Hand tooled saddle bags are very interesting things. Try looking them up on Pinterest or Tumblr, and what you will no doubt discover is that they are usually paired with bohemian dresses, turquoise jewellery, and anything that can be described as “festival clothing”. And while saddle bags do look good in those combinations, they are much more versatile than they first appear to be.
I came across these hand tooled bags on my most recent buying trip, and I have to say they are some of the most beautiful bags I’ve ever seen. Full of intricate detailing and made to last, they deserve to be worn as much as possible. That’s one of the reasons why I thought I’d do a look book with less bohemian ways to wear them, for any other big city dwellers who also love this type of bag but aren’t sure how to wear it outside of Glastonbury/Coachella. The other reason being that I just really wanted to wear these bags myself before they get snapped up and I have to part ways with them…
A vintage saddle bag works surprisingly well in the city – it’s great paired with a blazer on cloudy days when you’re getting a cup of coffee with a friend or spending the afternoon in a museum, it can add a romantic touch to a simple jeans and top combo, and looks perfect with a plain T-shirt (if, like me, you continuously forget to do the laundry). And with the right attitude, it can look pretty cool with a 90s sweatshirt – a pairing I’m pretty certain has never been done before but which I’m definitely digging, although it’s probably not for the faint-hearted.
These are just a handful of ways to style them, but it just shows how versatile these beauties are. You really don’t need to have a bohemian bone in your body to wear them. Pair it with silk for a more feminine look, or an oversized coat and boyfriend jeans for a more carefree style.
That’s just my take on the saddle bag – let me know how you’d wear yours x
LUCKY THREADS VINTAGE 