Put a stamp on your style
Thursday 24th January 2013, 11:30AM GMT.
Cambridge Satchel Company embossed bag, from £94 (01223 833050/www.cambridgesatchel.co.uk)
Alexa Chung’s got one, so has singer Lana Del Ray, but it was Grace Kelly who sparked the trend.
They’re all famous faces bestowed with the honour of having a bag named after them.
Hermes Kelly was renamed when the Princess of Monaco, nee Grace Kelly, was photographed obscuring her baby bump with the bag in 1956 and the brand’s iconic Birkin followed in the Eighties, named after singer Jane Birkin.
More recently Mulberry has jumped on the star muse style bandwagon, christening bags ‘Alexa’ and ‘Del Ray’ after their celebrity ambassadors.
If a fashion brand isn’t begging you for your surname to brandish on its accessories, there are other ways to bespoke your style.
Think embossed lettering, initials or even your name splashed over your soles.
A personalised piece is a surefire way to stand out from the fashion pack. But the real bonus? The more individual your accessory, the less likely your sister/friend/daughter will want to borrow it.
Satchel chic
Put anonymity in detention with a bag sporting your name or initials. From traditional tan to fluoro pink, the Cambridge Satchel Company’s hand-made leather bags can be embossed at £5 per letter (maximum £20) in one of four chosen font colours. Personalised satchels, from £94 (01223 833 050/www.cambridgesatchel.co.uk).
Trinket tag
Put awkward meetings where your forename is forgotten in the past. Tatty Devine’s name necklaces allow you to customise your own jewellery using a variety of fonts, colours, charms and chains. There’s even the option of ‘make it big’ for an extra £10 to really stand out. Name necklace, from £27.50 (020 7739 9009/www.tattydevine.com).
Alphabet Alias
Forget playing snap with your identikit iPhone. No matter how obscure your name, Alphabet Bags have every initial covered on their on-trend monochrome case, suitable for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Phone case in A-Z, £12 each (01223 269 748/www.alphabetbags.com).
Heel high
Elevate your style status with a pair of customised heels. Stand back Louboutin – designed to your specifications, Upper Street allows you to become the shoe designer. Choose from ballet flats, courts, sandals or platforms and pick the style, straps, colour and even embellishments. Bespoke shoes, from £195, in sizes 33 (UK 1.5) to 43 (UK 10) with choice of four width fittings (0845 680 9365/www.upperstreet.com).
Trademark trick
Matching your lipstick and nails to your accessories is quite the statement trend so spend a little time on your watch. Customise your own wrist candy with Vibe Watches, where you get creative with the face, case, bezel and strap. Feeling fickle? Choose spares you can swap to suit your outfit or mood. Complete watches, from £30 (www.vibecollection.co.uk).
ID charm
If Carrie Bradshaw-style name necklaces don’t appeal, offer a subtle clue to your name. Create your own narrative with Astley Clarke’s initial pendants, available in gold, sterling silver or gold vermeil. Attach to your favourite necklace or bracelet for charming effect. Initial pendant, from £45 (020 7706 0060/www.astleyclarke.com).
Signature sneaker
Get some soles with unique soul. Converse Create allows you to personalise your pumps at every stage, from the shape and main colour, through to stitching and laces. For the final touch, brand with your very own personal ‘iD’ using a maximum of 12 characters. You’ll never lose your shoes again (probably). Converse Create, from £54 (0800 206 1116/www.converse.co.uk).
Snap style
A picture tells a thousand words and your favourite image speaks volumes. Bags of Love transform a photograph into a stylish shopper bag. Partner, pets, children, or just your favourite scenic view, carry with you always. Shopper bag, from £55 (020 8960 4567/www.bagsoflove.co.uk).
TOP TIP: Be aware that customisation can take longer than your average click-buy-and-deliver product. If you’re buying for a present, ensure that you leave enough time.
Get the look
Alesha Dixon works a chilled-out ensemble for the Britain’s Got Talent auditions in separates. Steal her silver style with Label Lab’s leather pencil skirt, £140 at House of Fraser (www.houseoffraser.co.uk).
Buy it now
You can now bag designer stars of the future in your shopping trolley. Graduate Fashion Week gold winner Chloe Jones’s collection is launching at George at Asda, featuring statement prints and sports luxe shapes. The designer capsule range is available from January 28, priced £8-30, in stores and online at www.george.com
Fashion flash
- Secret shoppers
- Recessionista alert
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.