Good things come in small packages

Christian Lacroix Couture

I'm very much a shoe girl, but there's room in my heart for bags too... especially when they are dainty little creations with lots of embellishment. Minaudieres are much fun, and I'm very much a fan of quirky, novelty bags too. It seems that the smaller and more unusual the bag gets, the less practical they are. But, as long as it fits a lipstick and keys, its good enough for me! So here's a selection of a few of my favourite fun bags...a couple I own, and the rest, I'd love to own. It goes without saying that there is no end of tiny, pretty vintage bags available online, from a time when women didn't have to/need to carry around loads of belongings, so I've been very selective with the vintage and antique bags I've chosen. But lets begin with modern examples... 

Viktor & Rolf

Christian Lacroix Couture

YSL - from quite a few seasons ago, damn they are pretty

Roberto Cavalli 

Armani Prive Couture, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen

sigh. the McQueen egg bag. I want it so bad, it pains me to look at it. I've forgotten the exact price tag, but am I mad in thinking it was around the £30,000 mark? 

Chanel, Gucci, Stella McCartney

JPG Couture, Christian Lacroix Couture, Proenza Schouler

Chanel - I love matrioshka dolls, I love little bags, therefore, I love little matrioshka doll bags. Unfortunately, the price tag isn't pretty. 

Liberty of London - my love of Liberty bags knows no bounds, I want them all. 

Lulu Guinness - I've wanted this clutch for a while, but new versions of it keep being released, and I'm finding it hard to choose between silver/red/black snakeskin, red lurex or red perspex. Spoilt for choice!

Braccialini

Bracciliani make some very tacky bags, but their novelty shaped bags are tacky to the point of greatness. I have wanted to owl bag since the moment I first saw it, but six months later I am still yet to find it on sale anywhere. I reaaaally want the swan bag too. 

Braccialini

Judith Leiber - everyone needs a violin bag! Leibers prices are crazy though, in the thousands of dollars. 

Judith Leiber

Judith Leiber

c.1900 wrist compact

1900's Russian silver dance purse

c.1920's French celluloid painted vanity purse

c.1910 silver filigree purse

Images from style.com, J R Collectibles at Ruby Lane, The Porcelain Kingdom at Ruby Lane, liberty.co.uk, judithleiber.com, purseblog.com, luluguinness.com, bracciliani.com, Iris Blue Antiques at eBay, Watch Mainspring King at eBay.