Clutch Copy

When it comes to a good clutch, I don't think you can get much better than Whistles. They do a wide range of of colours, textures and sizes and the simplicity of the design is right up my street. I always think they would look so stylish for a night out - they're literally just a regular pouch with a zip top and little Whistles logo. On a recent shopping trip, I walked past the Whistles shop (which I usually bypass because it always looks intimidatingly quiet/fancy) and thought why not, I'll pop in and have a look at what they have on offer...what's the worst that could happen? Well, I was instantly drawn to this little black number - a shiny croc print rectangle of beauty with small gold lettering. What I wasn't quite prepared for was the sixty quid price tag. Now I know they are real leather and you're paying for the quality and all that, but, and maybe this is just me being boringly practical, there's not even a zip-up pocket inside. I don't know about you, but I like that little bit of extra security when I'm probably going to end up slightly less cautious with the bag's contents than usual after a few drinks! Safe to say I picked my jaw up off the floor, exited the shop with a heavy heart and heavy purse, dreaming of the day when I would be sophisticated and rich enough to justify purchasing a Whistles clutch. 

I then strolled into Forever 21 not really expecting to find anything and, low and behold, I stumbled across the bag pictured above. Now I know it's not a carbon copy but it's not totally dissimilar to the Whistles alternative - gold zip top: check, size match: check, pouch style with minimal decoration: check! And guess what, you've even got yourself an inside pocket. The best bit is the price - at just short of £9 you could get it in every colour and still have 30 quid left at the end of it. It might not be real leather, but it will probably end up covered in sugary cocktail goodness anyway so being able to wipe it clean is a plus for me! I don't fancy paying £51 for a brand logo, especially when 9 times out of 10, I'm lazy and opt for a bag with a strap on a night out anyway. This little steal is absolutely perfect to have on hand when I fancy going strap free and its status as one of my slightly roomier offerings means that the 'fugly purse' usually reserved for evenings out can be replaced by my everyday option should I so desire. Forever 21, you have excelled yourself!