As we bade farewell to another fantastic Girl’s Weekend in a remote town somewhere in South Africa, Sam and I noticed, simultaneously, some noteworthy style. A young mother, dressed casually in denim with flat, unremarkable shoes on, but with the most spectacular red handbag! Her fabulous accessory made her stand out from the crowd. She was chic. She was enviable. She was ’style’. A red handbag has a fascinating ability to make any outfit look utterly fantastic. Joy to the Red Handbag! If you haven’t got one yet, may I strongly suggest it could be time?

 Celebs looking fab with their red handbags

There’s a red bag for everyone! So many great styles to choose from, all utterly gorgeous and envy-making! 

While this trend suits anyone of any age, it may be advisable to keep this one for the ladies…

While metallics can add a bit of glam and sparkle to an otherwise boring ensemble, it is far too easy to take the look over-the-top. To avoid appearing as if you’ve been attacked by a giant roll of tin-foil, the old mantra “less is more” applies more than ever. One or two pieces of metallic in an outfit is enough.

Unless you approach wearing metallics with the right amount of subtlety, it’s easy to come across as cheap and cheesy.

So how does one keep something as bold as wearing metallics, subtle?

First, there are different types of metallic to consider.

There are your mirror shiny, check-your-reflection metallics, which can be a challenge to wear without appearing over-bling-ed:

There are über-shiny coloured metallics, which I have never seen anyone pull off without looking trashy:

And then there are the muted, softer metallics which are brushed and can look elegant:

 For shoes, it’s probably worth investing a little extra on good quality, because once your metallics are scuffed, the only place for them is the trash. It’s also important to keep them clean after wearing them. Wipe off any marks or dust to avoid the same trashy feel as scuffs.

When choosing handbags and belts, feel the fabric and decide whether or not it feels cheap and may begin to peel.

If you wear metallic jewellery that is already quite flashy, skip the metallic clothing altogether.