When most people style an outfit, they probably start with the base: The dress. The skirt. The cigarette pant. They build from the foundation and find shoes and accessories to match. Now, while I’ve been known to be inspired by a dress a time or two, more often than not, I start with the perfect handbag…
After all of these years, it’s hard for me to think of the word “handbag” without picturing Vendula London in my mind (I even designed an appliquéd skirt based on one of their bags!). They are hands-down one of my favorite handbag companies and I look forward to their new collections every season. As someone who is no stranger to whimsey, I love the level of detail they put into their bags that seems to get cuter with every iteration. So, when they messaged me to see if I would be up for checking out their latest Botanist Range, I was ready to sport my green thumb…
If this is the first time you’ve heard of Vendula London, they are based out of the UK and are home to amazingly quirky and inspired handbag ranges, made entirely out of animal-friendly vegan leather and synthetic materials. I am lucky to have several of these beauties in my wardrobe and they are made to last and have definitely stood the test of time. They also manufacture the bags themselves – as someone who has been trying to become much more aware of manufacturing pipelines over the last few years, this is a huge plus in my book.
As they are my favorite of the Vendula offerings, I went with the Botanist Grab Bag, which are made to look like perfect, miniature storefronts. The bag itself is 9″ high x 10.25″ width x 4″ deep in size, which is sizable without veering into the oversized category. It’s got several pockets inside (one zipped, two open for quick grab items like your phone) plus an external pocket that zips. I also love the contrasting handle and the stud feet on the bottom of the bag to protect the base from the germs of the world. It’s the little details that matter, and Vendula always delivers.
At first you notice the things that grab your attention: the green vegan leather exterior, gently swaying pearl curtain, and scattering of plants and potions definitely gives you the sense that you’re in a secret garden. But, my favorite feature are the smaller, more subtle things. The embossed “roof” that looks like a basket weave of palm fronds; the grassy detail along the lower edge; the fluffy fox’s tail. But most charming of all: the 3D wisteria hanging over the window and cascading from the roof. Their designs are truly transportive. And even after years of being in business, they still manage to surprise me.
If, like me, you flourish at the sight of a whimsical bag, the Botanist Grab Bag retails for $203 USD, available from the Vendula London website. You can also use the code THEDRESSEDAESTHETIC to snag 15% off full priced items if this (or another bag) has caught your eye. As is the case with all of their collections, they have the Botanist theme in a range of bag styles, from totes to backpacks to shoulder bags, with matching wallets. I was also excited to see new offerings of jewelry and other accessories lately. (Keep an eye out for this cutie, which might just be coming to an outfit post near you…)
Vendula offer worldwide shipping and have free delivery options for USA orders. I also have to say they’re packaging almost as adorable as the bag itself. This one came in a sturdy striped box, in a dust bag, wrapped in layers of pink tissue, with delicate parts of the bag extra protected. The minute I unveiled her, I knew there was no other option than to lean into the theme and find one of my favorite vintage wisteria-print dresses, paired with some leaf-speckled heels.
As someone who has never had much of a green thumb (cactus die in my presence), I can really admire plants for their resiliency. From tall oaks to the tiniest stem of a new bud, they find ways to grow and flourish even after the harshest winter.
How will you flourish today?
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Deerfield Vintage (similar modern and vintage here, here, and here)
Harness: Arturokyy
Necklace: Swarovski (similar)
Bracelet: gift, Swarovski
Botanist Grab Bag: c/o Vendula London
Shoes: Steve Madden
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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.