Lady Amelia And Lady Eliza Spencer On Designing Bags That Are Fit For A Roy

The Spencer twins are ahead of the game when it comes to preparing for the festive season, unveiling two new bags designed to see them through all the ribbon-cutting and hand-shaking that comes with being royal-adjacent. Created in collaboration with Aspinal of London, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza were invited to road-test their design skills after being appointed brand ambassadors earlier this summer. “We’re certainly not designers,” says Amelia, dialling in while getting ready for a charity ball. “But we have carried Aspinal bags for as long as we can remember. Thank goodness we share a sophisticated taste.”

As two of the most present figures on the event circuit, an evening bag felt like the natural fit. The Eliza, for starters, is a hard, rectangular purse crafted from matte croc- and lizard-effect leather, which can be worn as a clutch or with a strap. “It reflects my love for clean lines, structure and timeless elegance,” says its namesake. “It captures everything I love about style: graceful, meaningful and made to last.” Meanwhile, Amelia’s bag – a drawstring-style clutch in velvet and quilted leather with oversized tassels and a gleaming nameplate – was designed, I am told, with a more directional dresser in mind. “The Amelia bag is about joy, creativity and having fun with fashion,” she says. “It’s more of a celebration: individual, playful, expressive. Fashion should invite that sense of self-expression, and the design captures that.”

And yet functionality was non-negotiable. “We’ve worn bags before where things don’t fit,” says Amelia. “So we wanted to create something different, a bag for real women on the move. If you need something to take you from a meeting to an event, this surprises you, how much it holds.” Both the sisters admit their personal style is not as adventurous as they might like. “We don’t go too outside the box,” Amelia says. “But London is so inspiring for that: you see someone and think, ‘Good for you for wearing that!’” The design process gave them space to experiment. “It started with moodboards and evolved through endless Zooms, WhatsApp calls and meetings. It’s been a proper collaboration,” she adds. “Putting together PowerPoints at Aspinal’s Regent Street flagship was exciting. We’ve shopped there for years, and it was actually the last place we went before flying back to South Africa for Christmas.” Eliza smiles: “We kept referring back to that moment. It must be fate.”

This December, they’ll return to Cape Town for a sun-soaked Christmas of swimming and braais with family. Before that, there’s plenty to look forward to closer to home. “We love London during Christmas-time,” Eliza adds.“We’re obsessed with the decorations, the lights, just going around the main streets.” Still, the season can be relentless. “It’s hard to stick to a routine,” she says. “You need to get your sleep, exercise and look after your skin.” Amelia nods in agreement: “There’s only so much you can say yes to. You have to stick with what feels authentic. We’re not as social as people might think.” Their ultimate advice for the party season? “If you’re not feeling it, don’t go. And if you’re not feeling it, don’t wear it.”