About Denise

I am a journalist and copywriter specialising in natural products and retail. But I’ve always had a passion for handbags, particularly antique and retro. Way back, I built up a sizeable collection while vacationing with my folks in the States. I’d drag them around antique malls and bring the spoils back to market in the UK, stuffed in to my luggage.

I traded privately, then with another collector I set up a pop-up shop in the Royal Arcade, Bond Street, and an Open Day called Handbag Heaven in the Basil Street Hotel, Knightsbridge. Visitors included designers, buyers, celebrities, the media and  vintage retailers. All handbag junkies

Using my PR skills I secured several articles about the event including Time Out, the Independent and Vogue magazine. The Vogue editorial resulted in a transatlantic phone call from Tiffany Dubin, director of fashion at Sotheby’s in New York to wish me luck with the show.  

At Handbag Heaven, I emptied out my collection but kept four very special bags that I would never, ever part with, two bought in the US and two in London.

Much of the content in this blog and website comes from my  prolific research for a glossy coffee-table book, which remains as yet unpublished. But I’d be delighted to hear from any publishers who may be interested!