Talk to me about handbags!

clearingout

OK. I am someone who doesn't bother about fashion, or labels, or anything like that as a general rule. I usually buy a handbag and use it till it wears out. I usually buy in TK Maxx as they always have a huge selection so I can find something I like. My usual budget would be no more than £30 and I like to buy leather - although I know my budget makes this difficult.

I have a little money saved. I want a new handbag and a good quality one. It needs to be larger than average as I have three children and a professional job so quite a lot goes in it. I quite like Radley bags and their sale brings some of their items down to a price I can stomach - around £150.

I guess what I am asking is whether or not it is worth the investment? Can I expect a more expensive, named bag to last longer than a cheaper one? I know I should be able to expect that, but is that the reality? Will I get what I pay for with Radley or can anyone recommend brands that are tried and tested and offer lifelong usage for £150? Am I unrealistic?

thank you!

Tenyearstogo

Furla have a sale on at the moment. They have lots of really nice, good quality bags for less than £150. I bought the Cindy hobo a few weeks ago.

If you only use one hand bag then get a tan coloured one. It goes with black, brown, blue and most other colours.

I have good quality bags that are a decade old. They last much longer in my experience.

Owl

Try an outlet... Got a gorgeous radley in there, in a sale with 30% off...... I went to gun wharf quays in Portsmouth....

HeadAboveWater

Do TK Maxx not have any Radleys? I'm sure I've seen them in our store...

nottslass_2

Don't know about Radley's,but you should buy a bag because a)you love it and b)because it meets your needs.
Remember you'll "wear it" every day.

I usually spent £100 + on a bag ( DP brought me an expensive ish one a couple of years ago) and anything else feels a bit cheap.

I love TK max - and recently purchased a tan leather work bag from there for £40 (should have been £85) and had loads of compliments on it.

A good leather bag should last years and will improve with age - so I'd personally buy something that is "classic" rather than "on trend".

suejb2

Get yourself a satchel.I recently bought myself a Bohemia one and it's a great all rounder.

surfboard2

I bought a tan leather bag from Debenhams (Jasper Conran.) It was £99, but after some discount codes and sale discount, i managed to get it down to £60ish.

Such a beautiful bag. Very spacious, well made and looks somewhat like the Mulberry Bayswater.

hawk30

I love my Radley bags and find them good quality. I know some people have suggested tan, but it's important that you get a bag you like. I hate tan and never worry about whether my handbag matches my outfit.

butler_helen

My mum has a rather lovely Radley bag I have my eyes on... however, she doesn't use it because it's too heavy before she's put anything in it!

Before you buy, 'try it on'! Don't just look at it, pick it up and buy it.

I second buying a tan bag as they really do go with everything.

peachyprice

clearingout wrote: »

I guess what I am asking is whether or not it is worth the investment? Can I expect a more expensive, named bag to last longer than a cheaper one?

Yes, most definitely.

I have a fair few Longchamp bags and couple of Fossil bags, my very first Lonchamp I've had since I was 18, 30 years later and it's still going strong. I do rotate but they've all had long periods of being used and all look good still.

Fashion no-name bags have come and gone (usually in the bin) but my old classics will probably outlive me.

Oh, and most of mine are tan, with one navy and one pink (she doesn't get out much, but she's so pretty).

meg72

Wow I am stunned at the prices, do bags really cost that much, I have a nice black leather shoulder bag that I bought at a carboot 50p five years ago, a tan and cream leather one bought for a 1.00 and a lovely white leather Laura Ashley, with matching purse for 2.00. I am thinking these will see me out.