Meet: Binny Shah-Patel

We’re taking a peek inside the stylish life of Binny Shah-Patel, AKA @binnysfoodandtravel, a London-based writer and Instagrammer. As a UN Women UK delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women, she is a true champion of gender equality. Always on the go, Binny's style reflects her fun-loving personality, while being practical enough to adapt to her busy lifestyle.

We caught up with Binny to find out her must-have items for the season, her go-to bag choices, and her dream bag design. With her infectious energy and contagious enthusiasm, Binny gave us a glimpse into her world, sharing her favourite style tips and tricks along the way.

Hey Binny, thanks for letting us have a look into your world! You love to travel, and have been on some amazing stay-cations lately, which wardrobe essentials are you taking with you this season?

I love a pretty scarf to uplift my tops and jumpers, a bright lipstick to add some pop to my look, and light cardigans to layer up in the unpredictable British weather. As we move towards Spring and Summer, I also introduce more colour into my clothes, and my red Dahlia bag always completes the look!

What do you have in your handbag right now?

Currently, I’ve got a book (Love marriage' by Monica Ali, I am trying to read more on my commutes) lip balm, lip stick, tissues, perfume, polo mints, hand cream, a portable phone charger, a diary, pen, hairbrush and sunglasses in case the sun randomly comes out!

Are you more of a mini bag girl, or do prefer a larger bag?

I'm more of a maxi bag girl as I often have large items like my laptop or DSLR camera with me depending on what I'm doing during the day. But for date nights, it's always a mini bag for me!

We’ve seen you on Instagram with some SH bags of your own, what is your favourite style/colour combination?

I love the red Dahlia style because it has so many cool compartments, pockets, and extra features, especially the detachable Ivy which doubles up as a mini bag as well as a make-up pouch/pencil case and a tidy place to store cables and earphones.

What’s your favourite way to wear your Sarah Haran?

I love using it to add some personality and colour to a monotone outfit or to bring me some joy on a gloomy day! My favourite way to change the look of the bag is a simple scarf around the handle, it’s so chic!

Your style is unrivalled, if you had the opportunity to design your own handbag, which features would it have?

My dream bag would have a laptop compartment, phone holder, built-in charger, and be roomy enough to hold a book, notebook and other essentials without compromising on style or looking like a work bag. I'd like a bag that is stylish and can take me from day to night, especially as I can go from having a breakfast meeting to a black-tie event in one day!