My mum is so cute and always buys me little gifts and presents. Last year when we went Christmas shopping to York with her work, we travelled by coach (even though we only live about 40 minutes away!) and on the way she gave me a beautifully wrapped gift. When I opened it she had bought me a Cath Kidston book bag (just because apparently!), which she figured would be ideal for our shopping day. As you can imagine, I was delighted!

The book bag by Cath Kidston is super stylish and super practical at the same time. It can be used for anything, not just books, and I use it nearly every day, as I almost always have something else I need to carry with me that won't fit in my handbag.

The wipe clean oilcloth material is tough and durable. It makes the bag sturdy and easily wipes clean should it get spills or mucky marks on it. I often take my lunch to work in it, and one day a tub of mixed berries had turned upside down inside and by the time I got to work had leaked strawberry juice all over the bag. I was devastated as it seemed to have stained the bag, and in a last effort to save it, I chucked it in the washing machine when I got home. I half expected it to melt given the material it was made from, but it was ruined anyway so I had nothing to lose. I couldn't believe it when I pulled it out and the stains had all come out and it wasn't ruined either! I would only recommend doing this if the staining is bad as obviously you risk completely ruining the bag, but for me it worked. It was slightly misshapen, but after a few uses it was soon back to normal.

It has a pocket inside just near the top of the bag, but I don't really use this to be honest. It doesn't have a zip so anything you do put in is more likely to be lost given that it is near the top of the bag, than it would if the item such as keys/ change was placed inside the main part of the bag. As this bag is only used as a shopper, any valuable or little items are stored in my main handbag anyway.

There are several designs that can be bought in the book bag. I have a blue spotty design, but there are different colours available in the spot (red and green), a rose striped one available in different shades, a riding one, floral one and two unusual London scene ones, one with guards and one with Big Ben and buses on. Each bag also has a Cath Kidston label on the top near the handles, which I always make sure is facing outwards whenever I carry it (I'm such a snob!). The bag can be carried on the shoulder or as a shopping bag. I carry mine in my hand as I am fairly tall so it doesn't drag but it would drag on the floor if you were smaller.

At £18, you could say they are an expensive outlay for a shopper, however they are so durable they will far outlast any cotton shoppers. I have one from River Island which only cost me £1 but that has started to look tatty and frayed already so this is definitely a worthwhile investment. Thanks Mum!