I will admit, I am more than a teeny bit in love with Aspinal of London. I remember defecting from my ardent Smythson habit back in 2009 after one too many ‘Pretty Woman’ moments in Smythson’s Bond Street store. It’s a diary people, how elitist can a shop girl get about luxury leather goods?
Besides, when a beautiful jewel-coloured leather diary (see above) costs you £20-something instead of £50 – it’s a no brainer, right? I have lost count of how many of the Baby Books (also above) I have gifted to new mums. The classic tome to capture all those first memories is so beautifully illustrated and bound, we have already filled ours with all those little milestones that we may have otherwise forgotten.
While I won’t be swayed from my Mulberry devotion when it comes to wash bags/make-up bags/purses, these new releases from Aspinals are making me waver on the handbag front:
I love the buttery soft Italian leather of the Ophelia, its handmade finishes and discreet branding and hardwear. While the Brook Street wins hands-down on grown-up chic. Its vintage structure and gorgeous navy lizard print leather make it an instant classic.
While on the subject of Brook Street, make sure you avoid the hell that is Westfield Shepherds Bush and treat yourself to a visit to their Brook Street store. Once the home of Handel, the original wood panelled walls and ornate plaster mouldings on the ceilings make it one of the most beautiful stores in W1.
aspinalsoflondon.com
