Downsize but don't pare down - bejewelled clutch bags

An off-the-cuff  tweet by The Media Eye‘s Caroline Citrin, on the fabled Parisian ability to accessorise with the tiniest purse, inspired a sartorial challenge to self. This weekend I astounded myself by neatly compacting everything I needed in for a chic London wedding into a vintage, slightly merkin-like, fur purse.

Fully armed, and ready to party, my arsenal included keys, Oyster card, credit card, tinted lip balm, Blackberry (so darned big!), map to venue, and a precautionary needle and thread, and two Scholl blister plasters. Oh, and a hanky. Liberating, and the perfect accessory for my own design, 70s-style, cobalt blue silk pantsuit (well, colour-blocking is de riguer this season, non?)

Aiming to avoid looking too ‘done’, and wanting to showcase some new additions to the wardrobe (the pantsuit I whipped up a couple of years ago), I completed the look with my new, super-gorgeous peep toe Loubs – off-white croc-print ostrich skin ( a very appreciated Christmas gift), and my ASOS leopard print scarf – nothing quite like mixing up a bit of the animal.

In keeping with my general aims to downsize the ‘stuff’ in my life to just the most beautiful, the most necessary, the idea of minimal hand luggage is hugely appealing. With less and less time to myself, my wardrobe is steadily becoming more capsule, comprising beautiful but wearable, mix-em-up separates which enable speedy dressing. The accessories – a gobstopper Mawi ring, sky-high, stacked heels, a vintage silk scarf, become a simple way to add a splash of carefree frivolity.

My ultimate clutch, Alexander McQueen’s knuckleduster clutch is, alas, no longer in stock at Net-a-Porter, although (while we talking fantasy) this one is. While these might sit slightly beyond my personal budget – though certainly not everyone’s – they illustrate perfectly how small can speak volumes.