#LadyTargaryenRecommends beat the heat

The sun sure is playing a number on us of late. Sometimes a girl just needs a light dress to beat the heat but still has to look good. Here's how #LadyTargaryenRecommends you do it:

Clutch bag is LPC4 from La Pochette Collection by Lady Targaryen @ $60

 

Pull out a beige wrap dress, your favourite shades, an eather coloured wood bangle, a pair of gladiators and finish the look with a chocolate brown clutch bag by Lady Targaryen. Try it out!

 

#LadyTargaryenRecommends try some lace

Medium-sized light blue handbag @$120

Try some lace, it won't kill you. In fact we've put together an outfit with lace that goes pretty well with one of our handbags for you to try. We recommend a black lace-top dress, simple and elegant pearls and some red heels to brighten up your look and our medium sized genuine suede leather light blue handbag.

Have a go at it, tell us what you think.

Know your leather and care for it

Leather care tips by Lady Targaryen

First thing you ought to know is leather is literally skin. And just like your skin, for it to stay looking great it needs to be looked after well, it needs to be moisturized, it needs to be cleaned - what you wouldn't do to your own skin you must not do to your gorgeous leather. More often than not, information on how to care for leather is misleading, plain wrong or applied wrongly. Before you can learn how to care for your leather, you should know the type of leather you have.

Know your leather

Let's start with some basics. Leather is a natural product. It comes from animal skins which have been chemically processed (tanned) to preserve them. A properly tanned hide (or skin) creates strong, flexible leather, resistant to decay. Most leather is tanned cow hide (other common hides include goat, sheep, alligator, ostrich). Cow hides are about 1/4 to 3/8 inches thick, which is too heavy for general upholstery application. Therefore, hides are split laterally, rendering an upper and lower cut.

Top-grain leather vs Suede, courtesy of Targaryen Man

The upper portion is the top-grain, or full-grain. The lower portion is the split. This cutting process creates different “faces” to the leather. The outside face of the top- or full-grain shows the natural grain characteristics, but is otherwise smooth, whereas, the underside appears as suede. There are two basic categories: Finished or Unfinished. Finished leather is first dyed via immersion in a dye solution, and then the outside face of the hide is coated with a pigmented resin, and then a subsequent clear-coating. Unfinished leather processing stops at the first dyeing process, without any resin coating. Finished leather is protected by the colour-coating and clear-coating, and unfinished is unprotected, not having either of these subsequent coatings applied.
creates different “faces” to the leather. The outside face of the top- or full-grain shows the natural grain characteristics, but is otherwise smooth, whereas, the underside appears as suede.

The following table depicts comparative features.

FEATURE	FINISHED	UNFISIHED
Colour	Pigment color coating on the leather's surface	Aniline dye color in the leather
Stain Protection	Color coating protects against staining	Absorbs liquid - prone to staining
Fading	Pigment coating is fade resistant	Dyes fade from light exposure (UV)
Color Richness	Color coating is flat, lacking depth	Coloring is rich, accentuating natural beauty of the leather
Feel (or Hand)	Leather feels harder, colder, stiffer	Buttery soft, warms quickly, inviting

So, simply put, finished leather color is from a pigment coating on the leather, whereas unfinished is from a dye in the leather. Finished leather is stain and fade resistant but lacks deep richness in color, and tends to be stiffer. Unfinished leather is soft and natural-looking but fades and stains readily. Unfinished leather tends to be more expensive. This graphic depicts the difference between finished and unfinished.

Note that the topical coating can range from thin to thick. If there is a very light color or clear coat on top of aniline-dyed leather, it is often referred to as “semi-aniline.” Semi-aniline leather offers modest protection while retaining much of the aesthetic beauty of an unfinished aniline-dyed leather.

Storage, cleaning and conditioning of leather

Keeping your leather under the right storage conditions, cleaning and conditioning it regularly and correctly will ensure it lasts right through generations. If not cared for properly, leather may be affected and /or damaged irreparably by mold (leather's number 1 enemy!) and other vices.

Storage

Again, just like your own skin, leather is averse to extremes. Any extreme conditions with regards to heat or cold and dryness or humidity will damage your leather. Some of the resulting damages from neglecting the storage conditions are to an extent repairable but one would much rather avoid the damage altogether. In the instances were the damage is reversible, it is not often that your leather will be restored to the exact condition it was to begin with. To be safe, keep your leather item in a room temperature, well aerated environment and you shouldn't have any problems.

Cleaning

Usually, all that is needed to clean your leather is a damp cloth using warm soapy water made with a gentle cleanser like baby shampoo or preferably store bought leather cleaners. Common leathers like Suede and Nubuck (also an underside leather) will be cleaned adequately using suede cleaners or suede shampoos while top-/full-grain can be cleaned using similar shampoos and balms. Patent leathers are often sufficiently cleaned using a wet rag dipped in plain water. 

