Raindrops are falling on my head: part 4

If you happen to have a penchant for expensive leather handbags (I, too, have a penchant but, alas, not the budget), you might get a bit panicky in serious downpours in case your pride and joy gets a soaking. In fact, even a splash of droplets from your umbrella can cause rain damage to a good-quality leather bag, so it's worth knowing how to care for it in this weather.

Protect your leather handbag from the rain in 3 easy steps:

1. Buy a leather cleaner and a leather conditioner/moisturiser. The store you bought the bag from will sell these products, or you can find them online, usually from companies like Betterware (try their Leather Handbag And Shoe Cleaner) or Collonil, which is actually recommended on the Mulberry website (also find it on Amazon). When you first buy the bag, use a soft, clean, dry cloth to apply the cleaner (squirt the product onto the cloth rather than directly onto the bag) then, once fully dry, rub in the conditioner.
2. Invest in a water-repellant spray, such as Scotchgard Clothing & Leather Protector from 3M (or check that the one you were forced into buying when you bought your leather boots can be used on bags too). After the leather conditioner has absorbed and dried, protect your bag with the spray, applying with continuous sweeping movements to avoid staining. WARNING: you might want to try a small spot on the bottom of the bag first, especially if the leather is a light shade, in case the spray slightly darkens the colour.
3. Should you get caught in a downpour and you are - horror of horrors - sans brolly, don't panic, as your wet bag can still be saved. When you get to your destination, empty it out and allow it to dry in a warm, air-conditioned room (don't be tempted to put it near a heat source or use a hairdryer on it). The next day, rub the leather conditioner all over it to make it supple again then, once dry, apply the water-repellant spray once more. Hopefully, if you've done this the first time, your bag shouldn't be in too bad a condition from the downpour, as the spray should make the raindrops roll off rather than absorb.

If you can't be arsed to go through with the leather-care palaver, though, might I recommend sticking to your Primark tote until the rain dies down and saving your Mulberry/Prada/Marc Jacobs for dry days (like you should have done with those suede shoes you ruined).

Look after these lovelies…

Mulberry Mitzy Hobo

Jimmy Choo Saba

Chloé Marcie

Things I've learned from Grazia this week...

I think I need to devote a regular post to my weekly staple: Grazia - and not just because I have failed miserably to post a blog over the last few weeks due to a glittering social diary (or, in fact, a wedding, a few birthdays and my first anniversary, all of which have removed me from my laptop for inordinate lengths of time). But I digress.

Every week, I faithfully purchase my style bible, and every week I fold down the pages that feature something I like, am interested in or want to remember/buy. Inevitably, this then ends up with me tearing out said pages and creating piles of these 'tears' all around the flat. Something my husband finds incredibly endearing (slash unbearably frustrating). It's like my very own paper trail. Anyway, I think I need to cut down on my paper piles (tidy home, tidy mind and all that), so I've decided to share my fold-downs with you lot instead. That way, I have an electronic paper pile and zero clutter. Righty-ho, this week's gems:

• Gap's Premium Pant Collection - 10 trouser styles to choose from for next season for anyone, like myself, who never really could rock a dress (p34)
• Women are at their most beautiful at 31, according to a new survey. I knew this would be a good year. Time to dazzle... (p51)
• Male model David Gandy will turn up to the opening of an envelope. But is obviously forgiven due to being RIDICULOUSLY easy on the eye (p63-64)
• Masculine tailoring will be back - hurrah! (See my above point on not ever having managed to comfortably work a dress) (p70)
• Nude + red = A Good Look. Of course it is! Slightly retro feel and the brightness of the red freshens up the nude and stops it from washing you out. LoveLoveLove (p91)
• Kate Bosworth has her mitts on Mulberry's AW10 large leopard print chain-handle bag with the gold leopard sitting on the front - WantWantWant (p119)

And that's today's Grazia lesson, brought to you by It's A Look. Let me know if you folded down the corners on any of the same pages. Ah, magazine piles begone! Promise I won't leave so long this time until my next post.

                                                                                                                                                                          From Grazia 2 August 2010