Hi everyone! Well I’ve been super excited reading everyone’s comments and stories on my post about bras and the 1940s bustline. Even if it’s frustrating, isn’t there some solidarity in knowing every one of us, no matter our shape or size, has some of the same concerns and issues?
Anyway, a few days ago I got the best package ever in the mail.
Since the beginning of the summer when I got my DSLR camera, I’ve been frustrated at what to do with the thing when I go out and about. Of course it fits into precisely none of my vintage handbags, and I don’t like carrying it on its own across my shoulder. I did find a vintage tooled leather shoulder bag that I can stuff it into, but it’s a very tight squeeze, not to mention that I’m frankly not always in the mood to carry a tooled leather shoulder bag when I want to take along my camera. I didn’t just want a vintage camera bag, as I wanted to use it as both a bag for my camera and as a purse.
Enter British satchels. I saw a style of bag I thought could be just perfect, carried by several stylish UK bloggers such as Penny Dreadful Vintage, Oranges and Apples and Land Girl 1980. I waffled for months because I knew the ones from The Leather Satchel Co and Cambridge Satchel Company (both companies whose bags I liked the looks of and whose names I saw all over the place online), were quite narrow. Definitely too narrow for a DSLR camera, even inserted in with the lens facing up, which was the way I was looking to place it into a bag.
Finally I emailed The Leather Satchel Co to ask about sizes, as I noted from their web site that they were able to do a series of customizations if you ordered directly from them. I received fast and excellent customer support and within a few email exchanges, I was ordering a British Racing Green 12.5″ satchel with a custom depth that would fit my camera.
In about a week I had the most wonderful package waiting for me. I am a sucker for good packaging, and this was excellent. A brown paper package tied with a twine bow, a little tag from the same leather as I chose hanging from the bow.
Let’s not forget the amazing little envelope. Really, how could you not be excited to open it?
And inside the parcel was my amazing hand-crafted satchel, 4″ deep.
And it fits my camera exactly, with enough room next to it for a wallet, sunglasses and the like. Last night I was even able to fit in a pair of gloves and a scarf. You can see in the below photo that I went with another small customization, which is hidden magnetic snaps under the buckles for easier access. I thought that would be handy. When it’s closed, you can’t even tell they’re there.
Before ordering I thought long and hard about the color.
I knew I’d probably love the bag and eventually want to get a second one, so I went with a color I thought would work well with most of my Fall/Winter coats (seriously, I opened up the closet doors and just stood there staring for a few minutes while I decided!). I figured later on I’d get a light tan or something more neutral for Spring/Summer. Of course, it was relatively warm yesterday evening when we went out, so I just wore it with my 40s wool pullover. I paired that with Heyday trousers, 40s heels, vintage souvenir bracelet from Canada and my same wool beret that I haven’t shown you photos of yet. (Yes, the colors are all over the place with the beret and satchel but I just considered it “eclectic”. Hee!)
I just love this bag!! It’s the perfect solution for carrying around more things than a vintage handbag can fit, but still has a classic and vintage appeal. And the fact that I could get a custom depth is genius. I’m really impressed by the quality of the bag and the overall experience I had with The Leather Satchel Co.
I expect to have a lovely Fall with this satchel by my side! 🙂
Hey, but is posted here
http://asteelcitygirl.blogspot.com/2011/10/me-likeypart-one.html
….very nice your bag, I well I bought a dark green on etsy, but the shape is different ….
bye
=)
oooh, that’s soooo pretty, and practical!
What a great bag! That’s brilliant they were able to make just the size you wanted.
I have a bright red one from the Cambridge Satchel Co. but I agree that it is a bit shallower than I would like PLUS I would hesitate to recommend them as a company. It took 9 week to arrive from order, plus they were bad at responding to my emails and phone calls.
How great to get exactly what you need, to your own specifications – looks great with your outfit too!
That is a lovely satchel! I really like British Racing Green – marvellous colour!
