Summer Handbag Essentials with Lily Shepherd from MyBag

We actively give our wardrobes a summer make over but probably don't think about giving our handbag a makeover come summer time!

We sat down with handbag expert, Lily Shepherd, and rummaged through her handbag to find out her summer handbag essentials!

My name is Lily and I’m the luxury fashion marketing and content executive for MyBag.com – this means I get to drool over beautiful designer handbags all day.

I’m a Southern girl in Manchester, so when I’m not at my desk, I’m usually exploring my new Northern home; I’m currently on the hunt for the best cocktails in the Northern Quarter.

My pick for a summer handbag has to be the Aspinal of London Marylebone Medium Tote Bag in Soft Taupe. I’m a huge fan of Aspinal of London, because their products are so beautifully made – you can really tell from the stitching and the softness of the leather that each piece is made with the utmost care.

The Marylebone Tote (pictured below - right) is one of my favourite designs every season, but in this buttery, sumptuous beige colour, it’s perfect for the warmer months. Nude is always a huge summer trend, and this handbag pays homage to this – other key looks to rock this season include fringing, cross-body bags, and everything in miniature – real festival vibes!

In the summer, there are several things I won’t leave home without – the first being suntan lotion. I’m super pale and prone to burning, so this is a real handbag essential!

I also make sure I’ve got a lip-balm at all times, to avoid dry lips from the sun, a pair of really statement designer sunglasses, and a refreshing face mist to spritz in the heat. I try and keep a bottle of water on me, too – whilst the sunshine can be fickle, I always want to stay hydrated when it’s humid and sticky

There are about a zillion lipsticks in my handbag – one in every colour, just in case of emergency! In fact, I have a lot of makeup in there – powder compacts, and mini mascaras, too. I like to have a travel-sized moisturiser to hand, a portable phone charger, hairbrush and my Filofax – as you can probably tell, my handbags are always full to the brim…

I’m the same, but have managed to get a lot more organised with the help of a cosmetic bag – it keeps all my beauty essentials in one place.

I also always pick a handbag that has multiple pockets and inside compartments, so I can separate my electronics, cosmetics, receipts and other bits and bobs from one another. Plus, doing a weekly clear-out is always a good idea – it’s amazing what you find at the bottom of your bag…!