At this time of year we’re all looking for little additions to our wardrobes that aren’t too expensive (under £60), can be worn all year round and will instantly make everything you wear look better.
And just when you can’t stand the queues for sale items any longer, Booster Bags (BBs) have arrived from a new section of your favourite high street store, just in time.
As I’ve said before, I’m not one to obsess over trendy bags — I have practical bags and I have everything I need — but I’ve become increasingly interested in shortcuts that can help me achieve a chic, glamorous, and current look with minimal effort and expense.
There’s nothing I love more than a bag that’s easy, goes with every outfit, and transforms the look. I’m sure everyone agrees, and this bag does just that – certainly not a pompous designer bag that’s one size fits all and will make your outfit look dated.
BB can be worn on the wrist of you, your mom, your stepdaughter or your fashion-conscious friend and will dress up any outfit and give movie star power to any look.
Gold Standard: Zara’s £49.99 Shopper
I know this because I was browsing in Zara when I casually slung one over my shoulder – a slightly sparkly gold woven shopper that looked much more expensive than it actually was (£49.99 zara.com) – and in that moment, my white-and-blue striped boyfriend shirt, flared jeans and Adidas trainers were upgraded and given a major style boost.
The bag has a magnetic closure. There’s enough space for a pair of shoes. The strap is a nice short length so you can fasten it over your ribs. But we don’t need to sell you on the convenience and practicality of this bag, because its whole point is to make your outfit look better. It’s a style booster.
It’s no exaggeration to say that I walked into Zara as my normal self and came out looking like someone who works with Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Scott Thomas.
And the same magic happened when I brought it home: with a denim jumpsuit (plus glamour and zippers) and a black dress (plus red lipstick and heels) and off-white pants and a black top (plus cocktail energy), and when I wear it to a pretty printed dress for a wedding later this month, it will be the finishing touch and will look better than a hat.
I wouldn’t wear it on a rainy day or when going out with gold heels (overdoing it), but otherwise it’s a bag that will complement any outfit you already own or are planning to buy.
Stylish silver: Charlize Theron in Paris last week. Sofia Vergara attends The Fab Thirties event in Forte dei Marmi, Italy on July 21, 2024.
Booster bags come in all shapes, sizes and colours, but you can’t go wrong with a textured, warm gold (if it’s too polished and shiny it will distract rather than enhance) or a silver lookalike.
M&S’s gold ruched bag in faux leather with an adjustable strap (£25, marksandspencer.com) is a nice, slightly smaller alternative to Zara’s woven style. Zara also has a crackle-textured silver shoulder bag with a thin bow tie (£35.99). Miuccia Prada says bow ties will be making a comeback this autumn, so why not get ahead of the trend?
Alternatively, Mango sells a sleek, short-strap shoulder bag in silver or gold metallic leather (£59.99 shop.mango.com). It’s best to steer clear of the chain and stick to a more relaxed style, otherwise you risk straying into proper occasion-bag territory.
These bags are characterised by their sheen and sparkle, so they could easily be made with crackled patent leather or beads. Zara’s shiny patent-look Half Moon Bag in Chilli Red (£22.99) ticks the Booster box – red is a colour that will remain appealing all year round. I also love the shiny beaded Bucket Bag (£29.99), but this is a summer-only style.
For fun evening bags for autumn, check out Zara. Think winkingly of the joy of small embellishments. It’s the same principle: whether it’s solid tailoring and block-coloured velvet or a wool polo neck and jeans, it all becomes out of the ordinary in an instant.
There are a few pieces already in Zara stores, including a brown, cream and black beaded tentacle bag (£35.99) that would look cute slung over your arm as you head out to a party (another Prada autumn pick), and you can also grab La Redoute’s shiny black patent leather top-handle bag (£44, laredoute.co.uk), which is on sale early.
Don’t you wish everything was this simple?
