Investment handbag- what designer is best for quality?

[FreddieStarrAteMyHamster]

Ladies.

DH will buy me a handbag for christmas. I want something slouchy and everyday but a quality bag that will last a lifetime. Both my Mulberry bags broke.

What designer is best for really lovely quality please? Any recommendations for lovely slouchy bag appreciated. Happy to up budget.

Thanks!

Mulberry bags are disappointingly crap quality - but they do offer repairs (which take forever and usually cost a small fortune if not covered by the warranty). I currently have two bags in for repair - I think they've had them for 6 weeks now.

I've heard a lot of people being happy with the quality of marc by marc jacobs. I've also heard people saying good things about Chloe, but I've always found the leather so thin that I've been worried about it breaking. Chanel is also quite good. Hermes as well, but they are so expensive that it's obscene.

Chloe? Has the quality IME, but is the slouch enough?

x-post!
Chanel's quality has diminished and the newer bags aren't so great. And they're definitely not slouchy!

What are Balenciaga like?

I've got a Paul and Joe Sister bag that I'm very happy with, and both my Coccinelle bags have lasted brilliantly (are they posh enough). My swanky friend, who is very hard on her things, has kept Dior bags for years and rates them higher than LV.

Marc Jacobs bags are lovely, I have the stella tote and the stella magazine tote and another slouchy one, the leather gets better with age, all brought from the outnet.

Ive just got my first Michael kors and its lovely but im not too sure on how the leather will wear as nicely as other designer bags

Mulberry are terrible- I have three Mulberry bags and the calf hair leopard Alexa looks like it has been mauled by a bloody leopard. The hair has eroded badly. In fact, avoid calf hair. It is not an everyday skin. Look for Oxleather for sturdiness. My Mulberry Roxanne is made of the latter although it is the only Mulberry bag that is still relatively good looking.

I like the Spanish brand Loewe because leather goods is what they do. They employ master craftspeople. I would buy from them in a New York minute and the after care is great. Burberry and Vuitton both make classic styles-avoid anything too fashiony.

Avoid smaller handles and look at how the bag is stitched. A structured bag will last longer because they have better weight distribution of their contents.

I have a mulberry Bayswater and Roxanne both chestnut 'normal' leather and both worn well. my purple Bayswater hasn't worn so well, the finish is easily marked. both my daria and Effie, in spongy leather are wearing well. I think you need to be more selective about the finish that you choose. I had a mock croc type, think they called it congo and that peeled after a few years of use.

Thanks. Yes I agree finish important. One of my Mulberrys peeled. Another problem I've had with certain bags is the easy marking of the leather. One would get marked with every drop of rain.

I have a lovely Marc by Marc Jacobs black leather handheld bag that is lovely & slouchy - the quality & finish is excellent, loads of choice too & classic styles - I have a mulberry bayswater too which, so far, is wearing really well, only got it in June though

depends on your budget....
if unlimited then Bottega Veneta!
otherwise, Loewe

I'd have a Chloe Paraty or Marcie in a flash if my DH offered...

marcie

paraty

No bag is going to last a 'lifetime' if you use it every day. And slouchy bags don't tend to wear so well because the leather is softer & they get bashed about.

I agree Mulberry quality is appalling, I don't buy them.

Balenciaga bags look fine in pics but in real life I think they look quite cheap, plus the studded style has been around for ages & there are loads of fakes around.

For a slouch bag I'd probably go for Fendi.

I agree Loewe are great - there's a very nice Loewe black slouch on Netaporter at the mo.

Fendi is adorable - I have a slouchy black leather one bought many years ago.

i won't buy Mulberry (too many sheep have them) and quality apparently has gone downhill.

In fact I prefer bags without any metalware or minimal. Was in Barcelona recently and the Loewe stuff is TDF.

Marc from MJ are lovely and have been recommended to me here - I see a woman on train every day with one and it looks great and very user friendly - ie won't scuff/mark much etc.

I'd try Marc by MJ, Fendi and Loewe imo.

The older more specialist handbag makers will give better quality for the price than the more high fashion names, I think.

So, Loewe, Trussardi, Fendi and Hermes.

Hermes you need a 2nd mortgage for though.

not seen Trussardi.

I'm seconding Marc Jacobs and hooting a warning about Miu Miu. The vast slouch bag I have is such soft leather that if you put more than a paperback into it the handles rip out of the sides.

Jaeger are quite good, but prob not got the magic swank you want at Xmas.

Balenciaga all the way IMO

gorgeous soft leather, look amazing, go with anything, and really are hard wearing despite softness of leather

I have 3, so am biased. i have a (very old, it was one of the first ones) motorcycle bag in black, 2 giant city bags, (one black with rose gold hardware, one red with silver hardware) and got a giant city part time on the way as well

i like chanel as well but there are so many fakes about, IMO its impossible to tell a real one these days

I've always found Furla bags to be excellent quality.

I've not had a expensive bag for years and my last mulberry that I used for @ 10 years was fantastic. DH offered to buy me a new one. I was so excited to go shopping but this dissipated when I saw the vast drop in quality since my last mulberry bag.

Not an investment bag but my MBMJ slouchy bag has lasted beautifully. It looks like new even though I haven't taken any care with it eyes it sitting on the floor.

Longchamp are good quality

Thanks all, very helpful. I've decided I want minimal metalwork, the ones with too much remind me too much now of D-list soap 'stars'. There is a lovely slouchy Fendi on Net-a-porter. Also really like the Bottega Veneta bags. All the Loewes are too structured so far, don't want anything too boxy as I'm always casually dressed. Quite like the Chloes but not sure if too WAG-ish.

The Americans - Tod's and Coach - are still cracking quality. And more discreet than a lot of reality TV star makes these days.