Lulu Guinness is, in my opinion, a fantastic designer of handbags. However, I tend to associate her with smart, office style bags. A bit unfair really as she produces many different designs but to me she is as synonymous for smart handbags as Chanel is for the little black dress.

Her New Lips collection epitomises all that is smart and if you are looking for an investment piece for your working wardrobe, this one should match everything you own and be perfect for day to day use.

A cut above the Oasis bags and other high street brands, the Lips bag comes with diagonal quilting that is shaped to look like lips and the material is a gorgeous shiny patent. It features the Lulu Guinness badge of course and the bottom has some metal studs so that your investment stays in pristine condition when you place it on any surface.

If lips are your thing then why not take a look at the little clutch evening handbag in the shape of a pair of pouting red lips. Made out of a snakeskin material in a metallic fabric and the inside is also lined with red. The zip at the top ensures that it opens wide enough to get all your things inside and is very fun to look at. Frankly, if nothing else it will certainly spark a conversation.

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This autumn, British accessory brand Jimmy Choo will bring its international glamour and covetable shoes and bags to selected H&M stores.

The collection will be available from November 14 in around 200 stores across the world. It is the first time that H&M is collaborating with an accessories brand, and to celebrate Jimmy Choo will extend its design vision for this collection to women’s clothing to complement the accessories. Further exciting news is that this collaboration includes a men’s collection of shoes, bags and accessories.

“We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men, too. Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection – the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!” Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo.

“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M.

Since its launch in 1996, Jimmy Choo has been such a phenomenal success that the brand name has become part of popular culture – say the words “Jimmy Choo”, and you know you mean shoes. In Hollywood, Jimmy Choo shoes have become a red-carpet essential, and have been worn at the Oscars by winners such as Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry and Hilary Swank among many other actresses. The famous Jimmy Choo shoes will be at the heart of the exclusive collection for H&M, but there’s more. Jimmy Choo has also become well known for its bags, and for H&M there will be a whole range of accessories to complete the look.

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Not having children yet myself I do wonder how yummy mummies manage to fit everything they need to carry for the small person on board without a large entourage to assist. I needn’t worry. I found out the secret.

They have managed to make a changing mat masquerade as a handbag. It’s truly amazing. From the outside it looks like a cutesy slouch bag, two front pockets with pretty bows on, perfect for holding those necessary items that you need to get hold of quickly. Keys, mobile phone, dummies!

On the inside however, it’s quite a different story. With individual pockets for holding babies’ bottles it’s not only excellently designed its practical too, as they are insulated to keep the milk at the perfect temperate. There is also an elasticated umbrella pocket, a dummy fob and the piece de resistance, a shocking pink waterproof changing mat.

Really very clever.

They come in all manner of designs so they will suit any style of Mum! For fun and flirty you could try the Katie Bow as described above, or for the more mature look, the large petal might be a good fit. For the truly adventurous there is a gorgeous design with buses all over it and a big cup cake on the pocket!

I popped out today to buy a couple of essential items for a night in front of the box. As it’s the weekend I was dressed down to say the least. Slumping around in my tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt, I slung on my uggs and battered girl’s coat to make my five minute journey.

Worst five minutes of my life. I realised that every other woman out there wouldn’t be seen dead nipping out in the state I was in.

It got me thinking. If I threw away all my slouchy “women’s clothing” that makes me look more of a tramp than effortlessly stylish, I would have no choice each day but to make an effort and pick something that made me look, well, nicer. I dream of being the woman with time on her hands to do her make up every day and wear something that other girls might be jealous of but where on earth do they find the energy?

I think there is something in the whole culling idea, so I am going to do it! No more plain fleeces that are easy to throw on and totally comfortable and no more tracky bottoms, it’s over people. My days of slumping are long gone. After today…