I’ve been in the market for a new bag for a while, and although my brain knows I should go for something sensible and black, my shopping reflex has other ideas.

I have a small crush on this Oroton Entourage tote in the glorious flamingo colour, which isn’t bad value for $245 given it’s a leather bag.

If you’re after something a little more sensible for the office, it also comes in a handful of more muted tones, including a very pale yellow colour.

By Caroline Warnes

Oroton is about to start its mid-season in-store sale this Wednesday and if you can’t wait until then, you can shop the preview sale online.

I know I said a couple of weeks ago that I was over Oroton umbrellas, but seeing as $20 has been knocked off the price (down to a more reasonable $45), I’m considering it again.

You won’t pick up an Oroton bag or anything in that league for under $100, but there are some other odds and ends that won’t cost the earth - key rings for $20 and business card holders for $50, for example.

You can shop the rest of the online Oroton sale here.

By Caroline Warnes

Oroton is the latest label to announce a mid-year sale and from the looks of it there are some nice bargains to be had.

We’re not exactly talking discount fashion accessories when it comes to Oroton so a sale is always a good time to buy if you’ve had your eye on a bag, wallet, umbrella or something else from the range.

My pick of the Oroton sale is the brown Entourage flat tote, pictured here, which is marked down to $145 from $245 - quite reasonable considering it’s made of soft pebble grain leather and will fit A4 documents.

Oroton umbrellas are marked down to $35 too - these ones always go quickly in the sales.

The sale is available both online and in-store.

By Caroline Warnes

I’ve been conducting a low-key search for a new wallet for some time now and lately the Oroton Lido leather wallet has captured my attention.

(By low-key, I mean I want a new wallet, but it hasn’t been a priority but when I find the right wallet, I’ll pounce.)

The Oroton Lido mini wallet is a nice size and is made of textured goatskin leather (don’t think about that too much or it might make you feel slightly ill).

It will set you back $165, which isn’t bad for an Oroton wallet, and is on a par with Mimco wallets price-wise, however I’ve got to say I think Oroton is a slightly better investment than Mimco - the designs are far more classic.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more then the Lido highfold wallet also looks good, but sells for $205.

I’m planning to wait on the next Oroton sale, which do happen from time to time - sign up for the newsletter to find out about these in advance.

By Caroline Warnes

$55 may seem a little overpriced for a mere umbrella, but this one from Oroton is no mere umbrella.

Well, actually, it is just an umbrella, in the sense that it doesn’t double as a laser gun or cure cancer. But Oroton’s umbrellas have a reputation for being sturdy, well-made and long-lasting, unlike your average $10 supermarket variety.In fact, most umbrellas I buy these days don’t seem to last the first moderate gust of wind. They just don’t make them like they used to.

Seeing as our weather has become so prone to mood swings of late, going from showers to humid heat in the space of an hour, I have decided to invest in an Oroton umbrella at the first possible opportunity (ie, next pay day, or if I find $50 on the street before then).

I love the large version in Oroton’s signature print, as pictured here, but you can also get smaller fold-up versions and the decorative O version is pretty, too.

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re still pressed for Christmas gift ideas, you can’t go wrong with Oroton.

The handbags, wallets and other accessories are simple, elegant and not as expensive as some other higher end brands.

I’ve always loved Oroton wallets and am probably due for a new one - so the good news is that you can get 30% off online and in-store for five days only, starting from tomorrow (Wednesday).

If you’re an Oroton member you will have received the postcard in the mail, which you need to use in stores, however if you didn’t you can still claim the discount online by using the code FF08 at the checkout.

You can view the full Oroton range and shop online here. I love the Lido Slim Clutch, pictured here, which comes down to $136.50 with the discount.

By Caroline Warnes

When it comes to luxury accessories, Oroton is one of the more affordable labels and better yet it’s an Australian icon.

I think many girls growing up in the 70s and 80s probably have memories of their mum’s mesh Oroton purses - my mum had one in silver and gold (which I have thankfully inherited) and I thought they were the classiest thing ever when I was eight.

Oroton’s signature mesh (originally released in the disco-fabulous 1970s, of course) became slightly passe during the 90s but in the last few years has experienced a resurgence and is now considered a classic vintage look.

The company started in Sydney in 1938 and is celebrating its 70th birthday with the release of a gorgeous, gorgeous anniversary range.

The zip top clutch, pictured here in gold mesh (it also comes in black and silver), is a real standout but at $195 is unfortunately not going to happen for me at the moment.

For something more affordable, keyrings are $65 (I know, I know, but they have adorable mini mesh purses attached to them) and the 70th silk scarf is $75 (which is actually very reasonable for an Oroton silk scarf).

By Caroline Warnes

I’ve been on the lookout for a wallet for some time and up until yesterday was coming up empty handed.

