If April showers are getting you down, cheer yourself up with a beautiful leather satchel from the Zatchels Pastel Collection.

One of these beautiful Spring-inspired satchels will be sure to get you into the spirit of the season, even if the weather isn't.

As well as vintage style (a trend which the traditional school satchel covers nicely), pastel colours are huge for Spring/Summer 2012. From powder blue to baby pink, the Fashion world is going mad for pastel colours. And what better way to work the latest trend than with a beautiful leather Zatchel?

Handmade in Great Britain from only the highest quality leather and with a surprisingly affordable price tag, it is no wonder that the country has gone mad for these bags. Zatchels are robust, durable, fashionable and exceptionally pretty.

Large enough for school or college and practical enough for a day out in the city or at a music festival, Zatchels are your Spring/Summer 2012 must-have fashion accessory. Choose from pink, purple, blue, yellow and green.

Get your hands on yours before they all sell out!

You can view the full range of leather satchels by Zatchels here.

 

Old Roman leather satchel

Most of the things you use during your work day are of very recent vintage. Your thoroughly 21st-century smart phone, your notebook computer and your thumb drives would have looked like science fiction to observers from the 1990s. Even if you work at a conservative office, your fashion sense would have been shocking a century ago.

In fact, you own only one item that would win the admiration of everyone from a Roman emperor to the Bard himself: your leather satchel. The defining characteristics of a classic satchel -- a cross-body strap, durable leather construction and an overlapping closure -- make it so practical that it's the one must-have accessory that has endured for millennia.

At its most fundamental, a satchel needs only three design elements: a sturdy across-body strap, a flap and a snap. This simple design resembles what Roman soldiers called a loculus, or "little place," for storing personal belongings. You'll still see the same timeless design in one-buckle styles from Prime Hide. These top-quality leather satchels function as briefcases that would hold up to a march from Verulamium to Hadrian's Wall, but look stylish enough for the modern office. You'll also appreciate features the Romans never imagined such as rugged metal zips and soft linings to protect delicate electronics.

 

While the Romans didn't get very fancy with their satchels, Renaissance craftsmen turned them into an art form. Embossed leather, doubled straps, ornate buckles and multiple pockets showcased the user's sense of style while keeping belongings safe. British-made Zatchels feature dual pockets and nickel-silver buckles that would doubtless have made them a hit for Renaissance fashionistas. Lucrezia Borgia would surely have killed for the red metallic, but these bags are strictly contemporary. Gorgeous colours and finishes make Zatchels fun, while their classic lines keep these envy-worthy bags smart enough for the office.

 

Even Shakespeare knew the value of a good satchel. In his day, no schoolboy was without a leather carry-all for his books and papers. You'll find a satchel-style case just as practical for your own books, but in an increasingly paperless society, that may well be an e-book or notebook computer. Take a look at our Ladies laptop bags to find cases that are as far beyond a scholar's humble tote as your e-book is beyond a quill and ink. Kenneth Brownne's laptop satchels convert into hand-held briefcases at will and contain a multitude of pockets for all your essentials. Keep your phone, notebook and even an umbrella close at hand in a top-quality leather bag. A range of stunning colours makes these bags as gorgeous as they are sensible.

 

The modern satchel has to fill new needs that its ancestors never knew. An unlined bag is fine for carrying blackberries, but your Blackberry requires a bit of protection. Choose a case with padded pockets like Fossil's rugged distressed leather work bags to hold electronic devices securely. Contemporary satchels also have to look sharp; Roman military issue was fine for subduing Gaul, but for job interviews or meeting with clients, a sleek bag in lipstick red tips the scale in your favour.

While its style has evolved, the practicality of the satchel remains. Upgrade your "little place" and enjoy the best of modern design combined with timeless style.

Christmas has barely past and already we've begun to think about the next holiday, Valentine's Day. Why not forget the traditional flowers and chocolates this year and get your Valentine a gift that she'll be able to use all year round? A top quality leather bag like the ones below will earn you serious brownie points this Valentine's Day.

CcHA London - Hot Red Olivia Shoulder Bag £160

Zatchels - Red and white polka dot satchel £97

 

Kenneth Brownne Italian Leather Cross-Body Bag £54.99

Kenneth Brownne Soft Leather Two-Handle Bag £95

 

 

Bramble & Brown Trinity Tote £159

Don't forget to browse our online shop for more top Valentine's Day gift ideas.

Leather satchels are a style as classic as a crisp white shirt or a pair of perfectly fitted jeans. Although they're always in fashion, they're everywhere this season. From runways to red carpets, cross-body satchels and leather totes are taking off. What's made these accessories the must-have trend of 2012? New colours and textures never seen in leather before turn a style staple into a statement accessory, and no one is doing it better than Zatchels. Take a look at how this hot new British brand is putting its stamp on fashion satchels.

Colour

Leather is eminently practical; it looks beautiful, feels luxurious and stands up to the daily use a leather satchel gets. However, it used to come in only a few shades. When you think of leather, you probably think of the elegant neutrals or earthy browns that were once the spectrum of leather hues. These traditional looks never go out of style, but new technology in leather manufacturing allows Zatchels to craft fashion satchels that feature fresh, bold colour.

In everything from ladylike pink and purple pastels to brilliant blues, oranges and reds, Zatchels makes ladies' satchels that stand out from the crowd. High-contrast accessories are one of 2012's hottest trends, and a satchel that adds a pop of peony pink to an otherwise sedate suit updates your entire look. Embrace the full spectrum of lively colour.

 

Metallics

The mellow gleam of leather gains another dimension with a metallic glaze that still leaves it supple. The metallic collection from Zatchels takes soft leather and gives it a bit of an edge with a glint of hard shine. Gentler colours like purple look almost pearlised with a metallic lustre, while bold cherry red and cobalt blue have a slick shine that contrasts beautifully with the sueded inner surface of the cross-body strap.

Metallic leather wears as well as matte versions because the finish is part of the manufacturing process, not merely a superficial coat of colour on the satchel. Durable and diamond-bright, metallic satchels from Zatchels look right for a night on the town.

 

Prints

Cheerful prints used to be solely the province of cloth bags, but new printing and stamping methods give you the hardiness of leather with the fun of a print. This season is all about giving ladylike vintage looks a thoroughly contemporary edge with metal fixtures and modern shapes. Zatchels delivers with satchels that feature sweet polka dots on a strappy buckled bag. A little bit demure and a little bit dangerous, these dotted leather satchels are destined to become objects of envy at your office.

Prints also give leather satchels more versatility. Because they showcase two colours, Zatchels' dotty bags complement a wider range of outfits.

 

Designers crave colour this season, and bright accessories deliver that tasty hit of hues not found in nature. Get yours with ladies fashion satchels from Zatchels at Just4leather.