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Kerry Atterbury
30th April 2026

How to Style a Handmade Denim Bag - Five Ways, Five Bags, Zero Faff

Name: Veronica | Denim & Tan Leather Handbag
Brand: Lilly & Jude
SKU: 1-0-0101
Price: 160.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Right. Let’s talk about styling.

Not in a “here are seventeen rules you must follow” way. More in a “here’s what I’d actually wear these bags with, based on real outfits that real humans wear in real life” kind of way.

The RECLAIM | The Denim Edit collection is a small run of completely one-of-a-kind bags, each one handmade in my Shropshire workshop using up-cycled denim and rescued genuine leather. No two are identical. Once each one goes, it’s gone properly - I can’t remake it because the materials don’t repeat.

Every bag also comes with an integrated leather purse built in, because carrying a separate purse in 2026 is honestly an act of self-sabotage and I refuse to enable it.

Oh, and 15% of profits from the collection go to The Survivors Trust, as part of International Denim Day and Sexual Violence Awareness Month. So they look good and they do a bit of good too.

Right. Bags. Outfits. Let’s go...

THE SORAYA

For the Woman Who Knows Exactly Where Everything Is (and Likes to Keep It That Way)
You know who you are.

You want sections.

You want to know where your phone is without looking.

You want to go from your desk to dinner without repacking your entire life on the pavement outside.

The Soraya was made for you.

She’s a three-section divider handbag in upcycled denim and rescued leather, and the interior is genuinely one of the most useful layouts I’ve ever put in a bag. Two outer compartments close with magnetic snaps for easy, one-handed access.

The central section has a zip for keeping your more important bits secure. And tucked inside one of the three slip pockets? The actual bum pocket from the jeans used to make her. Which I think is brilliant, and I’m not sorry.

The integrated leather purse handles bank cards, cash and coins so you don’t need to carry a separate wallet.

The paisley lining adds a bit of colour without being loud about it. The fixed leather top handles give her a slightly more structured, polished feel than some of the others in the collection.

Style her with snow straight jeans, a white M&S top and a Baukjen cashmere cardigan for that effortlessly pulled-together look. Wedge sandals when the sun’s out, a beaded Aspiga belt to add a bit of interest. She sits beautifully between casual and smart without tipping too far either way.

Styled with:
• Top | M&S
• Cashmere Cardigan | Baukjen
• Snow Straight Jeans | Arket
• Wedge Sandals | M&S
• Beaded Belt | Aspiga
• Zebrawood Sunglasses | Eco Beach
• Necklace | PeachTreePig @Folksy
• Cuff Bracelet | Anna McDade @Folksy
• Hair Clip | Reverie
• Bottle | black+blum

THE CASSIE

For When You Want to Look Like You’ve Got It Together (Without Actually Trying)

The Cassie is a relaxed baguette bowling bag in quilted upcycled denim and rescued tan leather. She’s long, easy, and designed to sit neatly under your arm without requiring any actual effort on your part. Which is the dream, really.

The geometric quilted stitching on the front and back panels gives her a bit of structure and texture, the tan leather handles and gusset stop her looking too casual, and the cream, blue and pink paisley lining is in there doing its thing every time you open her up.

Double zip pulls, so you can get in from either side. Slip pocket, zip pocket, and a hidden integrated leather purse for cards, cash and coins. The elongated shape means you can actually see everything inside, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve spent three minutes rummaging for your keys in a car park.

Style her with slim flare jeans and a draped top for a low-effort day. Add a checked wool blazer when you’ve got somewhere to be. Ted Baker boots when you want to mean business. She genuinely works with all of it.

