As the weather gets warmer, I always find that my choice in bags gets more and more casual.

By the height of summer, it’s always nice to have a tote bag you can just throw everything into and go. Macrame handbags are always a popular choice in summer, especially when you’re heading to the beach. Yes, the sand gets in easier, but it also shakes out easier.

This leather tote from Helen Kaminski is the very high-end of macrame bags, retailing for $450. Yes, that’s considerably more than the average hand woven hippy macrame bag you’d find at your local markets.

That’s because this bag wasn’t made by your local hippy - it was designed in collaboration with a specialist workshop in southern India, using traditional techniques to craft the leather.

If you are going to carry a macrame bag, it goes without saying that you should leave any embarrassing items that you usually lug around with you, as well as your dirty scrunched up hanky, at home.

By Caroline Warnes

Hats are one of those fashion items with which I have a love/hate relationship.

This is mostly because not everyone can wear hats. And honestly, more often than not I am someone who can’t wear hats. Hats tend to make a very bold statement and can look fantastic if worn with the right style and attitude.

However randomly chucking a hat onto any old outfit for any old occasion (for example, wearing a jaunty top hat to work) can be a sad sight to behold indeed.

All that being said, I am partial to hats at times, particularly when attending the races.

The Autmun/Winter collection from Helen Kaminski has already caught my eye, especially the dressage collection, which features three styles - Regan (the classic top hat), Brendalyn (the derby bowler) and Lady, as pictured here.

The Regan style in particular would make a stylish addition to most winter racing outfits.

The rest of the Autumn/Winter collection also has some eye-catching pieces - you can check it out here.

By Caroline Warnes