Irregular Choice Collection: House Bags

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I'm back with the next instalment of my Irregular Choice bag collection series. I call these the 'house' bags, but you might also see them referred to as lunchbox bags, a name given to similarly shaped earlier styles. It wasn't really until the house variation launched that I took notice and then when the gingerbread house came out, I had to have it.  I thought I wouldn't get much use out of a very festive themed bag, but you know what? It's one of my most used bags overall and definitely the most used of this shape. I bring it out every year and it always gets lots of compliments. Size-wise, they look quite dinky, but there's quite a generous space inside with the base slightly wider than the top. I'm not the biggest fan of the opening though and this limits what you can put inside and find! They have a studded flap and beneath that a zip top. The zip opening just doesn't stretch open very widely, so you basically have to find things by touch because you can't see into it. There's two shorter handles which also have a stud fastening (I've shown a close-up in the first bag I show below), so there can be a lot of faffing to get it open and closed. They come with a longer strap too (which you attach to the sides), but if you've followed these posts, you'll know I tend not to use those (literally have boxes filled with beautiful spare straps), I've photographed any that happened to still be inside (some I've not had the chance to use yet as they're new). I'm going to try and not chat too much throughout this post (famous last words), because despite the relatively small collection, there's almost 80 photos (I'm scared to look at the next in this series which has 12 bags)! I don't need to describe every little detail to you, you can see that, I just do it out of habit, but also don't want you to miss anything! I'll point out any variation on the style though, because there are some.

So let's start with where it all began for me, the gingerbread House Party Bag. This style has just relaunched actually with the latest Christmas collection, though the lining will not be the same as mine and some other materials may be slightly different. I will forever point out to people the gingerbread man with the bite out of one side. It's all about those little 'irregular' details for me. Definitely one I'd never part with.  

I think my second one was this Le Cafe Du Chat. I'd almost been swayed previously by the pet variations of this style, but I really loved the colours in this one and managed to get it in the sale. It came with a little cake/macaron type charm, which I removed at the time as I was worried it would detach and I'd lose it and I forgot to dig it out for these photos. The colour of the charm varied, mine was pink if I remember correctly. I have loads of fluffy baby bag charms (which I'm sure the majority find creepy, but I love 🤣), so I use a lot of those on these style of bags, attached to the D-ring at the side (I have a fluffy snowman on my gingerbread one). I didn't realise how similar this was to The Muppets, Chez Moi until I had both. There's a lot of the same fabrics and trims used and although they're different sizes/shapes, they are both in the style of a house too.  Before I saw this for real, I wasn't aware of the fuzzy snow along the bottom or maybe it's supposed to be icing for the cake theme?! The salon/patisserie confuses me too, which is it? 🤔

Given my love for the gingerbread one, it was a no brainer to get the Happily Ever After bag from the Disney Princess, Snow White collection last year. I think of this as my all-year-round equivalent. The cottage is just so well suited to this bag shape (note the slightly different flap shape) and I love that green glitter grass and most of all, the fuzzy trees. This one has a picture on the back, definitely the most interesting of these styles on the back, but most boring at the top and on the base in my opinion (plain beige top and black base) and the windows and door open on the front with some of the 7 dwarfs behind them. I've used this a few times, once with the matching boots, they're gorgeous together.

I managed to get the McNuttys Cabin Bag locally in the January sales from AW19. I love the colours in this one (pink and green are a fave combo of mine). The fuzzy snow on the flap is fab, as is the super fluffy tail on that cute squirrel. The strap was still in this one as I haven't really had the chance to use bags this year.

This Spring/Summer there were two new variations I really wanted.  What A Spread is just so bonkers and I love that whole picnic aesthetic with the gingham. I can tell this bag is going to be ultra annoying though. The front straps on all these bags lean forward a little to let the flap tuck in behind when closing. Most do it quite naturally as there isn't much overlap. This bag is different, it has a front pocket (with the gingham frill at the top), but some of the food items need tucked into that flap (wine bottle, baguette and sandwich) in order for the handles to sit properly. I just know that I'm going to get frustrated with it if I'm in a hurry (which I usually am when closing my bag) and unless you tuck those items into the pocket, you can't hold it properly.  I've tried to photograph what I mean, below. You can see the strap in front of the baguette will not sit properly.  

It's still got the stud on the flap, the zip underneath and this one also has a lovely back actually. I really love the mix of materials; the woven basket, the crochet strawberries and then those gloriously, real looking grapes.  To look at, this is definitely a favourite of mine, but we'll see how practical it is in use.  

Sushi Dreams is the other SS20 bag and has such a fantastically, bright mix of colours.  It's back to the scalloped 'roof' flap, though this one has some artificial flowers sewn on, but you'll note the strap is longer at one side than the other, on the front.  There's so much detail here, in all of these bags actually.  You get a mix of applique and embroidery in every one.  They all have really beautiful sides I think, though this one is a favourite.  

In typical style, I've added another one of these bags to my collection since photographing these.  Didn't I say that always happens? I took the photos months ago and it didn't seem worth reshooting for one bag.  It's the Nutcracker Dreams one from the Christmas launch.  It's very pretty, but weirdly the stud fastening on the strap is completely removable...obviously this wouldn't be practical if you were using it out and about as you'd easily lose it.  Maybe they wanted to give us a choice over whether or not we had it.  It feels a bit wider but dumpier in height to the others, but maybe not.  It's also super slippy!  It literally keeps sliding off me when I'm holding it to look at it!  I'll just have to show you that one in a separate post someday.  Like I said in my intro, the next bag post is haaaaauge.  Twelve bags, which I was genuinely surprised at (the style is very practical for me, but I didn't realise I'd bought so many over the years).  I may start editing those tonight...maybe.  Anyway hope you enjoyed this and you're keeping well x