Photos via Fabsugar.com

The 2012 festival season has officially begun and it's set to be another big year for the humble cross body bag as music lovers gathered over the weekend in California's Mojave Desert for the annual Coachella music festival.

The popular event, which has now been extended from 3 days to 2 consecutive weekends, has in recent years become known more as a place for celebrities to show off their style credentials rather than for the the acts on stage. Consequently the fashions seen there generally set the tone for other music festivals around the globe for the rest of the year.

The key trends at this year's Coachella festival are the boho look and the vintage look, with outfits revolving around floral prints, cut off denim shorts, gladiator sandals, fringing, floppy sun hats and leather cross body bags.

We can expect to find cross body bags carried by stylish festivalgoers all over the world and thank goodness. It’s refreshing to see a trend that’s also extremely practical! The cross-body bag really is the ideal style for a festival or even any all-day event where there are lots of people. A cross body bag allows you to keep all your personal belongings safe but is also easy to carry and leaves your hands free. With a cross body bag you can let loose, dance, mosh, go crazy, whatever you want and not have to worry that you’ve put your bag down somewhere and forgotten it.

To get an authentic Coachella look keep an eye out for cross body bags that feature distressed leather or generally have a worn look about them. Here are a few of our favourites currently available at Just4Leather.

Zatchels retro navy and while polka dot satchel £97

 

Rowallan Clifton large leather buckle front bag in cognac £83.99

Prime Hide soft Italian leather cross body bag (style 844) £60.22

Gio large brown soft leather cross body bag £47.99

Fossil Sutter camel leather bag £75

Click here to view our full range of festival-worthy cross body bags for men and women.

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.

You may have noticed from our news feed that we now stock popular German brand JOST at Just4Leather. Here is a short introduction to some of the new products on offer...

JOST Bonn leather cross-body bag in black style 8344 (£139.99)

Looking for a new bag? This JOST cross-body bag comes highly recommended. This top-notch bag features a minimalistic design with small accentuated details and is made from fine textured cow hide leather that lends it a cool, contemporary look. If you place a high value on durability and authenticity, then the Bonn cross-body bag is the one for you. The JOST Bonn cross-body bag is ideal for travelling around the city and keeping all your essentials organised and within easy reach.

JOST Bonn large leather messenger bag in black style 8346 (£185)

Charisma and class in a business bag, the Bonn messenger bag has a certain je ne sais quoi. With its A4-sized central section, this bag is perfect for busy professionals who need to carry important documents with them but like to do it in style. The exterior is made from high-grade cow hide and makes a real impression with its simple, yet impactful design.

JOST Vintage unisex cross-body bag in brown (£135)

The Vintage cross-body bag from JOST awakens the hunter in you. Classic, minimalist and inspired by vintage hunting bags, this cross-body bag provides plenty of organisational options and will last forever. The high-quality craftsmanship and fine cow hide leathers evoke days gone by, making this JOST bag a historical eye catcher in modern times.

Click here to view the full range of JOST bags.

At a music festival you need a bag that’s practical as well as stylish but finding one that gets the balance just right is not always easy. So here are a few top tips to help you on your way.

The cross body bag not might be every fashionista’s favorite but at a music festival it really does come into its own. The body strap leaves your hands free and there’s no risk of leaving it behind if you’ve had a little too much to drink or simply been swept away by the party atmosphere.

Many of us have a tendency to carrying around much bigger bags than we need, filling them up with unnecessary items but at a music festival it’s better to stick to the basics. Ideally all you should take is a purse, phone, keys, camera, sunglasses and perhaps a bottle of water. So choose a small bag that won’t weigh you down as you move from stage to stage and rock out to your favorite bands.

Whenever you’re in a crowded place you need to ensure your belongings are safe from pickpockets so when looking for your perfect festival bag, go for styles that feature a flap over a central zipped section. This will make it much harder for opportunists to part you from your hard earned-cash.

Clifton small leather buckle bag by Rowallan of Scotland £57.99

This small cross body bag is ideal for taking to a festival. It's small, light, will stand up to no end of abuse and has the vintage-inspired look that's central to summer music festival fashion.

For more festival-worthy bags click here.

With such a large range of cross-body bags to choose from, you can have a different one for every occasion this summer.  Use this handy guide to make sure you're never stuck again for which bag to wear for which occasion!

The festival-goer



Cross body bags are great for festivals, securing your possessions while leaving your hands free for dancing and it's a trend being picked up on by celebrities and canny fashionistas alike.  Try this Nappa leather cross-body bag in the archetypal MyWalit Malibu style for a great start to the festival season.  It's perfect for securing your valuables, with internal zipped pouches and a handy leather strap over the flap to deter pickpockets, while being bright enough to help your friends spot you in a crowd and complement even the most understated festival ensemble.

The picnic date



For that crucial first date in the open air you want to impress but keep it understated and a cross-body bag offers you an opportunity to do just that.  This soft leather Dominique bag is elegant and feminine without compromising on style and quality.  Made of 100% hide leather, it features a magnetic clasp and adjustable leather strap.  Wear it with a floral dress, strapped sandals and gold accessories for the perfect summer bohemian look and you're ready for the park!

The post-work party



If you're going straight out after work, you either need a small, flat bag that you can pack in your briefcase or a bag that's also smart enough to wear to work.  This Rowallan red leather bag succeeds on both counts, being of a versatile size and shape and stylish enough for work and parties in gorgeous red.  With an adjustable strap and phone pouch, it's also practical for carrying your valuables on an evening out.

The sun worshipper



At the beach you really need a soft leather bag that won't be too hot to the touch in the sun and can contain all your valuables without looking too bulky with a bikini.  This holster style bag from Nuvola Pelle is perfect for the beach right down to the sandy hue that can set off any colour of swimsuit to its best.  Complete with phone pouch on the strap and pouch pockets on the front, this bag allows you to organise your possessions in a hurry in the queue for ice cream!

Find all these products and more at Just4Leather!