I always feel a touch of sadness when Summer ends but as we enter the new season those feelings quickly fade. There's really so much to love about Autumn. The fresher weather, frosty mornings and dew on the grass bring on those evocative thoughts of long walks in the countryside to admire the sheer majesty of all those oranges, reds and golds that make up the Autumn palette. 

It's also the time to rethink your wardrobe. I always find it a joy to rediscover clothes that I had put away in the Spring. Inevitably though you will be wanting to replace a few pieces with some new Autumn styles. The Autumn leaves are always an inspiration for the latest seasonal colours and this year is no exception plus the addition of black blues and greys. 

To fit in with your new Autumn wardrobe you may want to consider completing the outfit with a new season bag. There's always the temptation in this throw away world to try and make savings by buying a low cost bag but there's an old adage which says 'buy cheap, buy twice'. That may well suit your needs but what you will miss is the quality. There's something quite special about owning a well constructed bag that has been handmade using quality materials. As well as being a joy to use it will form a key part of your wardrobe for years to come and is good for the planet.

Choosing a Style

Before rushing to buy the first bag that catches your eye, it's worth just taking a few minutes to consider what kind of bag suits your needs best. If you're looking for a general purpose bag that you may use daily to commute to work or for say shopping trips, you would probably want to consider a shoulder bag. This makes it easier to carry for longer periods of time with the added bonus of keep your hands free. An unstructured hobo style is definitely more comfortable as it molds more to the shape of your body but then a more structured shoulder bag has the benefit of being easier to find smaller items within the bag. 

A grab or tote bag offers a little more style and sophistication as they are usually more structured and are carried in the hand or over the forearm. This is the ideal option when wearing a smarter outfit and perfect for that evening out. Quite often, this type of bag comes complete a detachable shoulder strap for added flexibility. 

Another option is the tote shopper. It's larger size not only makes it useful for those shopping trips but also as an all round work bag. The handles are normally long enough to put over your shoulder which means it's perfect for browsing. 

Choosing a Colour

There are some great colours to choose from this season. As already mentioned, the classic Autumn colours are ever present, however other key colours such a dark green, red, magenta and grey are bang on trend additions. It's very much the style now to choose an accent colour accessory rather than trying to match your outfit. Of course classic colours such as black and brown never date and will always be a go to colour whatever the season. 

Choosing a Leather 

When it comes to quality, your best option is to choose a bag that's handmade in Italy using Italian leather. Many of these leathers are now vegetable tanned which not only gives the leather a real depth of colour, it is importantly also eco friendly as it avoids the use of chemicals. There are many textures to choose from which can very much enhance the look of the bag such as grained, pebbled, saffiano, croc or lizard print. 

You may also want to consider a woven leather bag. This option provides you with a very stylish bag using soft leather and is very lightweight. 

Choosing a Brand

There are so many quality handbag designers to choose from so you'll certainly have plenty of choice. For some, the brand is everything and that's fine although you will undoubtedly pay a premium. However if you're after a high quality handmade bag for a reasonable price that will be sure to be your go to bag, why not consider the Italian brand Arcadia. They really are at the top of their game when it comes to styles at the moment. Their innovative designs are truly unique and eye-catching and are all handcrafted using high quality materials. 

Choose wisely and enjoy Autumn with some Italian style.