Every girl knows a good bag is worth its weight in gold and this is even more so when you seem to carry everything bar the kitchen sink around with you. Having a bag big enough for a laptop, tablet, phone, keys and make up essentials is no mean feat.

Old school is the new new school and with every celebrity worth their weight in column inches carrying a satchel, I decided it was time I tried one out.

Zatchels has an extensive range across three main categories; saddle bags, barrel bags and of course satchels. All come in a range of prints and finishes like the much sought after elephant print, flouros and metallics.

I opted for versatility with the brown distressed leather Zatchel. It gives a timeless, vintage look and can be worn dressed up or down, for work or play. The bag comes complete with optional extras such as personalised engravings, additional top stitched handle and cross body strap slider for added comfort. We opted for a 14.5” width to fit in all our wares without being too big.

And the bag is big. You don’t realise how much so until you get it. That being said, it met all our needs comfortably without looking overly full. It comes in an environmentally friendly dust bag and is beautiful if a little whiffy at first. It is extremely sturdy and rigid but this will give over time. It has just two compartments, a large main one and a smaller front loaded one and is secured with two buckles.

These can be a little fiddly to keep going in and out of but offer good security. It’s not overly heavy, even when full and sits comfortably on the shoulder with minimal slippage which impressed me.

All in all it’s an excellent bag. It’s practical which is what I want and need yet it doesn’t compromise on looks.

www.zatchels.com

Hopefully this is the end of the snow; the slip sliding on the pavements and the civil unrest at London Bridge Station needs to stop.

Like most of London, I’ve been wearing wellington boots in the snow and although they keep my feet dry, they aren’t so great and providing traction in the snow or keeping my feet warm.

Sometimes function must triumph over form; these aren’t the cutest boots in the world but they were made for this weather.

They are shearling lined so keep your feet warm, have a rugged rubber sole to ensure you stay upright and are made from premium water resistant nubuck leather so will keep your feet dry.

They look like they’ll last forever (in fact they look like you couldn’t destroy them if you tried!) so it’s £135 well spent.

Brasher Kitale Boots – £135

If you’re looking for something to wear to a NYE party, I’ve got you covered.

These Astro Spark leggings from Kiniki have ‘celebration’ written all over them, almost literally!

L – front, R – back

At first glance you might think ‘patterned leggings = chunky legs’ but these patterns have been oh so strategically placed meaning the right bits are highlighted and the bits we want to downplay, are downplayed.

I’m a firm believer that leggings should always be worn with heeled footwear (unless you’re at the gym) so I’ll be teaming these with a chunky boot, a black cashmere blend jumper and a leather biker jacket.

Kiniki Astro Sparks Leggings – £44
Michael Kors boots – £195
DKNY Cashmere blend sweater – £192.32
All Saints biker jacket – £343.86
Isabel Marant ring – £60

This gorgeous clutch is very much high street (Accessorize – £32) but I think it has a definite fashion designer style to it. I’m having visions of Alexander McQueen.

Accessorize – £32

Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter 2012

It’s definitely only for special occasions as it doesn’t really hold much more than your phone, debit card and lip gloss but what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. The large embroidered flowers make a real style statement and I’ve been using it to jazz up my LBD (little black dress) or to add a bit of glam to jeans, heels and an lace top.

What do you think of my latest find?

Beagy Zielinski is a stylist that has worked on a myriad of publications including Greek and Spanish ELLE, German Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar China & Thailand. Her celebrity clients include Tyra Banks, Pharrell Williams, Alan Cumming, Kelly Rowland and Toni Braxton.

Beagy Zielinski with Andre Leon Talley

We caught up with her to discuss all things wardrobe:

What essential items should every woman own?
A great pair of heels! A really great pair of heels can upgrade any outfit.

What should be in our capsule wardrobe?
A few things everyone should have in their closet are:

The perfect fitting jean
A blazer that has been tailored to fit correctly
The perfect party dress that shows off your best assets
A pair of statement shoes, to add the wow factor to any look, day or night.

How can we incorporate key Autumn/Winter trends into our wardrobes?
I always tell clients not to be as concerned with following trends as really focusing on getting pieces that work for your body type. Once you have figured out what silhouettes work well for you, you can sprinkle trends in with accessories or colours.

It can be a difficult item to get a good fit when it comes to jeans; what should we consider before purchasing?
Once you find a brand or two that fit you well, stick with them! And of course the obvious tried and true rules apply:

• If you have short legs, don’t buy cropped low rise jeans. A higher rise and long skinny leg with a heel will elongate your legs.
• If you have a larger hip, you should stay away from bell bottoms. Smaller, highly placed back pockets will make your bum look smaller.
• A square pocket that is angled more straight up and down is better suited for women who are pear shaped or who are looking to camouflage their round bum.

What items should we splash out on? And on what shouldn’t we?
I always say splurge on bags, jackets and shoes. Never overspend on novelty items like white shirts or t-shirts or even jeans. You can find good quality and great fitting jeans at stores like H&M or Zara. Use the money you saved to spend a little extra on a well tailored jacket that will make your entire outfit look like a million bucks!

For more information on Beagy Zielinski, check out her website – www.beagystyle.com – and follow her on Twitter @BeagyStyle.

My fashion find of the week comes from Zara. As always, their pieces are so fabulously on trend. Everything is right about this blazer: it is so many things all wrapped up in one garment.

Let me count the ways:

It’s black
It’s lace
It’s a little bit tuxedo (hello menswear) with the satin lapel
On a cool evening it can be worn as outerwear

It’s just the right length as it covers a generous hip and bottom but isn’t so long you drown in it. It’s the perfect black blazer and I’ve been looking for one for ages.

All that for £89.99.

I’ve been wearing it with oxblood skinny jeans, a cream silk shirt and statement heels. It could equally work with a white vest and a feather or sequin mini skirt.

Burberry Brit jeans – £225
Jaegar silk blouse – £140
Valentino studded calf hair pumps – £700

With black all over the catwalks at the Spring/Summer 2013 shows, it’s a piece that will see me well into next year.

Are you a fan of Zara’s blazer?