Mad for Mochilas

There was a girl on the beach in St Tropez this week with the coolest bag. It was huge, woven neon pink and turquiose, with a stripey, ikat-y long shoulder strap. And pompoms. Heaven. After a couple of hours of research, I've found out that it's a Mochila bag - the traditional woven bag indigenous to the women of Colombia, in South America. It takes the ladies over forty hours to make each bag and no two designs are ever the same. I adore the loud, neon coloured varieties of them and cant think of anything more perfect for my next bit of beach action.

Last year there was a project called the 'Mochila Project' where top designers were given one of the bags and then let loose on it. Below are some of the results. I cant decide which I love most, Matthew Williamson's or Missoni's creation...

Roger Vivier

Moschino

Missoni

Matthew Williamson's

I've been trying to get hold of one myself but most of the real beauties are in America. There are a couple of places here in the UK that are selling them too though. Wayuu Taya is selling a few on Netaporter.com for about £145

Another lovely lady is importing them and selling them on her website www.mochilabags.co.uk

www.netaporter.com

www.etsy.com/Dizzybydesign

www.faridaspassions.com

Crazy for Crochet

I'm having a crochet moment. It generally has a bit of a bad name. Someone says crochet and you think of grannies, doilies, that old musty smell. General fuddyduddyness.

This season though, there are so many beautiful crocheted pieces. Not just on bags but shoes, shorts, dresses, jumpers....everywhere you look, it's there, wanting to lure you in.

I've been a fan ever since my lovely friend at Gucci put a very rare and beautiful, cream, crocheted lace bag to one side for me. Only 150 were ever made so in my eyes not just a collectors item but an investment too.

Karl Lagerfeld's collection last Summer for Chanel was pure heaven for me. Properly artsy-crafty. The only problem was the price tags. The idea of coughing up thousands for something that I really could have made myself when I was twelve makes me feel like a lunatic.

In fact, I might just give it ago. There are 13 million articles on google offering to teach me 'how to crochet', so why not have a go?

Chanel Crochet S/S10

My favourite finds this week are a real bargain and seriously beautiful. Someone even stopped me and asked if they were Chanel yesterday.

Crochet ballet shoes by Topshop

£18

This crochet bunting garland from 'little tea wagon' on Etsy would be very at home in my kitchen.