People with 17yo daughters- an expensive bag

[WildFigs]

My mum wants to buy DD a bag for Christmas and has suggested this one https://www.johnlewis.com/coach-bandit-leather-cross-body-bag/black/p110804303

I think it looks lovely but I'm in my 40s 😂 Would love some views as it's obviously a very expensive gift and more than I would spend on a bag for myself- mum always includes receipts so not a disaster if it's not right but it would be good if she at least had a chance of getting it right. Thank you!

This is all so interesting. My dd (21) would hate anything Longchamp or Radley. Where we live (Norfolk) they’re very much “mum” territory- the department stores around us stock both and they’re full of people buying Seasalt and White stuff - I’m one of these people so absolutely nothing wrong with that at all but not dds thing at all. But Coach, Marc Jacob’s… those would definitely be her little crowds “thing”.

Coach is popular with some teens. My 18 yr old got one recently in an outlet in USA and lots of teens browsing there’s one design very popular on TikTok.
I like idea of black small bag. My teen has my 90s dkny black bag I used for funerals and interviews and loves it. It’s vintage apparently.
Could she chat to your mum and get a shortlist.

I agree that’s not a bag for a 17th ar old

Id also maybe go for a bucket bag, tote or cross body?

I asked my similarly aged DD and she suggested the Longchamp Le Pliage shoulder bag (or similar), assuming your DD is at school/college.

It will get used plenty.

She thinks at 17 your DD won't use a handbag like the one originally posted. It's either a big bag for college/shopping or a tiny purse type bag for going out.

That’s so funny as I have one of these as do many people I know and I am firmly in the mumsy mid 40s crowd.

finding it fascinating what is cool for what age group and how it changes geographically. (Sorry op doesn’t help you)

Ummm no not true at all. I see loads of you d North Americans with Coach handbags. I also see a huge amount of tourist from Asia buying then as well. If this is what your mum wants to get her and it has a gift receipt then fine.

Its funny cause Longchamp to me is middle age French….but it’s all about individual perceptions.

All the kids my daughter's age are using Longchamp for school (or dupes).

Marc Jacobs but avoid the Tote as it has been done to death and they agree it is tacky now. I just ordered a snapshot and a bucket back from Marc Jacobs. The snapshot was fashionable a couple of years ago, but I'm old so I don't care!

I can also highly recommend Zadig and Voltaire if you want something on trend but not something everyone has. I have the Rock clutch and it is brilliant! https://zadig-et-voltaire.com/eu/uk/c/bags-collection-146

Bags are so personal and can be very expensive - I'd ask her what she likes. It won't be a surprise, but you're risking spending a lot of money on something that is never used.

My DS has just bought his gf a coach bag for her 18th. I cant say if it is this exact one but it was very similar and she chose it herself so I would say they may well be in fashion for older teens but I guess handbags are quite person taste but as long as she has the receipt and checks how long is can be returned for.

I’d also ask her to draw up a short list within budget. You want her to use it.

stupid question - does she even use a handbag? I mean, some girls wear jeans all the time and don't use a handbag. I used to but my friends would laugh at me if we went out (way back in the nineties ;-)). Some girls have backpacks...

I'd be really wary of buying something like that without her choosing it. Maybe you need to go shopping with her - in the sales.

Maybe she can open a card with an IOU for £300 'only to be spent on a handbag' on Christmas day?

My 17yo would hate this, she'd call it an old lady bag. But if daughter in US she may like it, fashions are very different.

Some of the plainer Diesel ones are very on brand for that age group. Some of them are awful, but Diesel is having a moment right now.

DD is 19 and quite fancied this one. https://uk.diesel.com/en/shoulder-bags/1dr-brown/X08396P6248T2187.html

I would also second Vivienne Westwood.

Coach is lovely but feels a bit old to me. DD would hate Radley/Aspinal et al, but would also be very happy with a non branded leather bag, if it felt like quality and fit the right 'aesthetic'.

Would it not be better to ask 17 yo to look at bags and choose one rather than make a mistake on an expensive item like this?

I love Lulu Guiness bags, they're a bit more on the quirky side. And my daughters love all the Marc Jacobs bags.

Please don't go for Kate Spade, they are another heinous brand that paid Dylan Mulvaney to advertise their brand. Seeing him trotting round a store squealing at the pretty pink bags made me so cranky that I took all mine to the charity shop!

Marc Jacob's tote bag - very popular with everyone especially on TikTok 😊 and practical too

DD18 likes Coach and Kate Spade.
Depends on your daughters style but DD likes some of the more quirky Kate Spade ones but she does have a small black one similar to that as well

I would have said lonchamp tote too.

It's really versatile. Shopping bag, uni coursework/laptop bag, holiday travel bag.

Light, can be wiped clean inside and out.

Fashionable. Good range of colours.
Appeals to various age ranges.

I'm sorry but coach is very 17yo Brit right now?

Coach is definitely popular again but not this style. Michael kors is not popular some think it may come back but right now it's very much outdated and she may be disappointed.

We have moved on from Marc Jacob bags now and it's coach and long champ all the way. MK And DKNY are more chavvy now

Michael kors bags are grim ( imo) and look like they come from market stalls in Turkey. Blingy over branded bags. Never seen a nice one.

https://uk.coach.com/shop/coachtopia/bags/shoulder-bags?page=2

Coach-topia bags are more trendy amongst teens but it all depends on DDs specific style.