This is such a cute purse! I am looking to upgrade my point and shoot camera to a DSLR and will be in the market for a bag to carry it in. Thanks for the tip, as the one you chose is adorable and so vintage too.
very handsome and timeless
OhMyGosh! That packaging!! And there was a fabulous bag along with it 🙂 Too funny though, I’ve been searching for a vintage camera bag for a while now – thinking I may just go this route!
Perfect and cool ! I love it
(Olivia Big Mama)
I’m not normally a fan of satchels, I guess cos I had to carry one to my piano lessons when I was a kid and it was immensely unfashionable and I got teased horribly, so satchels mean trauma to me ;o)
However I love yours as it doesn’t look like a satchel cos it’s wider, lovely and I particularly love the colour!
Ah!
The satchel is amazing!… I am just looking at the website
What a gorgeous bag.I have a little nikon camera and it fits in this little leopardprint make up bag thing.lol.I just love that green.It’s the color a leather bag should be.x
OOOOOOH WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! Look at that BEAUTY in Racing Green!! I love it!! Ahh – thanks for citing me as a “stylish blogger”. You would not think so if you saw me in my slouching clothes! Fact.
My husband walked by as I was reading this post and said “Wow – that’s a cool bag!” So cool even a man knows it 🙂
That is really clever idea! I have modern camera bag (which I bought about 10 years ago when I wasn’t so much into vintage yet) for my DSLR camera and have to admit that I get often really frustrated when I have to carry around two bags (handbag and the camerabag) with me if I want to take photos. So sometimes I just leave my handbag at home and stuff my wallet and lipstick in the camerabag. It is not a pretty sight, not to mention that it doesn’t match any kind of ladylike or vintage or feminine style. That satchel looks so sturdy that camera will be safe in there. And it might be possible to make a little padded lining for it to keep it separated from small items like keys and lipstick etc.
Great customer service and high quality, it sounds like the perfect shopping experience =)
It’s gor geous, and so neat! I would never have guessed that you’d fit a DSLR camera in it. The colour looks great with your outfit! Lovely, all of it!
What fantastic packaging! It’s like getting a present 🙂
Hey do you help me for getting know me where should this same packing can be done in world
LOVE IT! the bag is so perfect for DSLR!!!
Your sweater is amazing!! I’ve been looking for the perfect vintage Christmas-type sweater for ages. The deer are so cute x
Love the racing green and the way your lovely satchel was wrapped.
It’s so beautiful!
Lovely bag! The color is stunning and how wonderful that it holds your camera so perfectly! Your sweater, trousers, and shoes are amazing! You always look so fab!
Brilliant! My Nikon collects dust due to not having a cute and big enough bag to carry it around in. Will keep this in mind. Your green bag looks fabulous, as do you! I love your beret. It deserves its own post!
Very cool bag and also compliments on the outfit!
I love it!!! The color is really striking. I got a camera purse/bag last Christmas and it has really come in hand for carrying my DSLR around all over the place.
I also love your outfit! Seeing this reminds me I really need to refashion that fair isle sweater I told you about… lol.
I LOVE this bag! The colour is perfect – I too dont much like carrying my Nikon in the boring camera bag, may have to look into this satchel thing! Also adore your sweater, so pretty 🙂
So, you are the one who bought this sweater !! I was going to but the seller got the measurments wrong and wanted to confirm the size… Soooo GRRRRRR !!
If you decide to sell the sweater, you know who to ask ?! 🙂
That bag is gorgeous and I love the colour and style of it. That is such a cool parcel its amazing! Gorgeous outfit too. XxxX
http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/
Hi Tasha, I just thought Id drop you a line to let you know that I just received one of these satchels! After seeing your post of it here I just couldnt resist and put it on my Christmas list! I got a green one too- yay! Thank you xxxxx
Thats really cool!
That is so good to know they do custom sizes! I really want a second one, but it would b=need to be wider! I really love yours!