Photography: Jane Lee

You’ve heard about capsule wardrobes for clothes, but what about a handbag capsule wardrobe?

Wearing: ‘Florence’ Crossbody Bag; ‘Paris’ Tote Bag; ‘Rome’ Convertible Satchel – all by Bahru

Yours truly is never more the minimalist than when it comes to handbags. I strongly believe that, just as you would build a capsule wardrobe for your everyday clothes, so too you should have a handbag capsule wardrobe. And this should be made up of only the most versatile and functional handbags that not only pull your outfits together, but help you out in your busy everyday life (the latter is always more important than you expect). I was recently introduced to Perth based leather accessories maker Bahru, and it was so refreshing to find a label grounded in that same philosophy. Designer Fliss Brophy, since launching the label out of Singapore in 2007, has meticulously designed her highly curated collection, hand crafted from the highest quality leather, all imagined with ‘livability’ in mind. So it only seemed fitting that I team up with Bahru to talk about the essential handbags everyone needs in their handbag capsule wardrobe.

The light weight crossbody

Coco Chanel had the right idea when she created her famous flap bag, which for the first time allowed women to carry a bag hands free. Hence why the long strapped crossbody is the top of my list of essential handbags. Selecting a lightweight design that fits just enough, it’s the perfect everyday running-all-over-town bag, and, for that matter, gallivanting around the globe on your travels. And best of all, any crossbody bag naturally doubles as a clutch. This is especially the case with the Bahru ‘Florence’ bag, which is designed with a thread-through strap that can be stowed completely inside the bag – but then again, I personally like the look of the strap hanging free.

In this outfit: Bag – Bahru | Coat – Shop Beige Renegade | Shirt – Country Road | Pants – Dion Lee x Target | Adidas Superstar Sneakers

The roomy everyday tote

Often, our one precious request of a handbag is for it to simply fit everything we need, in an instant, and without putting up a fight. And that’s why the simple and always classic shopper tote is an essential in a handbag capsule wardrobe. The ‘Paris’ tote bag is a signature design created by Bahru designer Fliss to cater to her own jet-set lifestyle. It will fit your laptop, your camera, your baguette, and then some. The handles are generous enough to be carried  on the elbow or shoulder, and the top closure is magnetic – genius.

In this outfit: Bag – Bahru | T-Shirt – COS Stores | Jeans – J Brand | Shoes – ASOS

The convertible satchel

It’s possible – nay, highly recommended – for a bag to be adaprable for both work and play. Why? Because the Minimalist is never satisfied with things which offer only a single use. Therefore, what we are looking for is a work appropriate handbag – big enough to fit an A4 document, and a sleek and smart design that says just as much about you – and can be carried right through to the weekend. That’s where the convertible satchel comes in. What I love about the ‘Rome’ bag by Bahru is its a streamlined semi-structured design that gives it the quintessential corporate look, and it transforms instantly inot an effortless satchel for off-duty wear.

In this outfit: Bag – Bahru | Coat – H&M Collectin | Knit – POL Clothing | Jeans – Ksubi | Shoes – ASOS

All Bahru leather goods are available in a range of versatile colours, including the popular metallic foil finishes. Shop the entire range on the online boutique, and follow Bahru on Instagram (@bahru_leather) and Facebook.

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