DONNA WALLACE’S
GUIDE TO
FEEL-GOOD BAGS

We invited the Vogue editor to curate the bags set to brighten up spring, summer and beyond

Shop now

DONNA WALLACE’S GUIDE TO FEEL-GOOD BAGS

We invited the Vogue editor to curate the bags set to brighten up spring, summer and beyond

Shop now

MEET DONNA

Vogue Fashion and Accessories Editor
How have you honed your style over the years?

“It’s been a process. I tend to tune into a feeling; I gravitate towards things that make me feel happy. Being joyful in your clothes is super important – sometimes it’s obviously colourful or lively, but joy can be found and expressed through many different styles and colours. It could be just down to how it feels on and around the body or how it makes one feel when walking or entering a room or a space.”

 

How do you balance investing in pieces that are both expressive and can stand the test of time?

“For some pieces, the biggest teller is if it evokes a good feeling and ‘sparks joy’. That usually stands the test of time. We all have pieces that we just simply love.”

 

How do you use fashion to make yourself feel good?

“One of the biggest lifters can simply be wearing something you love or having a mood-changing print or colour. I tend to lean towards texture to make myself feel good.”

Image © Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images
Image © Christian Vierig/Getty Images

 

[Since the pandemic] I, like many of us, feel less tolerant of those wardrobe ‘fillers’ and want to be more rigorous with what I keep. I also feel a bit more inspired to just go for it and be more upbeat with my choices.

DISCOVER DONNA’S FAVOURITE

FEEL-GOOD BAGS

THE MASTERFUL CHOICE

Bottega Veneta – Mini Jodie shoulder bag

“The Mini Jodie is a bag of magical proportions. Small but deceptively spacious and never overbearing, she is both formal and informal and the masterful choice of bag for a seamless transition to night from day. Once you commit to her, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a piece with more versatility.”

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THE SMART WAY TO SHOP

RESELFRIDGES pre-loved and archive bags

“The pre-loved movement, especially around bags, is finally getting the love it deserves. An eco-considerate option but also a very credible way to track down longstanding icons, the ones with true longevity and the ones that previously got away. Fuelled by nostalgia or new-found appreciation, RESELFRIDGES gives us a second chance.”

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THE FUTURE CLASSIC

Coperni – Swipe bags

“Coperni becomes more enticing and alluring with every season. All its iterations are strong propositions, giving us some of the most seductive bags of the moment. The Swipe bag is unique in its curved and compact style. Refreshingly clear on branding – but without obvious hardware – it really delivers, while managing to stay on the sophisticated side of cute. This could be future a classic in the making.”

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THE COMEBACK KING

JW Anderson – Twister shoulder bag

“The Twister made a splash when it first debuted in SS15, and now it’s back with a bang. Structured but not serious, this will make a fab and playful addition to your wardrobe in pumped-up hues that will take you from your chic dinner to the club.”

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Image © Mauro Del Signore/Alamy Stock Photo

DONNA’S FIVE INGREDIENTS FOR A BRILLIANT BAG:

DONNA’S FIVE INGREDIENTS

FOR A BRILLIANT BAG:

1. SCALE 

“Scale is important. If it’s meant to be small, clever design should enable it to carry more than it looks capable of. If the intention is large, it should not become unwieldy or cumbersome when it is used to carry things.”

2. EASE 

“A bag should never be a chore or hard work to use. It’s about the user experience. It should ideally not misshape when you put a selective one or two essentials inside.”

3. MATERIALS 

“Materials or a finish that is ideally not so delicate that they show signs of wear after a few gentle uses or can handle an impromptu change of scene and won’t tell on you the day after.”

4. INFORMAL/FORMAL 

“To straddle both camps is a skill – it is also down to dress, but we all know those bags that inspire confidence in us, prompt conversation and make us friends when we take them out.”

5. SHAPE 

“If we’re honest, the biggest winners are not the most unconventional shapes. As much as our eye can appreciate an unusual and ground-breaking shape, the ergonomics will often override it. By this I mean, can I even get anything in or out of the bag?!”

Hero image © Dvora/Shutterstock. Headshot © David M. Benett/Getty Images

THE NEW ‘NEW’

From repair to rental and resell, give your new-season wardrobe a fresh, new lease of life with our planet-friendly shopping platforms and services.

FIX UP, LOOK SHARP

Our Repairs Concierge can restore your most-loved accessories.

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TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Take it for a test drive before you commit or keep it a one-time thing with Selfridges Rental.

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(DON’T) LOVE THEM? LET THEM GO

Give cherished pieces a new partner in crime with RESELFRIDGES.

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