 

Basic guidelines to clean your leather are as follows:

1. Rub the leather with a soft cloth to produce a lather in any area you want to clean. Wipe away any excess lather with a dry cloth. 
2. Allow leather to dry flat in a warm place out of direct sunlight and away from a strong heat source (fire, heater, stove, etc.).
3. Should any substantial cleaning be required it is usually advisable to take it to professionals to do the job for you. Do NOT throw your leather item into a washing machine, the various chemicals your washing machine may still have inside it may damage your leather and the process of using a washing machine to clean leather is all too complicated and too risky to carry out correctly at home.

Each time you do clean your leather you will need to condition it.

Conditioning

Leather contains often contains tanning oils that preserve it which are depleted over time. Conditioning is thus necessary to replace these oils and avoid your leather becoming too dry, stiff or cracked. Hundreds of leather conditioners/leather oils are available on the market, just be sure to read the label to ensure you are buying the correct one for your leather. Home made conditioners may be made too although intricate knowledge of your leather and the chemical compositions of your homemade conditioner will be necessary; you will need to know what you're doing. A few guidelines are important to follow when conditioning your leather:

1. Do NOT use leather conditioners that contain waxes or silicone which do not allow your leather to breathe.
2. Always use a lint free soft cloth when conditioning leather; microfiber cloths are ideal. NEVER apply conditioner directly to the leather, apply to cloth first.
3. Dampen the cloth with water before applying the conditioner to it so that there is not too much conditioner applied to the leather.
4. Apply conditioner to leather by gently rubbing into the leather until the entire surface has been covered.
5. Several light applications are preferred over a heavy soaking of conditioner.
6. Allow conditioner to penetrate the leather for at least 30 minutes before applying another coat.

To keep your leather healthy, clean and condition it when it is soiled and generally condition it every 6-9 months and avoid getting it soaked in anything.



 

A couple of winter looks

Rounded two-tone brown suede handbag ($120)

Medium sized light blue suede handbag ($120)

Enter the clutch bag: What to carry in it and how to wear it

So you're all dressed up, makeup in check, finally convinced your dress doesn't make you look fat and you're ready to grab your clutch bag and dash out the door for a good evening; did you take stock of what you put in there? Clutch bags, aside from how pretty they tend to look, are normally used to carry those extra bits you will need when you're out when you don't really want to carry a big handbag. Because of the lack of real estate in your clutch bag, the consideration of what you carry and what you leave behind is essential. So we're going to try do you a solid in that regard.

It's quite difficult to pick out item by item what each lady needs in there, but knowing what to pack in your clutch bag and how to wear it shows you're more than just a woman who likes pretty things. Just like your clutch bag is unique, so are you and your needs on a regular evening. In light of that it makes sense to approach the decision on a needs basis, the essentials you should consider should cover your hygiene, beauty, medical and financial needs.

Medical needs

If you're on some medication you can't do without, include it. A night time pill, inhaler or whatever it may be. Beauty must never come at the cost of your health so carry with you what you need to.

Beauty Products

Every once in a while the classy lady will excuse herself for a quick look in the mirror just to ensure she looks as amazing as she did when she left home. A tiny makeup kit/makeup essentials, your eyeliner, lip gloss and/or lip stick. Your beauty is your arsenal when you go out feeling that good, include what you need to keep it that way.

Hygiene

Let's face it, not all places are clean and smell good, and no matter what, you

have to be cleaner and smell better. Carry a small bottle of body spray, some hand sanitizer, your favourite perfume, some tissue and the all important sanitary tampon/pad. If you use dental floss a lot, include some in there. Some mints to keep your breath fresh wouldn't kill you neither. Your hygiene as a lady can never be sacrificed, include everything you need.

Money and ID

Card/Cash and ID. Carry it. Emergencies happen, no options on this one. Period.

How to wear your clutch bag

How you wear your clutch bag would depend on the size of the bag and the contents, how heavy it is and such. But as a rule of thumb, the smaller bag can be held in your hand for the chic look. The larger clutch bag can be neatly tucked under your arm for that lady-like look, but not too close to your armpit. However you feel more comfortable carrying it in these two ways should be perfectly fine. Here's a little clip we found and like that teaches you how you would hold the smaller clutch bag with a few extra tips. However you physically carry it, typically you'd want a clutch bag that doesn't match with the rest of what you're wearing, this will give your clutch bag that "stand-out" effect.

The wristlet option

Wristlet clutch bag by Lady Targaryen from La Pochette Collection

Should you prefer to have your hands/arm not very preoccupied with carrying your clutch bag then go for the wristlet type of clutchbag. With this type of clutch bag you can easily slip your hand through a small strap and let the bag when you want to dance, free up your hand or simply don't feel like holding the bag.