I’ve come to the conclusion that most wallets available today are either too expensive (hello Oroton) or too tacky (umm, I won’t name names… but take a guess).

I really do prefer leather wallets as they look better and last longer but there is a dearth of reasonably priced, simple and elegant wallets on the market.

However yesterday I discovered the wallet pictured here from Maiden Voyage and fell in love. It’s exactly what I’m looking for - long envelope-style and simple. The one catch is that it’s made out of eelskin.

I have to admit that the very word “eelskin” sends a shudder down my spine. Not because I am against wearing animal skins (with my collection of leather shoes, that horse has long since bolted). But because eels are one of those animals that have always disgusted me. They’re just so slimy and weird. I think I had a couple of nightmares about eels as a kid. It doesn’t help that the Maiden Voyage site tells me that the eel is “a mysterious fish that has no visible organs except a mouth and several symmetrical arranged secretion holes on both sides”.

Anyway if I can get over the thought of handling eelskin everyday I am definitely buying this wallet, which is available at Designers Online for a very reasonable $55. According to Maiden Voyage, eelskin is softer than other animal hides and leather and becomes softer and shinier with use, rather than looking worn.

The site also says that the skin is 150% stronger than leather, given that eels have to withstand massive amounts of pressure at the bottom of the sea.

That being said. I’m still on the fence about this eelskin wallet.

By Caroline Warnes

If you’ve left your Christmas shopping to the last minute, don’t panic - you’ve still got time! Here’s the best gift ideas I’ve seen this week…

For her

* Oroton has released the Lucky necklace (pictured here), which is a reinterpretation of the label’s iconic mesh purses. The original mesh purses are a collector’s item with vintage fans - I bought a 1960s version from a second-hand shop in Sydney’s Castlereagh Street several years ago and it was one of the finds of the year for me! Priced at $195, the Lucky necklace comes in antique gold, silver or gunmental.

* If you’re shopping for someone with wavy or curly hair, she’ll love the Curl-ease towel. Curly hair is notoriously tricky to wash and dry without ending up with a mountain of frizz. The Curl-ease towel is completely flat, so no strands can get caught and frizz up. It retails for $19.99.

* Hollywood Fashion Tape makes a great stocking filler for most girls, especially in the party season. It’s double-sided tape that sticks to both clothing and skin, so you can avoid any potential waldrobe malfunctions, particularly with skimpy tops and dresses on New Year’s Eve. You can find it at a range of boutiques, specialty stores, spas and beauty salons.

* Target has 20 percent off fragrance gift packs until Christmas Eve. I don’t recommend buying perfume for anyone unless you’re fairly confident you know what they like - fragrance is a very individual thing and what smells good on one woman may end up smelling like toilet cleaner on another.

For him

* The iconic Aussie Stubbies have been reinvented - and you’ll hardly recognise them. No longer restricted to those sporting the so-called trasdesman’s crack, they now come in a range of vintage prints and styles. Check them out at your local Myer stores in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. (They also make Stubbies for women, and they are oh-so-comfy…)

* If the man in question has some metrosexual tendencies - or just looks after his skin - Nivea For Men recently released some new products, including a Moisturising Body Lotion and Extreme Comfort shaving gel and balm. While I can’t vouch for the effectiveness of the men’s products myself, for obvious reasons, they have received good feedback from my male friends and I do love the women’s products, (the Nivea Visage Anti-Wrinkle Q10 Repair Night Cream is one of the best supermarket night moisturisers I’ve used).

* For adventure-seekers, the Oregon Scientific Action Cam is one of the coolest new gadgets around. Its maker claims it’s the world’s first amateur waterproof and shock-resistant hands-free digital vide camera - you can mount it on helmets, handlebars or even on your arm to capture all the action when you’re surfing, mountain biking or generally getting up to antics in the great outdoors. You can pick it up for under $200 from camera shops, including Camera House and Ted’s Cameras.

* For photography nuts, the Lowepro Flipside Camera Backpack is a great gift idea. It’s designed for carrying a dSLR camera with lens attached as well as extra lenses and accessories.

For kids and babies

* The Bonds Easysuit is one of the best products for babies to hit the market in recent times. There are no press studs, buttons, velcro or zips - it’s a three-step suit so mums and dads alike will have an easier time of changing baby.

* Little Tots is a brand new site that offers Australian-made clothing for sizes ranging from 1 to 5.

* If you’re shopping for a little girl who loves Dora the Explorer, how about the fragrance? It’s a bargain at only $14.95.

For your office Kris Kringle

* If your Kris Kringle at work thrives on stress, the new book Flip the Switch (available at major bookshops) offers tips for dealing with workplace stress and improving your quality of life.

* The Lloyds Christmas Chocolate Lovers gift box from Target is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.

* The holidays are a great time for BBQs, so the BBQ Sauce Triple Pack makes a nice office gift - for only $12.99.

By Caroline Warnes