@ChloePlumstead's is our First #NicaTakeover Star

This week saw the arrival of the first ever #NicaTakeover on our Instagram channel @nicahandbags, courtesy of the lovely blogger @ChloePlumstead who styled up our new season Olivia crossbody in pink croc.

We were treated to some #ootd inspiration as she paired our Olivia crossbody with blue denim and a crisp white oversized shirt. The look definitely nailed this season’s leading Seventies’ trend. How would you style up your own Olivia bag? 

The inspiration didn't stop there either as she also curated a mini mani edit of dreamy pink pastel hues that complement the bag perfectly. Do you ever match your manis to your handbags?

@ChloePlumstead proves just how versatile the Olivia is too as she pops out for a coffee with the stylish crossbody. So, not only can you style it up for a special occasion but it’s also a really practical choice for when a tote is just that tad too much to carry. 

Which was your favourite image from the Insta-Takeover? Drop us a comment below as we’d love to hear your thoughts. Plus, if you enjoyed seeing @ChloePlumstead’s takeover, you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve got plenty more blogger take-overs lined up for you. Watch this space! 

#CarryMeAway... to the Best Festivals

If the early summer festival line up passed you by without so much as a sniff of a live act, don’t despair as we think that the best is yet to come! Here's our round-up of the best high summer festivals. 

Wilderness August 6-9 Cornbury Park Oxfordshire

Not just a music festival, Wilderness is more holistic than just watching bands, with contemporary arts, theatre, food and wellbeing getting in the mix. The music’s definitely not to be missed either with Björk, Ben Howard, Shamir and Róisin Murphy taking centre stage.

Rewind 7-9 August (Cheshire), 21-23 August (Henley-on-Thames) 

If you love bopping to 80s tunes, then Rewind is the festival for you. With the likes of Human League and Belinda Carlisle you’ll be time-warped straight back to the 80's. 

Reading & Leeds Festival 28-30 August Richfield Avenue, Reading / Braham Park, Leeds


Where teenie boppers and hairy bikers stand side by side
to watch Mumford & Sons, Metallica, The Libertines, Royal Blood, All Time Low, Jamie T and Years & Years.

Creamfields 28-30 August Cheshire 

Channelling the spirit of Madchester, The Chemical Brothers, Steve Angello, Avicii, Fatboy Slim and Annie Mac head to Daresbury in Cheshire for this iconic dance music festival. Best of all, Creamfields takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Festival No.6 3-6
September Portmeirion, Wales

Set in the charming Welsh village of Portmeirion, No 6 is one of the UK’s most exciting and unique music and arts festivals featuring top dance acts alongside cutting edge talent including Mark Ronson and Metronomy.  

Bestival 10-13
September Robin Hill, Isle of Wight

Rob Da Bank’s festival is so much fun it has a designated fancy dress theme each year. This time around it’s ‘Summer of Love’, so get prepping your best hippie outfits. Headliners include Chemical Brothers and Duran Duran. 

So, which festival tickles your summer time fancy? Drop us a comment below as we'd love to hear. 

#NicaTravels: Nica Kim Soaks up the Minimal Style of Copenhagen

Last week I jetted away from rainy London to the beautiful Copenhagen to derive a little design inspiration, as you've guessed it, I'm already planning a new season collection! 

Copenhagen is renowned for its cool minimalistic aesthetic, so I thought that there’d be no better of a location to hit than Denmark’s stylish capital to soak up some of its Scandi-cool influences. This time around my denim Ava grab was my travel companion of choice.

 

Thanks to its clean, simple lines Danish architecture boasts a classic appeal that never seems to go out of style, and for me, simply admiring the architecture in different countries triggers the design process.

It was also really interesting to see that Copenhagen’s cityscape is made up of by 4-6 story high buildings rather than the glass skyscrapers which dominate most other capital’s. That’s definitely not to say that it’s lacking in contemporary architecture, though.  

If you love seafood, then Copenhagen is the place for you. It was actually founded thanks to the abundance of fish that the Øresund provides, and you can enjoy its fresh local produce all over Copenhagen, from Michelin star restaurants to quick street food eats.