La Pochette Collection meets Mucha (Original African Couture)

La Pochette Collection
Beauté dans un petit paquet

"La Pochette Collection, beauté dans un petit paquet" - translated to English reads "The clutch bag collection, Beauty in a small package". The name and description speaks for itself really, it speaks for what we set out to do with a new line of clutch bags. We thought, we want to create something small but largely breathtaking, portable but heavily attractive - a tiny little bag that would compliment a beautiful outfit with an enormous contribution. That contribution we wanted was beauty, the pure essence of beauty wrapped in a little package - the clutch bag. Finally, the clutch bag from Lady Targaryen arrived. As usual, it was put together using 100% genuine Ethiopian leathers.

La Pochette Collection is short line of six clutch bags, cleverly combining elements of simplicity, class and colour. The few numbers of bags in the line again emphasizes what we wanted to achieve, it's not about the numbers but about what those few numbers bring to the classy lady. The options you have with the clutch bag, what the clutch bag says about you when you wear it - those were more important considerations to us when we designed the bags as opposed to just conquering every design quandary with increasing numbers. The few bags in the line are not just plain or simple, they are elegant. The designs are not tacky, they are classy. The colours are present, captivating, but not overbearing - they exude beauty.

In this post we even throw in a few style tips, but first let's meet the collection.

LPC1

A deep purple, 100% genuine leather, envelope-style clutch bag with ostrich print detail

LPC1 @ $55

LPC2

A 100% genuine leather, envelope styled, mustard little beauty with cute floral leather artwork on the cover.

LPC2 @ $50

LPC3

100% genuine leather two-tone clutch bag combines a beautiful beige leather with textured brown leather with twisted ribbon-design detail flowing from the back to the front and leather strip detail on the side.

LPC3 @ $60

LPC4

Simplicity is the ultimate complexity. 100% chocolate brown genuine leather clutch bag.

LPC4 @ $55

LPC5

An amazing blend of soft leather colour, 3-tone clutch bag.

LPC5 @ $60

LPC6

Textured beige leather clutch bag with zipper front pocket and a cute little strap for carrying convenience.

LPC6 @ $55

Style tips with Mucha (Original African Couture)

Now that you've met the entire collection we will show you how to wear them. Our friends at Mucha (Original African Couture) provided us with gorgeous style tips on how to blend their amazing African print fabric designs with La Pochette. Trust us, African print fabric perfection is hard to come by, sometimes its just a mix of colours put together horribly wrong, sometimes its African print for the sake of it being African print fabric without an actual sense of design or style, sometimes the fabric itself is so low quality it feels like cardboard when you wear it. But Mucha have all the right recipes in their pot. 

The best thing about it is both brands are Zimbabwean! Gone are the days where ladies would have to look to foreign magazines, get on planes to go shopping outside the country - everything the classy lady needs is right here in Zimbabwe. Our wealth of designers, fashion products and stylish brands proves just that. A blend of Mucha and Lady Targaryen is but an example. Here are some style tips brought to you by Lady Targaryen and Mucha (Original African Couture):

Lime Green Pants by Mucha (Original African Couture)

Clutch bag by Lady Targaryen (LPC3 from La Pochette Collection) @ $60

Warrior Neckpiece by Mucha (Original African Couture) @ $120

Mustard Clutch bag by Lady Targaryen (LPC2 from La Pochette Collection) @ $50

Basic Pencil skirt by Mucha (Original African Couture) @ $49.99

African print Jacket by Mucha (Original Africa Couture)

Textured beige leather clutch bag by Lady Targaryen (LPC6 from La Pochette Collection) @ $55

Deep purple leather clutch bag by Lady Targaryen (LPC1 from La Pochette Collection) @ $55

African print dress by Mucha (Original African Couture)

Peplum top by Mucha (from Muchas Hearts Prints Collection)

Chocolate brown leather clutch bag by Lady Targaryen (LPC4 from La Pochette Collection) @ $55

Get in touch!!!

Get your own PDF copy of La Pochette Collection here. To an order call, sms or Whatsapp on 0774 999 856/0774 760 865 or email us on info.ladytargaryen@gmail.com. Visit our facebook page Lady Targaryen and follow us on twitter: Lady_Targaryen.

Visit Mucha's website here and their facebook page, Mucha (Original African Couture).

History of the briefcase

The men's leather briefcase is the modern office man's ultimate accessory. Providing him with often needed mobility for his office, compartmentalization of his work tools and the much sought after impression on others.

