Have you ever had a weird obsession you just can’t explain? For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been completely charmed by clothing masquerading as fruit. Heels adored with lemon slices? Yes please! A necklace with a rhinestone apple? Sign me up! So when one of my favorite handbag companies Vendula London came out with their La Petite Creperie range, my eyes scanned the adorable shopfronts and zeroed in immediately on the bag approximating a strawberry tart.
When I was 16, I got a job at a KB Toy Store (I know I’m aging myself here – does anyone else remember that chain?). I saw some pretty outrageous things – including a full on wrestling match between grown adults over a Tickle Me Elmo. But, I suffered through the entitled parents and the horrible khakis and long hours because I had one goal in mind: to save enough money to be able to go on my school trip to France and Spain. I had dreamed about strolling the Champs-Élysées, broadening my horizons, and getting that first ever stamp in my passport. And when I finally did board that plane, I didn’t remember the hours restocking shelves of Barbies or demanding customers. I only savored the feeling of climbing the steps to Sacré-Cœur. Finding that perfect creperie in Montmartre. Ordering a crepe in my broken French. Taking that first bite and realizing I had never tasted anything so perfect in my life.
So, when Vendula got in touch about trying out their newest SS25 range, I saw this bag and was brought immediately back. To the sights and the sounds. To that first perfect crepe. To the realization that anything was possible….
Over the years, I have amassed quite a collection of Vendula bags – I have a particular penchant for their shopfront bags (case in point here and here). But this Strawberry Tarte cutie might be my favorite yet. It’s made out of a soft, high quality printed and embossed faux leather with a wristlet and a shoulder strap/crossbody option.
The details Vendula London are known for are so on point with this bag – from the curved crepe-esque shape, the Eiffel Tower zipper pulls, to the metal stud feet on the bottom to keep it clean. But the real star of the show are the dozen or so realistic strawberries dotting the top – done in a bright juicy red with beaded seeds, the bag looks good enough to eat.
Despite being an obvious novelty item, I have found this bag to be pretty versatile so far. The interior compartment is about 3.5″ height x 8.3″ width x 5.7″ depth, which fits my various bits and bobs (including the perfect matching La Petite Creperie Square wallet). It opens with a zip closure (did I mention those Eiffel Tower zipper pulls??) with one zipped and one open pocket inside, which is fully lined with whimsical Vendula printed lining.
There is something about strawberries (and this bag) that screams summer. That speaks to sunshine on my face and laughter off in the distance and picking wildflowers in smocked white dresses. In letting go of what it took to get here – and just savoring the moment.
The Vendula London La Petite Creperie Strawberry Tarte Bag bag retails for $228 and can be purchased through the Vendula London website. If this piece spoke to you the same way it did to me, use the code DRESSEDAPP, to snag yourself 12% off any full priced item! There are also a number of different style bags in this theme, if you’re after something a little more conventional, including the Grab Bag, Hollis Bag, and Grace Bag, among others. Or if whimsy IS your thing, the La Petite Creperie Take-away Pouch Bag is also pretty dang fabulous. They also have a range of matching wallets – I went with the square wallet, but there’s also an adorable coin purse and phone case. Vendula London also ship worldwide, so what better than to have a bit of Paris appear on your doorstep?
Summer is full swing over here, and I am definitely making the most of it. Heading out on the boat for some field work, ducking out early to meet friends for drinks, dreaming up new sewing projects – I for one plan to make good use of the extra dose of sweet sunshine and the far fewer undergraduate emails. Letting a bit of whimsy take over as I close the laptop and head out for a bit of summer-infused adventure.
Truthfully, I think we can all use a bit more whimsy in our lives (and our wardrobes). If you’re similarly looking for that extra bit of dopamine dressing – Vendula London can also be found on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. I hope you follow along and get sneak peaks of what’s coming next to their berry patch..
Needless to say, for me, it’s always strawberry season..
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: The Pretty Dress Company
Belt: Alannah Hill (similar)
Necklace: Kate Spade (similar)
Wallet: La Petite Creperie Square Wallet c/o Vendula London
La Petite Creperie Strawberry Tarte Bag: c/o Vendula London
Shoes: Miss L Fire – RIP (similar here & here)
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Any items marked with a “c/o” (courtesy of) a retailer mean I was provided with an item for free in exchange for a review and/or feature on my blog. I always provide my honest opinion of any item I’m reviewing, regardless of whether it was sent to me as a courtesy item or if I purchased it myself. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links or ads on this site, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase at no cost to you, which helps with the day-to-day running costs of my blog.