THE DUPE - PRIMARK'S OFFICE CITY BAG?

Bag - Primark £12

I was incredibly late to the 'Zara Office City Bag' bandwagon, hence why I do not own one!

My only good excuse as to why I didn't purchase one at the time is that I was probably forking out ridiculous amounts on DVD box sets; I'm looking at you LOST! So you can imagine how excited I was when my friend Lauren came into university draping this little beauty over her shoulder. She bought the bag in navy, yes that's right, the bag comes in multiple colours! Of course I felt an instant urge to go out and buy one for myself; dragging my boyfriend over to Newcastle city centre with me I managed to find the original black version and I'm so glad I did!

The bag is an absolute steal at £12, I don't own the original but from various blog posts and videos I've noticed that the Zara bag is slightly bigger and obviously of a better quality. Saying this, the dupe feels very luxurious for a Primark bag! They have tried so hard to recreate the Saffiano leather of the original, and hey, it works! Although the bag is less structured than the original, I think this can work to my advantage, allowing me to cram more books, a kindle, absolutely anything into it. There are three compartments to the bag, two which close with a zip and one with a magnetic clasp; allowing efficient organising if you have items that you want to keep separate. Within these compartments, the bag sports two holders that could carry a phone or ipod and a zipped pocket; ideal for placing a mirror or any loose smaller items.

I would say there are three ways you could carry this bag; over the shoulder: the bag comes with an adjustable strap which can be removed/added to the bag when necessary. On your arm: the handles of the bag are shorter than a regular tote bag, so holding the bag in crease of your elbow may be a struggle if you are wearing a thick coat. However, it can be carried perfectly in your hand; adding a little sophistication to your look. It may not be Zara but it's a brilliant copy! If you're lucky enough to find it in your local Primark, I would definitely recommend buying as who knows how much longer it will be around for! Especially for the mere price of £12. Lovely.