If I walked into your office carrying this bag

[QuietBatPeople1]

What would your first thought be? Too loud? Too big? Great bag to fit everything in?

www.katespade.co.uk/en-gb/handbags/spade-flower-jacquard-everything-stripe-large-tote/PXRUB272.html?dwcolor=BLUE-MULTI#start=1

I’ve disabled voting- hope that works

A bag rental company ? Who in their right mind rents a bag ?

If I had £350 to spend on a bag, I wouldn't buy that.

Other than that, it's not too loud or too big.

All the people saying they would use a similar bag for £25 or less - could you link please.

This thread has inspired me to take a trip to Regents Street now the shops are open so I can quickly contrast and compare between the Coach and Kate Spade shops. I really want a medium tote now.

It wouldn’t register with me.

I need to carry in looking for a bag which can carry a few bits. With Covid rules I’m having to lug around a coffee mug etc as well confused

I hope you're carrying the coffee mug in your hand and not sticking it inside your £350 bag.

The potential for tragedy would be high. **

Think it's lovely but only in blue. Haven't worked in an office for ages so not sure it's the done thing but personally I wouldn't care. Definitely wouldn't pay £350 for it though.

As i said earlier i really like it. In blue! The pink is bleurgh.

I don't understand why all the bitchy comments? 13 pages of snide comments over a BAG!

I totally understand wanting to have something nice at work if one's job allows. My job involves me getting covered in poo and wee so i don't need a nice bag. I am envious of those that do.

I never had a bag and used to chuck my purse in a plastic bag. Then one day my friend, so bemused by my lack of bag on an afternoon out, rushed home and found me one of her old ones. I still have it now and it converted me to having nice bags. I couldn't justify a £300 spend on a bag as i don't really need it but if i needed it i think thats a reasonable spend if affordable. Like, it should last AGES right?

Again OP if you like the bag - enjoy it!

I'd just think it was a bit old fashioned, wouldn't give it much thought past that.

Wouldnt notice it or think anything at all. Many if someone was using a cabin case or massive holdall as their "everyday" work bag I might glance again (assuming they weren't travelling and was seeing them everday).

Personally don't like open bags because very vulnerable to pickpockets. Will only use zip top and like side pockets on my bags for travel cards & id.

@RosesAndHellebores

All the people saying they would use a similar bag for £25 or less - could you link please.

This thread has inspired me to take a trip to Regents Street now the shops are open so I can quickly contrast and compare between the Coach and Kate Spade shops. I really want a medium tote now.

Michael Kors have nicer ones for less. Personally I prefer MK to KS, but thats just my taste. Coach are a bit older fashioned I think, again my opinion.

Coach does me very well then as I am 61! . I find MK a bit too much of a well known status brand. Appreciate the KS bag is covered in the motif but I don't think it's as well known.

I’ve just re clicked the link and it’s showing me a very different bag to when I looked at it yesterday. Yesterday it was a wicker bag, today it’s a much nicer large tote with flowers on. Others mentioned a beach bag and wicker yesterday so maybe this has happened to others.
The first bag really wasn’t very nice, the second bag I like, although still not sure of ethics at KS.

I wouldn’t think anything of it
Unless I found out it cost £350 then I’d think that you had more money than sense

@YellowFish1647

I’d call security - you don’t work for my employer and have no authorisation to be on the premises.

I would have bag envy.

I think it’s a nice bag, but it is overpriced for what it is.

@ginandTonicOnit
I think some posters think they're funnier than they really are.
It's still a bit taboo for a woman to treat herself to a more expensive version of an everyday item.

I bought myself a loewe hammock for my big birthday. I love it. Nobody would criticise if it was an extra grand on a car.

Agree that the first few posts set the tone for a wdyt thread.

I think it’s ok but overpriced. Look at coach or mulberry (in the sale) or Tory Burch.

I think it's relevant how old the OP is. Has she mentioned her age? For e.g. on a 22 year old it might seem quirky, on a 60 year old it would be mundane. It also depends on how else you are kitted out. If you have some class, you will carry yourself well. There are all sorts of men and women I notice and noticably some are almost like works of art or sculpture and some look like they rolled out of bed, splashed water on their face and got on the tube (me at the moment as I'm wfh). The things that I look at are quality of fabric (I love soft leather), stitching, handles, safety of bag depending on where I will be, whether I love love love it, whether it cheers me up when I see it and finally how practical it is. Individual taste in colours, designs, fabrics, textures is down to everyone.
I notice men who dress well as much as I notice women who dress well.

I sat across the aisle in my office from a man who was a thing of beauty to observe. He was 6'4, strong jawline, fit, toned, tanned. He was gorgeous. Mercifully, as he had OCD as had I, and I had a really bad cough as I've asthma, but he had permanent allergies so was constantly blowing his nose, I never felt that he was judging me. I'm sure that our coughing, spluttering and snottering was much appreciated in the wider office, but I just felt like I wasn't too bad as he was as bad as me. We also had a sneezer, like an old man's sneeze, followed by a big honk on his hooter (a cotton handkerchief). We were a disgusting bunch really. Anyway, I digress. My point is, is that some people do notice fashion, good taste, grooming etc.

I can honestly say accessories don't do much for me, no ulterior motive in my earlier post at all. I just don't give much thought to them.

If they're the icing on the cake of clothes then I prefer the cake, as I said we're all different.

I do notice clothes, always. Grooming too.
The rest doesn't register with me but if it gives you pleasure then trust in your own taste. You can't please everyone and why would you want to?

Also, directly across the aisle from me was a lady who had diabetes who injected herself in her stomach at her desk. I happened to have turned around at just the wrong time too many times. I hate needles on myself, but I can't watch it. I had to pretend not to be repelled. She had totally different dress sense to me. Always wore trousers, I always wear a skirt. She wore flats, I wore heels. I always noticed what she was wearing though as her style was so different to mine. There was also an older lady who would have fabulous Essex hair on a Monday morning and then look like a drenched rat by Friday. She would wear these 3/4 length sort of slacks maybe you'd call them? I noticed all this! It's a fleeting second of observation. We're good friends and pre covid went for drinks together on a Friday. The men in our office were far better dressed than the women in some cases and something that I observed was that the better turned out men were in more senior roles.

In teens and twenties when I was a student I was renowned for wearing hats. Now I'm renowned for my shoes. I dress terribly conservatively for my age when I'm at work, but I express a subtle hint at my wilder side via shoes usually. There is usually someone who will comment on my new shoes when I buy them, even men!! It usually catches me off guard as I'm really not buying them for them to be admired by Nancy or Norris in the office. I buy them as I like them and I like what I see in the mirror.

I totally get the desire for a statement piece. Ordinarily something like the hemline of a skirt, a ver ver expensive blazer or something else such as shoes or an unusual handbag. I just think that for the price of that handbag it is not worth the money as nobody would notice it, least of all yourself. It's boring and forgettable.

Shops are open again now OP. Covent garden, oxford street, bond street. Go forth and explore! Hunt down that elusive perfect bag. Report back with photo.