Opportunities to shop are a plenty too. Not only did I hit the many Danish clothing boutiques but I also seized the opportunity to check out the homeware shops, as goods in these kinds of places are often the most inspiring for my own designs. 

The Danish seem to have such a relaxed way of life that I think London could learn a lot from, and who doesn’t like a country that values enjoying life so much. This ice cream van definitely twisted my arm into having one.

Where have you been travelling with your Nica handbags lately? Don’t forget to tag your photos with #MyNica @nicahandbags on Instagram as I’d love to see.

Love Nica Kim
- X - 

#NicaTalks: A Look-Back at Nica Kim's Twitter Q&A

Our designer Nica Kim always loves sharing her design inspiration with you and she recently took her love for it that one step further by taking part in her first ever #NicaTalks Twitter Q&A.

As she sat down for her afternoon tea, she welcomed your questions about her inspirations and career, and it was also the perfect opportunity to show off her beautiful new collection. 

‏@Mercyeee : How do come up with the concepts for your bags?

Nica Kim: I want to build excitement with each bag I design that fits into the brand image and range.

@LoveYourTresses: Would u have still pursued hand bag designing if u hadn't won the competition that brought your gift 2 light?

Nica Kim: I had planned to set up in the ceramic industry using my own prints - I had never planned for handbag design. 

@Lilliwhiterose: Flamingoes are my fave!

Nica Kim: Summer is so reminiscent of palm trees. The Flamingo is beautiful, elegant and exciting.

‏@villou : What should we expect in the future in terms of brand development?

Nica Kim: My aim is for Nica to be lifestyle brand using my prints. I love stationary & homeware so this could be an exciting move.  

@Lilliwhiterose : When making bags for women what is one of the most important key features you keep in mind?

Nica Kim: Texture is a key word for Nica. Tweed is my favourite material as I the texture can bring the bag to life.

Nica Kim: I also love incorporating prints and colours to create bold and dynamic designs.

If you’re sad that you’ve missed the first ever #NicaTalks, worry not as we’re planning to have plenty more! Plus, you can still drop us your questions at @Nica_Handbags on Twitter with #NicaTalks and we’ll get back to you asap! 

#CarryMeAway: The Nica Team Share their Favourite Holiday Pics

If like us you’re in the midst of planning your summer holidays, then you’ll be in need of some major wanderlust. So this week we've turned to the Nica team to share their favourite past travel adventures. From exotic India to sunny California, get ready to be inspired!

Nikki McBride, Graphic Designer

One of my favourite ever holidays was when I got the opportunity to travel around India one summer. There are so many beautiful sites to see from grand forts to awe-inspiring temples, and seeing the Taj Mahal mausoleum with my own eyes easily falls within my favourite ever travel memories. My top tip however is to visit it at sunrise when it’s less busy, and of course this time of day also makes for the most beautiful of photos.

When you tire of the sightseeing, then you have to immerse yourself in the local cuisine. Street food markets are de rigeur and sampling an authentic Bhelpuri comes second to none.

Iva Suchankova, International Sales Manager

If you get the chance to evoke upon an exotic holiday this summer, then make it South East Asia. As part of my job I’m always travelling, so when it comes to choosing a holiday destination, it takes a while to select where I should go. Japan is however one of my favourite places in the world and I’ve been lucky enough to visit several different areas many times.

If you’re heading there this summer, my tip is to head to Tokyo and experience its diverse fashion scene with the Harajuku district and its electric fashion trends being an absolute must. Or wait until Spring when Japan turns pink with beautiful cherry blossoms, and no matter the time of year, there are always a million delicious sushi restaurants to enjoy. 

Rakhi Popat, Senior Product Manager

Last summer, I got the opportunity to visit sunny California with a group of friends. We rented a car to optimise our exploring, but there’s always über for those who don’t fancy braving the roads alone. We headed to LA to do a little celeb spotting and hit the fancy boutiques, then over to San Francisco to experience a totally different feel. 

For anybody who loves a festival, there are plenty to choose from but just ensure that you book well in advance in order to avoid any disappointment. We never got the chance to attend one but it’s on our bucket list for next time. 

We hope you're enjoying our summer #CarryMeAway on an adventure series. Why not share your favourite past holiday pics with us @NicaHandbags #CarryMeAway on Instagram? We can’t wait to be inspired.