After a wonderful two year relationship with my current handbag, the time had come to upgrade to a new leather pouch for my belongings. Since my search for a replacement began, I have come to discover that finding the perfect handbag can be a never ending, often traumatic search.

Despite being a modern woman in a world of iPhones and iPads, I still endeavor to carry around with me a series of old fashioned equipment including a note pad, Dolly diary, phone, tape recorder, water bottle, piece of fruit and wallet at all times, thus finding a new bag to house these items is somewhat limiting. Being able to carry around a magazine is also a plus, so no itty bitty bags for me thanks.

Function aside, the bag in question needs to be able to complement my many fashion moods and come in a fabric that is durable and will last the test of time, or at the very least, survive me slamming it on the floor when I get home. I’m also weary of buying a piece of ‘iconography.’ I don’t aspire to fit into a ‘what does your bag say about you’ category, I just want a trunk that can hold all my junk.

Beginning the search for the perfect bag, sales assistants were soon sorry when they asked me the ‘so what are you looking for?’ question. Tiredly listing my requirements; black, leather, two straps, medium size, the shop assistants would then suggest either fugly leather bags that looked as if someone had gotten a little too excited with a glue gun, or the perfect bag (Mulberry!) that was well out of my financial reach. Heart ache struck in, and the search for the perfect bag seemed hopeless. Sigh.

Soon enough I struck gold with a range of labels that had sexy leather bags with achievable price tags. The first breath of fragrant leather air was from Deadly Ponies and their intricate leather pouches with bows and block colours. New Zealand label Saben gave me hope of finding the perfect bag with their classic and ideal sized black leather bags with a twist. Coco Kitten’s structured handbags also had a sexy luxe element to them, with little lock details and chain straps. The Preen cage bag was also an eye catcher, even though it was a little pricier, its unique lace up details could have easily persuaded me.

It also occurred to me that men’s bags encapsulated that ‘strong and sturdy wins the race’ bag that I was looking for. My favourite find was the Trimapee circle bag, which had a fuss free, clever design with bonus double strap action. But my best discovery that I came across during my bag quest was Australian label William Phillips. The Cammy Deux bag and its multiple carrying qualities was a sure winner (althougth suede is a fickle fabric) but the style that stole the show was the Luolfer. A little bit Wang, a little bit masculine, and big enough to hold all my stuff, and my lunch box. Win.