Beautiful bags inspired by 1950's icons

City high-flyer Helen Barklam has given up her career in London to fulfil what must be every girl’s dream… designing and selling handbags. Her new handbag company - launched last weekend - carries classic leather handbags and vintage designs inspired by mid-20th Century glamour and beautiful women like Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly.

Appropriately the business – which is online and via mail order - is called ava and grace.

Budding entrepreneur Helen has taken her inspiration from one of our most glamorous eras and designed a classic and stylish handbag collection for decadent 21st century women.

Helen says: “I couldn’t find a simple, gorgeous, classic bag on the high street – so I decided to do something about it! All women want a little style and glamour in their lives and who better to be inspired by than style icons like Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe?

“ava and grace bags are simply designed to be classic and stylish. But, that can be hard to find these days. On behalf of all handbag-loving women out there, I wanted to take us back to a good old fashioned and understated look – classic, elegant and stylish.”

“I have a huge passion for design – and of course bags! I’d say to any budding female entrepreneurs – go for it!”

There are five products in Helen’s first collection, made of leather and genuine, hard-to-find vintage fabric from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, which has been sourced from across the world.

To view the collection visit avaandgrace.com