Styled with:
• Top | Ninety Percent
• Mid Rise Slim Flare Jeans | Aligne
• Wool Blend Blazer | Baukjen
• Kitten Heels | M&S
• Boots | Ted Baker
• Scarf | Scamp & Dude
• Glasses | Eco-Eyewear
• Handmade Silver Jewellery | Nyaki Punk @Folksy
• Notebook | Papier
• Travel Cup | black+blum
• Umbrella | Original Duckhead

RECLAIM | The Denim Edit

An east/west, baguette style bowling handbag, made from upcycled jeans and genuine rescued leather, sat on a white background

Cassie | Denim & Leather Baguette Bowling Bag

£155.00 GBP

Collection of fashion items including a T-shirt, denim jacket, skirt, sunglasses, and accessories with 'Tiny Harriet' branding.

Style the Tiny Harriet - compact up-cycled denim crossbody bag with woven leather strap, handmade by Lilly & Jude UK

THE TINY HARRIET

Small Bag, Absolutely Zero Compromises.

Don’t let the name fool you. The Tiny Harriet is compact, yes. But she’s not messing about.

She’s a crossbody bag made from upcycled denim with a woven tan leather strap, and she fits your phone, your bank card, your cash and your coins - all in one go, because the integrated leather purse is built right in. You genuinely don’t need to carry anything else.

The denim panels have a lovely diagonal stitching detail that gives her a bit of visual interest without being showy about it. She’s got that quiet confidence thing going on.

Wear her with a graphic tee, a zip-up denim mini skirt and a Baukjen bomber for full denim maximalism. Or Birkenstocks and bare legs when the sun finally decides to make an appearance. Leather trainers from Jones Bootmaker if you need to cover some ground. She shifts with you without making a fuss.

The Tiny Harriet is genuinely the bag for days when you want to be completely hands-free and completely unbothered. Festivals, markets, city days, the school run, a Saturday where you just cannot be doing with a big bag - she has you.

Styled with:
• T-Shirt | The Spark Company
• Denim Mini Skirt | Scamp & Dude
• Bomber Jacket | Baukjen
• Leather Trainers | Jones Bootmaker
• Sandals | Birkenstock
• Sunglasses | Scamp & Dude
• Earrings | ToriRose Silver @Folksy
• Hair Clip | Reverie
• Roll-On Bracelet | Urban Wild
• Umbrella | Soaked Umbrellas
• Brew Bottle | Ocean Bottle

Blue denim crossbody bag with tan brown strap on a table in a blurred coffee shop setting

SHOP THE COLLECTION

THE VERONICA

For the Woman Who Actually Has Stuff to Do

Right. Let’s talk about the Veronica.

She’s the roomiest bag in the collection, which makes her the one for days when you’re carrying more than just the basics. Structured without being rigid. Practical without being boring.

Made from upcycled denim and rescued tan leather, with a cream, blue, pink and red paisley lining that makes the inside just as good as the outside.

The detail everyone mentions is the external zip pocket on the front - big enough for your phone. No more rooting around when it rings. No more upending the entire contents of your bag in the middle of a meeting. Small feature, genuinely life-changing.

Inside: a zip pocket and the integrated leather purse for cards, cash and coins. Recessed zip closure. Removable shoulder strap so you can carry her however suits the day.

Styled here with wide leg jeans and a relaxed white shirt for that “I know what I’m doing” energy. Add the Baukjen pinstripe blazer when things get official. Veja trainers for comfort, M&S loafers when you want to feel a bit more polished. The Veronica keeps up with all of it without batting an eyelid.

Styled with:
• Relaxed Shirt | Baukjen
• T-Shirt | The Spark Company
• Blazer | Baukjen
• Wide Leg Jeans | Urban Wild
• Trainers | Veja
• Loafers | M&S
• Sunglasses | Utility
• Bangle | Dragonfly Lane @Folksy
• Earrings | Anna McDade @Folksy
• Beaded Belt | Aspiga
• Notebook | Papier
• Travel Mug | Stanley
• Bee Revival Kit | WWF

Shop now

Veronica | Denim & Tan Leather Handbag

£160.00 GBP

Upcycled demin and rescued tan coloured leather, patched handbag with shoulder strap wrapped over the top, sat on a white background

Style the Belle

THE BELLE

The One That Stops People in Their Tracks.

