Quality over quantity and something with a personal touch

– fashion editor Frankie Graddon is on the hunt for truly special pieces this season 

By Frankie Graddon for The Pool on 14.09.17

I’ve always loved shopping, but as I get older, I find myself looking for not just the new, shiny things, but the pieces that are going to last me a while. During my early twenties, I’d binge-shop on clothes, shoes and accessories, returning from each shopping trip with bags of stuff, delighted at how much I’d managed to buy and still have change from £50. But, now, the appeal of an over-stuffed wardrobe has lessened and, instead of mass, I’m looking for quality and things I won’t get bored of after 10 minutes.

We’re really lucky to have a heritage of crafts and, in an age of mass consumption, it’s really important to support local businesses. I love the idea of knowing who made my bag and where it’s come from – plus I’m a sucker for anything that can be customised – so Etsy ticks a lot of boxes. Here’s what I’ve been looking at recently.

A BAG WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH

A long-strap, medium-sized bag that can be worn cross-body is exactly what I look for when I’m shopping for handbags. I want something well made from leather that I can wear every day without it looking tired. It also needs to carry my phone, keys, cards, headphones and ever-growing lipstick collection. As already mentioned, I’m a sucker for anything that can be customised, especially with my initials, so I asked if I could get this to my size requirements, with an FG on it and changed to black. Shoulder bag by CARV London, £270 with customisations