My name is faster and i have never owned a handbag

[fasterthanthewind]

... and now I'm nearly 40 it's beginning to feel like a problem.

problem is, I've never seen a handbag I like, and i don't really even have a sense of what I'd put in one if I had one (ie how big it needs to be).

at present I always carry a very elderly scrubby rucksack (£10 9 years ago), but the side pockets have now both broken, and I think it's time to move on from the scuzzy student look

Can anyone persuade me into something? I don't like big buckles. I probably will hang it off a pushchair, or it needs to be tiny. It can't cost masses - don't know if I'll like it, so I'm not willing to pay much! But on the other hand it can't be cheap and plasticky as then I KNOW I'll hate it!

Help!

From your description I think you might like Kipling bags. Look more like a bag put made from rucksack type fabrics. Though v.£££ bargains can be had on Amazon. Examples:
here
here
here

all search results

agree Kipling would be a good transitional bag or maybe a keeper as mine have become and I am late forties

How about something like this as a compromise?

oh, I rather like the first one linked - the Kipling Enora. Will definitely ponder that one.

Not so keen on the others - too zippy, and the rucksack one is, well, still a rucksack!

But I guess ideally I'd like something a little bit smarter, that I could take out with me of an evening. Is there anything like the kipling bag but made of leather?

But I'm super-impressed by how well you've discerned what I want (don't know it myself!) - any more suggestions?

Hi Faster - I'm 37 and mainly use my pockets.

I have the odd bad from Bewitched Accessories for when I really need one.

a friend! hello Yama...

I can't just use my pockets - have a wallet stuffed with library cards, leisure centre cards, oyster card, membership cards - I occasionally shove it in my waistband (!), but it won't fit in a pocket

Will have a look at bewitched.

What all this makes me realise is that most people have lots of different bags, and move their stuff between them - there just isn't one 'solution' bag (which is what I want...)

Hmm, perhaps a Radley for a smarter, leather version:
here, but be quick as on sale
here
All final Radley sale, some bargains to be had!

kind of like Enora

Aye, the thing I realised recently about my purse it that I only ever use my bank card. It fits nicely in a back pocket or inner jacket pocket. It really is quite liberating to leave the house with just a quick pat down checking that I have 3 things:

Keys
Bank card
Phone

If you are really not sure then try e-bay for cheap bags.

Fat face do some nice - casual style bags. I like

floral

and

blue suede