She felt her heart palpitate as they called in the person before her. Her hands were gripping around the strap of her Tote bag as though holding onto it for dear life would steady her. Was it hot in here? She felt dizzy. Maybe she should have had a banana...The contents of life-saving Tote bag would, for now at least, either grant her entry into this prestigious institution or not. Should she have also included her other sketchpad? She had been on the fence about it...WAS SHE WEARING TOO MUCH MASCARA?! She grabbed the compact mirror out of the inside pocket of life-saving-bag. 'Oh-my-God', the secretary was walking toward her! Getting up from her seat and swinging her bag over her shoulder, she took a sharp inhalation and in about five seconds, centred herself. Should she be holding her notepad? Did that look more professional? 'Ready to take notes!' She could joke with the Professor. Smoothly (but actually not at all) she grabbed it out of her bag with one hand and held out the other to shake that which was now extended to her. She smiled 'confidently' as the secretary, who's eyes almost looked at her pityingly, showed her toward the interview room. Her hands were grasping tighter around her notepad (her new 'life-saving-device'); white-knuckled when she suddenly noticed in her initials engraved on its corner (pre-interview gift from mom). And as if in one fell-swoop, she was reminded of exactly who she was.
"Great to meet you!" She smiled (actually) confidently as her future Professor welcomed her into the interview room.
One forgets just how young Aspinal of London is as a brand. After all, they pride themselves as being somewhat British Heritage. But alas, as people keep reminding me, I am a 'baby' at my age now yet nevertheless remember being fourteen years old and calling a number I’d found in the classified section of a well-known fashion magazine.
You see, I was under strict instructions not to get my mother anything for her birthday (‘I only want my Cartier,’ she’d say, referring to her perfume) but I couldn’t quite let go of this idea I’d had having seen that advertisement.
I was used to journaling (I’ve done it all my life) and loved it so and thought my mother might enjoy it too. Or at the very least, have a place where she could write down her copious, copious ‘to-do’ lists. And I had seen a beautiful red (a very particular shade of red, mind) leather-bound journal which closed by leather strap tie-ups. And you were able to engrave it with your initials.
At the time, engraving wasn’t as effortless as it is now- it was actually rather an exciting prospect! And I had certainly not before come across a brand that did so for such competitive price-points. So I rang the number and a gentleman picked up. It’s hard to believe now what a small, tight-knit company it was back then.
I ordered the journal and my mother was delighted with it (though she did in fact use it to write down her to-do lists!).
It’s prevalent because years later, a senior in Sixth Form, my then boyfriend bought me the most beautiful gift (he knew I loved writing). It was a red (a very particular shade of red, mind) leather-bound journal which closed by leather strap tie-ups. And it was engraved with my initials in gold. He hadn’t known about the one I’d bought for my mother years earlier but indeed, this too was Aspinal of London.
I tell you this story because it’s a personal one - and that’s just the thing about journals and indeed, handbags; they are sincerely intimate items. The beauty of Aspinal of London is that despite the fact it has grown exponentially over this time, it is still a highly personable brand. This is evident in the AW17 collection. in which some of my favourite bags include the Mayfair (*note the clasp*) and Editor’s clutch. There is something traditional to their design which feels very English (and thus to me, homely). Beyond that, their SS18 collection collaborative with the film ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (for which Aspinal invited me to a private screening at the Charlotte Street Hotel: champagne and popcorn, I tell you, should be married - and it is a fabulous movie) perfectly exemplifies how well the brand understands the concept of heritage-luxury.
And finally, in an age where we have such a mish-mash of high-street-come-luxury collaborations (you all know how I feel about this - ‘ugh’ would probably be a good word to describe my sentiments), Aspinal of London has positioned themselves as a brand perfectly. They are their own thing, a bit like Joseph established way-back-when: high-end casual.
Love,
Girl in Style.