And no, I don’t mean Oxford Street and its mile long strip of shops catering for all budgets. Nor do I mean the designer handbag shops on Bond Street, be it on both it’s New and Old ends! Undeniably both these established retail addresses offer lots of choice. But it’s a neighbouring street that really does offer the handbag shopper one of the best experiences.
Regent Street has grown into a street full of dedicated bag shops; brands from Italy and France sit alongside London’s finest. By turning your attention away from the more well known shopping streets, to stroll along the gently curved Regent Street, situated right between the two circuses; Piccadilly and Oxford, you’ll get a high concentration of fashion brands, offering something for all budgets, without having to walk for ages. So get those heels on (because you can) and step this way.
Design fun
Founded in Barcelona, Spain, Desigual always offers fresh and original designs incorporating vibrant prints. Open wide for the mouth bag backpack, £54.
Francophile
From Paris, Longchamp has introduced a bold graphic for their large tote bag from their classic Le Pliage (LGP) range. Also available in red. Price £200.
And staying with European design influences, Maje from Paris can be found on Regent Street too bringing French urban style. This crocodile embossed leather M Duo clutch is bang on trend for AW19. Price £290.
Small is best
This Autumn/Fall and Winter embrace the micro bag. And from Aspinal of London they bring the very small size to the hat box. The equestrian influence has long been spotted on designer bag brands and this British brand has brought a vintage feel to the mirco bag. Price £495.
Ciao Coccinelle
If you kept an eye on the AW’19 catwalks you’ll have spotted some playful themes, one of which is about cozy textures. Not just seen in Prada’s collection, grab a fluffy tote in mongolian fur at Coccinelle. Price £380.
Exotic skins
Whilst you can find H&M at the Oxford Circus end of Regent Street, you can also find H&M’s luxury sister, & Other Stories. Brighten up this winter with a snake embossed two tone leather bag. Price £95.
Designer Den
Any Londoner can forgive me for including one of London’s most iconic shops, Liberty of London, as it’s just off Regent Street, but in my defence easily spotted with its black and white exterior, its within a short stroll. On the ground floor you’ll find the designer bags in one of the first halls. Staying with the AW’19 exotic skin trend find Marni’s python print in hot red. Price £455.
To top it off!
Combine two AW’19 fashion trends in one bag at Kate Spade. Yes, the New York brand has made it to Regent Street and brings us the snake print in the top handle bag. In a wonderful autumnal colour, the Nicola bag is in cherrywood is £425.
And staying with the US designers who are attracted to Regent Street, say hello to Tory Burch. The boutique is already filling with new season bags and keeping it petite is the Lee Radizwill bag that will fit up to an iPhone XS. The tactile calf hair bag keeps it on trend in its size and with its top handle. Price £560.
Tote size
From the fashion brand born out of the east of London comes an oversize tote in soft tones and edges. All Saints can be found retailing in west London on Regent Street, and this beautiful suede tote called the Ziggy North South bag is priced at £248.
There you have it, 10 bags from 10 different stores on Regent Street. Many other brands and their boutique stores can be discovered on this street, including Burberry and Mulberry of England, Coach and Michael Kors from the US and Furla from Italy.
And, if the above bags or shops haven’t whet your appetite, this year marks the 200th anniversary of Regent Street. All those years ago, when the Prince Regent instructed the architect John Nash to design the street – the man responsible for most of the columned buildings around London, including Buckingham Palace – set about creating one of the first retail streets in the capital.
And even if you aren’t tempted to buy your next handbag, (which I’d find hard to believe) after a stroll down this fine street, it’s a great address to be photographed on – thinking backdrops for the instagram account!
Happy shopping or snapping!
Photo credit to Juhasz Imre from Pexels
Bagwhispers 