I'm not much of a shoe person, but ask me about handbags and I shake at the knees! I love them! I have expensive designer ones, and high street ones but my favourite 'cheaper' handbag has to be from River Island. I have had so many from here and haven't been dissapointed.

This particular cross over satchel caught my eye about a year ago and it's had a fair amount of use in that time and still looks great. I think I paid about £35 for it. It's currently listed on the sale page of River Island for £15 but is out of stock, keep an eye out to see if it comes back in stock because for £15 it can't be missed.

The bag is a soft tan colour and feels really soft. It has two handles, one to carry in the crook of the arm and one to carry over the shoulder, which is just so much easier. I'm normally carrying children, totes, shopping etc so it's so handy that I can sling this over my shoulder and leave it! It has gold buckle fastenings and a gold River Island rectangular badge in the centre which I think feature on 99.9% of their bags and which I always notice on other people.

It is secure (which my husband always goes on about as I'm forever leaving my bags open and unzipped) and it fits quite a lot in. I'm forever having to go through this bag as I literally just fill it with junk, things for the kids, etc. I can regularly find bits of cutlery in my bag, the odd umbrella, pens, make up (endless make up!), sweets for the children (in bribery situations), purses, hair brushes, spare socks for the children (I don't know why either!), and on my days at work I even manage to fit a sandwich and drink in it too. You get the idea - it holds a lot! It has the usual zipped compartment inside which I always start out with good intentions and then fill it with more junk!

Quality wise I have no complaints about this satchel at all. It feels so much more expensive than it was and the softness of the bag itself feels very luxurious. In a years worth of good use I haven't had any problems with loose stitching etc and it even wipes clean if it gets marked. The inside of bags never look the same for me after a month or two, but this isn't a reflection of the bag.

In comparison to other bags in my collection or other satchel bags out there, I think the £35 pricetag for this bag is really reasonable. I had had my eye on a lovely one I had seen in Radley and that was nearly £200 so this was a right bargain (much to my husbands delight!). I think River Island sells good quality fashionable clothing and accessories at a reasonable price and people will notice this bag.

It's not a show stopper but it is a great every day, versatile little bag that looks great and will last.