Readers of this blog will already be aware of my persuasion for suede, so obviously this supremely stylish weekend bag caught my eye on a recent visit to Farlows of Pall Mall. Whilst it is not cheap (nothing that is as well made as this, is) it represents great value, compared to say a Mulberry, and what is more, it’s made with loving care in the small village of Lavendon on the Beds/Bucks border by the delightful folk at Tusting – which is more than can be said of other brands purporting to be Made in England when in fact most are made in the Far East.

The Explorer Medium is the perfect size for a weekend or short break, and good as an airline carry-on. So long as it’s not completely full, it’s malleable enough to manoeuvre nicely into one of those snug measuring cages at check-in!