History of the briefcase

It is uncertain when exactly the bag we know today as the briefcase started being used, nor where for that matter. But around the world, the history of the briefcase has striking similarities. Often used by doctors, salesmen and even big time criminal-type money gamblers, the premise of the importance of the briefcase remained the same. The doctor carried his stethoscope, medication and whatever else he needed in the briefcase when he made home visits to his patients (there weren't many hospitals back then). The salesmen, ever on the road, needed something to carry all his material in - he sought out the briefcase. The big time hustler/gambler carried his poker chips in there and admired the briefcase for how he could easily pick it up and be on the road if the law, sore losers or victims of his cons pursued him. In all instances, it was the same need that made the briefcase useful - the need to carry everything you work with in one bag as you move from place to place.

Alistair Darling in 2010 before the
budget announcement holding up the
 famous "Budget Box" briefcase

In the modern times the idea remains the same, only now you see more of white collar professionals like lawyers and business men employing the briefcase as a mobile office. Documents, files, books, laptops, electronic gadgets - anything you would normally find in an office in regular use you would more than likely find in the modern day briefcase. Briefcases have made their way into symbolic iconic roles in society too. For example with the generational "budget box" that would be seen each year until 2010 when the budget was announced in Britain.

Types of Briefcases

Classic soft-sided briefcase by Targaryen Man
 with detachable strap

The two main variety of briefcases are the hard-sided briefcase and the soft-sided briefcase. The hard-sided briefcase typically has a skeletal frame made from cardboard, plastic or aluminium with material sewn around it making a rigid box-like bag. The soft-sided variety encompasses pretty much every other type of briefcase made without a frame. Both are perfectly suitable for the office and in some cases it is a matter of preference which one you would prefer. The soft-sided briefcase does maintain certain advantages over it's hard-sided counterpart. The soft-sided briefcase can allow for more documents, books or whatever contents when it is full because the sides are not rigid. Also, because it is flexible it fits easier in packed spaces. The hard-sided briefcase offers a bit more protection for its contents because of it's rigid casing. typically the briefcase will have a handle on the top although there are varieties (such as those by Targaryen Man) that come with detachable straps for extra carrying security.

Materials used in making briefcases

The materials used in making the briefcase normally dictate its durability, how it looks and how much it will cost you. Leather is the most durable and attractive option albeit the most expensive. It is the most common material for hard-sided and soft-sided briefcases. With minimal maintenance, leather can last for years and still look stylish. Top-grain and full-grain leather are the most durable hides for briefcases, but split-grain and corrected-grain leather are attractive economy options. Suede, the softer side of split leather, is sometimes used to line leather cases, but it makes a less durable choice for exterior bag surfaces. Other options for material include vinyl, metal and fabric in descending order of durability and typical cost. While leather is the more costly option, overall its durability and attractiveness make it a sought after material for the top-shelf briefcase. 

Choosing the right briefcase for you

Modern soft-sided briefcase by Targaryen.
More space and compartments.

Typically, when you decide to buy a briefcase you have in mind what you will want to use it for. Briefcases will come in all shapes and sizes and it is up to you to know what you will carry in your briefcase to determine which you will buy. For example, the lawyer will probably need a bigger briefcase than the IT professional - more paperwork to be carried around by the former. For papers and notebooks that sometimes need extra room, a soft case might be a more convenient option. Airlines recommend hard briefcases to protect delicate electronics, an important consideration for frequent travelers; but in the same breadth, soft-sided briefcases would probably fit better in the usually over-packed overhead compartment. You want to choose your bag's material based mostly on practicality although of course style is an unavoidable influence. In the latter consideration, especially for the more conservative industries, leather is a hit. Period. Cost is another important factor when choosing the right case. An inexpensive briefcase may cost little up front, but it will need to be replaced sooner than a more expensive and durable version. A good guideline is to buy the highest quality, which is usually leather.

When buying a briefcase be sure to look out for the following:

• Stitching: The stitching should be strong, even and consistent and should NOT have any loose threads both on the leather and on the lining inside the case.
• Zipper: Metal zippers generally last longer and present less problems. Check the zippers, run them open and close them a few times and ensure all the zippers (if present) are working fine.
• Grain of the leather: Full-grain leather is the best option in terms of durability and aesthetics, followed by top-grain leather which is an excellent alternative to the good stuff.
• Hinges: If your briefcase has hinges (typical of hard-sided cases), you need to bear in mind they will be working each time your case is opened and closed. As such, you ought to inspect them before buying the case to ensure they are strong enough and will not give in after only a few swings.
• Handles/Straps: The handle of the briefcase will take the most hits in the lifetime of the briefcase because where it is planted is where the most weight lifting will be done. Make sure your handle is secure on the briefcase, be it the glued, stitched on or mechanically mounted onto the briefcase. Throw some weight in the case that mimics what you would carry regularly, lift it up a few times and ensure it is strong enough for the job. Same goes for the strapped briefcase.

The bags pictured in this article are by Targaryen Man and are part of the Corporate Boss Collection. Call +263774760865 or +263774999856 for further enquiries.