Yes I know that line is not new, but here is some good news for all Radley handbag fans in the UK. Go to a Radley store and donate an old handbag – that is any old bag, not a Radley one – and get £40 off the full price of your favourite new Radley handbag. The offer continues until 30 April, and Radley are running it to raise cash for the British Heart Foundation. The new Radley bag that you buy must be priced £120 or more, and your donated bag will be sold in a BHF Charity shop to raise funds for the charity. This is only available at radley’s own shops, not other handbag stockists. You can spot a Radley shop by the distinctive door hardware.

The assymetric design of this Dior golden handbag is a very Hobo look, and the padlock with key is pretty cute.  It is over-endowed with silver buckles and clasps, just to the point of making an impression.  The small outside pocket is quite hard to reach unless the flap is opened, though.  Plenty of room inside for all your bits and bobs – even some Colonix if you need it.

This is Jimmy Choo’s Cecile evening clutch bag, trumpeted by the company as “a vintage elaphe snake finish”.  This is being sold as a retro evening clutch bag with the option of attaching the strap for a shoulder bag.

What do I like about the Jimmy Choo Cecile in Elaphe snakeskin? Firstly, the animal print is fun, it is a good compact size and I particularly like the gold finish metal plate across the top with a the name Jimmy Choo stamped boldly in fairly large letters.   I like the look of the snakeskin across the top of the bag, too – although personally I dislike the feel of snake leather. I am also not sure whether it is all certified as being obtained without cruelty.

I do not like the excessive hardware – with three light coloured frames round the edges and a central slot, the front of the Cecile Elaphe clutch looks just like a slot for hard drives to go into. Look at the second photo to see how far the slot juts out from the bag: not very comfortable to hold as a clutch bag, I think.  However if this rocks your boat the recommended price is currently £974 but I think it will be among the first to be reduced as the season progresses. Dimensions: L16 x H10 x W6cm = L6 x H4 x W4″

The latest Jimmy Choo Bag that I saw and liked was the recently launched Ruben. It has a classic, slightly squishy silhouette and strong plaited leather straps which are attached to the bag with bold U shaped clips.  There is a wide zipped opening, concealed behind the high sides of the bag, and inside is a zipped pocket. The Ruben by Jimmy Choo is available in black and, I am pleased to say, a true shade of red – not orange, not pink, but a real in-your-face red!At last someone at Jimmy Choo must have heard me moaning that they had not made a nice red Jimmy Choo handbag since the Maddy, so here it is for 2009. On the red version of the Ruben the clasps are in a more subdued silvery metal which is nice and classy against a strong colour.

Dimensions: L34 x H36 x W18cm = L13 x H14 x W14″

AS oversized bags go, the Ruben is farily modest – Jimmy Choo do not design many seriously large bags, I’m happy to say.  There is no way you can fill a really large bag without being seriously weighed down on the shoulder, then carrying your handbag becomes more of a workout. This could be useful for anyone seeking weight loss products, I suppose.

The first round of the handbags challenge is over, the Browns have returned to London. The two ladies met in the East Wing of the White House and there was an exchange of gifts. For Malia and Sasha Obama there were clothes from Top Shop, plus some books by British authors. For the Brown sons, Fraser and John, there was a model of the Presidential helicopter, Marine One. The women seemed to get on fairly well according to this photo, but the two couples did not meet for the traditional dinner engagement that has normally happened on previous visits like this.

I also found this photo of Sarah Brown leaving the US in a camel coat – this looks like the makeover has not been total. Thick woollen coats with tie-up belts are never flattering if you are above a size 2! Next month the US fashion icon is coming to London for Obama’s first presidential visit to the UK. I look forward to the next examples of their handbag choices.

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Tomorrow looks like being a clash of fashionistas as two world leaders’ wives with their own minds will meet. Of course I am talking about Michelle Obama, of whom I am a big fan, and Sarah Brown, our Prime Minister’s wife, who keeps a lower fashion profile. Labour politicians over here were famously made over in the runup to their 1997 election victory – and they needed it. Barbara Follett, the well known champagne socialist, showed Blair’s babes how to dress like serious fashionable women, advising them to accessorise – by carrying oversized designer handbags (like Margaret Thatcher) and wearing scarves to accentuate their dark business suits.

Sarah Brown has already endured unfavourable comparisons with Carla Bruni after their State visit to London last year. After that she was praised for her mauve beret and patent leather clutch bag, worn for the opening of Parliament. The competition is strong at home, as well – David Cameron’s wife Samantha is creative director at upmarket designer handbags company Smythson. Smythson’s best-selling bag last season was the Maze designer handbag in Purple, selling at £775.  The photos below show how Sarah has developed her style and lost some weight: her appearance has certainly improved since she arrived at Number 10. 

In Michelle Obama, Sarah Brown faces an American counterpart

who can often make high street labels look like a million dollars, although she is not averse to a little designer chic on special occasions. But Michelle Obama does have a fashion weak spot – in most photos she is not carrying a handbag, in fact she is mostly pictured indoors wearing a dress or suit.  One of the few pics where Michelle is carrying a handbag is this one, from the inauguration. Sadly it looks like she had a red clutch bag, a poor match for her yellow dress, sage green gloves and emerald green shoes.  Accessories are meant to complement the outfit – and each other! Don’t forget the jewellery either: a large diamond collar necklace that hung poorly, partially over the dress.

Sarah Brown will no doubt take heart from this designer faux pas – let’s see how they look together …..