind of shots I wouldn't share with my nearest and dearest. Nobody will have ever seen my upper arms or legs uncovered, apart from my family.

Today was a bad pain day, so i didn't make it out of my bedroom at all, but it didn't stop me from getting dressed and playing around with an outfit for five minutes.

Skirt- Next

T-shirt- Dorothy Perkins

Denim gilet- New Look

Saddle Bag- Accessorize

Necklace- Camden Lock Market (see yesterday's post)

The toucan t-shirt was delivered yesterday. It's a very pale peach/ flesh colour, not the pink in the picture on the website, but i love the motif and the fit of the t-shirt. I'm really pleased with the bag, too. I know i will get a lot of use out of it over the summer, as it works with so many of my dresses.

Does anyone else have a complex with a certain part of their body? Do you care how strangers see you, or do you just go out with your head held high?

Outfit and Haul | It's Officially Summertime!

What gorgeous sunny weather we've been having in the UK the last few days! Such a great start to British Summertime. Unfortunately I've not been able to go outside to enjoy it over the weekend as I've been pretty immobile, but it's been nice to lie under my fan looking at the blue sky watching my LOST and Sex and the City boxsets.

I've made a couple of cheeky purchases this weekend. I know I should be watching my spending as money is tight since I'm not able to work right now, but I couldn't resist.

I snapped up this lovely coral-pink saddle bag in Accessorize's sale. I'd been lusting after it since New Year, and couldn't resist it at £11 instead of £22. I hope it gets here soon! I think it'll look great with so many of my clothes over spring and summer.

I also found a gorgeous navy polka-dot midi-dress online on Dorothy Perkins. Now I must explain to you that I have a slight obsession with polka dots, and with dresses, too, so this dress just called out to me as I browsed. I do like a longer length, as I think they're more flattering on my legs than ones that rest mid-thigh. I can't wait to try it on and accessorize it!

I also chose this cute toucan t-shirt. I don't own many t-shirts anymore, but I think this will work well with my coral jeans, and with a lot of my other clothes, too.

Cute, right? I'll let you know how they both look on. I should also mention I really love Dorothy Perkins. They're so on trend at the moment, and I know that their clothes will fit my shape well. Whenever I shop online or go in store I can always find something I like and want to buy. They're definitely my favourite clothes shop on the high street right now.

Today I wore this Dorothy Perkins tea dress with teal tights (until I got too hot and took the tights off). I love the design and the shape of the dress, although it does get static so i think i might try it with an underskirt. It also has frills around the chest area, which make the area look wider than it actually is. If I could work out how to sew them flat i would! Other than that, I love the dress!

I apologise for the grainy ipod, mirror shots, but until I dye my hair i'm not allowing my face in the shot!

Have a great week!