I’ll be honest. The Belle is the showstopper.

She’s a bucket bag shape with a twist-lock closure, a zip section, and a paisley lining that has absolutely no business being as good as it is. Dark denim body, tan leather flap and strap, silver ring hardware. She’s got that combination of relaxed and considered that’s genuinely quite hard to pull off.

Internal pockets, integrated leather purse, proper structure - she works. But she also just looks incredible, which is sort of the whole point.

Styled here in full denim maximalism - a dark denim midi dress from Aligne, a cropped Baukjen cardigan, and a cropped denim jacket. Which sounds like a lot of denim and somehow isn’t. (Trust the process.) Aspiga flip flops for warm days, Veja trainers when you’re covering ground. The Belle holds the whole look together without trying too hard.

She also works beautifully with something simple if you want her to be the entire outfit. White shirt, your best jeans, done. She doesn’t need much help.

Styled with:
• Denim Midi Dress | Aligne
• Cardigan | Baukjen
• Cropped Denim Jacket | Baukjen
• Trainers | Veja
• Flip Flops | Aspiga
• Sunglasses | Utility
• Necklace | Lucy Symons @Folksy
• Cuff Bracelet | Anna McDade @Folksy
• Notebook | The Rowan Trees
• Travel Mug | Yeti
• Compact Umbrella | Original Duckhead

Shop now

Cassie | Denim & Leather Baguette Bowling Bag

£155.00 GBP

Blue denim and tan brown handbag, with a silver twist lock on the flap, sitting on a marble surface with a blurred cafe background

Style the Bonny

THE BONNY

The One Born from Offcuts

The Bonny exists because I genuinely cannot bring myself to waste good denim. Even the small bits.

She’s a crossbody bag made from denim offcuts and rescued tan leather, with a zip closure, internal pocket, and the integrated leather purse that features in every single RECLAIM bag.

The patchwork denim panels give her a slightly different feel to the rest of the collection - a bit more textural, a bit more relaxed, and honestly just a bit more interesting.

The woven tan leather strap ties the whole thing together beautifully.
She’s the bag for the “obstinate, headstrong girl” (Jane Austen said it, not me). Wear her with a Sugarhill denim shorts and a Spark Company graphic tee for a full-on summer energy vibe. Or a Toast knitted top and Rapanui shacket when the weather can’t make up its mind. Veja trainers or Jones Bootmaker mules depending on how much ground you’re covering.

She works. She’s sustainable. And she’s made from the bits that most people would have thrown away.

Styled with:
• Denim Mini Dress | Aligne
• Knitted Top | Toast
• Shacket | Rapanui
• T-Shirt | The Spark Company
• Denim Shorts | Sugarhill
• Suede Trainers | Veja
• Suede Mules | Jones Bootmaker
• Sunglasses | Eco-Beach
• Earrings & Cuff | Anna McDade @Folksy
• Scrunchie | Lucy & Yak
• Notebook | Papier
• Glass Bottle | Waterdrop

Shop now

Denim and leather crossbody bag on a kitchen counter

Veronica | Denim & Tan Leather Handbag

£160.00 GBP

THE BIT WHERE I REMIND YOU THESE WON’T BE AROUND FOREVER

Every single bag in this collection is completely one of a kind. That’s not a marketing line - it’s just the reality of working with reclaimed materials that don’t repeat. When each one goes, it’s gone. I cannot make another. The denim doesn’t exist twice.

They’re also built to be used properly. No babying required.

Integrated purses, secure closures, thoughtful pockets - these are bags for actual life, not Instagram life. (Although they do look absolutely brilliant on Instagram, not gonna lie.)

15% of profits from the entire RECLAIM collection go to The Survivors Trust, supporting survivors of sexual violence across the UK and Ireland.

Browse the full collection here: 👉 Shop RECLAIM | The Denim Edit

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Until next time...

Love & Leather,