Handbag for school

[Thiswillbeinteresting]

DD (13) has finally reached a school year where she doesn’t need to use the school issued back pack for school, and is currently using a large black shoulder bag —which— —doesn’t— —fit— —everything— —in— like the other girls in her year. She knows money is tight so unlike the other girls in her year, DD’s bag isn’t designer.

She hasn’t complained but given that she needs a slightly larger bag than the one she has, I’m wondering if it’s possible to get a brand bag for around the £100 mark as part of her Christmas box? I know absolutely nothing about fashion, either fir myself or teenagers, but I would like to get her something nice.

Does anyone know of any suitable bags, and whether eBay would be the way to go?

TK Maxx is your best bet, or somewhere like Bicester/Cheshire Oaks for a Michael Kors outlet or similar.

What are the designer bags her friends have? Are there any brands she covets? Obviously we are not talking Gucci, Prada or Chanel so I’m guessing different areas will have ‘cool’ bags. If you can find out, I can look for you. Is it a tote bag she wants? Would it have to be black?

@MaverickDanger

TK Maxx is your best bet, or somewhere like Bicester/Cheshire Oaks for a Michael Kors outlet or similar.

I should have said, I would prefer to buy something online, but good shout re the designer outlets - I forgot about them!

@Londonborncatty

What are the designer bags her friends have? Are there any brands she covets? Obviously we are not talking Gucci, Prada or Chanel so I’m guessing different areas will have ‘cool’ bags. If you can find out, I can look for you. Is it a tote bag she wants? Would it have to be black?

I think Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs @Londonborncatty although DD generally doesnt take much notice, or at least she doesnt say much to me. A lot of the girls at her school are in a different wealth bracket to us so DD is aware that they will have a lot that is out of reach to her. I just want to try and treat her with something unexpected as she is doing really well at school

Brand Alley quite often have good deals, worth taking a look ☺️

Something like this could fit the bill.

Kate Spade and big enough to carry what she should need.

There’s also a couple of cute Kate Spade backpacks on the Outnet if she isn’t fussed about it being a shoulder bag.

@MaverickDanger

Something like this could fit the bill.

Kate Spade and big enough to carry what she should need.

Thanks @MaverickDanger there's also 15% off first order with that one! Rules specify plain black so I think I will have to check how strict they are on that.

Thanks for the ideas, going to do some googling now that I know what to look for

Le pliage tote ?

Selfridges

My dd has one and maltreats it but it seems to cope .

My daughter is 15, her and her friends like Michael Kors, moschino, Calvin Kline, Armani. They wouldn’t use kate spade. A few of them have these ones at the moment:

m.tessuti.co.uk/product/black-valentino-by-mario-valentino-liuto-signature-tote/16028209/

m.tessuti.co.uk/product/black-valentino-by-mario-valentino-liuto-signature-backpack/16025821/

By far the most popular brand for secondary school kids here is the Fjallraven Kanken. The 17" laptop version is massive. Plenty of space for files, pencil cases etc. They are £110 on the Fjallraven site but you can find them for less.

Thank you for your suggestions, at least I now know what to look for

@Thiswillbeinteresting
www.flannels.com/mcq-alexander-mcqueen-magazine-tote-bag-767695#colcode=76769503

www.flannels.com/kenzo-logo-sport-shopper-bag-704095#colcode=70409503

www.flannels.com/emporio-armani-emporio-frida-shppr-ld93-704711#colcode=70471103

These are around the £100 mark. All depends on what she thinks is cool! I like the Kenzo one.

Wow this is another world to me. My daughter came home saying about one girls bag looking expensvie and the brand.

Most kids just have a regular backpack or bag dont they!? (100£ on a schoolbag!?)

@PineappleUpsideDownCake

It was ‘Head’ bags in my day; it’s all relative. It’s a Christmas present and something the OP’s daughter will use daily and get a lot of pleasure from. I think it’s a great idea.
The regular backpacks kids carry aren’t all cheap. Will you not be spending similar on Christmas gifts?

Oh absolutely get a christmas present for a child they want. Just amazed that kids spend/expect to spend that much on a bag. Or that people think its a good idea for a school bag that will get bashed about a bit!

Amongst my child's friends its mainly regular backpacks (£20?) apart from this one girl who ,as I say, was noted for having an expensive bag.

More me being unaware people do this. Obviously if its what the child wants and people have the money why not....

(I came on the thread as recently bought a backpack for school and was curious about ideas. Also our school has backpacks not handbags!)

Apologies if this is way off, but I find River Island do really lovely bags for around the £60/£70 mark. I used to have one for uni and could fit my laptop books, lunch etc in it. When I stopped using it I passed it to my mum who had it for a good few years so they last a good while too.

I'm glad you started this thread. DS needs a new bag for school and I've been struggling to find something online or to know what is 'in' atm. Lots of his classmates have designer bags and he's always just had the standard issue school bag. This is the first year he has asked for something different.

Schools all have their own trends. What is the height of sophistication at one may be social death at another. It's quite interesting really. I suppose it's how the fashion industry works but on a much smaller scale.

My dd started high school halfway though year seven so we looked at the kids leaving one afternoon so we could see what sort of thing she could have without sticking out like a sore thumb.

DKNY reduced to £78 www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/dkny/totes/totes/faux-leather-trimmed-shell-tote/29012654081855614

Love Moschino reduced to £90 www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/love-moschino/shoulder-bag/shoulder-bags/chain-trimmed-faux-leather-shoulder-bag/31432202864676937

DKNY from £192 to £98 www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/dkny/totes/totes/textured-leather-tote/23471478576555841

Love Moschino £260 reduced to £104 www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/love-moschino/totes/totes/appliqued-faux-leather-trimmed-metallic-jacquard-tote/31432202864665416

Kate Spade £190 reduced to £104

www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/kate-spade-new-york/top-handle/top-handle-bags/logo-appliqued-shell-shoulder-bag/8008779905910946

Some really great Tote bargains on here . I'm having to sit on my hands to stop myself buying

@MyNameIsSteven that is so true! Teenagers are fairly tribal. I pass 4 secondary schools on my daily commute and it's all backpacks here. I practically never see a schoolgirl with a tote. A friend who lives the other end of the same county as me says it's all about totes for the girls near her.

I think your suggestion of watching the children to see what is going to fit in is a good idea.

@PineappleUpsideDownCake

Wow this is another world to me. My daughter came home saying about one girls bag looking expensvie and the brand.

Most kids just have a regular backpack or bag dont they!? (100£ on a schoolbag!?)

It’s a different world to me as well, there’s no way I would spend that much on a bag normally, but I would spend that much on Christmas presents so I figured why not combine the two

In my day I had a plastic jelly type bag - can’t remember what they were actually called, but I remember it cost 4.99 as I had to use my own pocket money to buy one