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!

[paneer]

Coach. I've had one for 10 years don't use all the time but have domes loads and loads in the past and still in excellent condition. even the lining is still intact

[PosyNarker]

Where I live, Osprey is almost always available (current season) at TKMaxx. Though for an investment bag, the season probably matters less?

I bought my mother an Osprey bag for her 60th and in the end had to be honest that I had paid less than a third of the price (she still keeps it for good and they have more disposable income than I do!)

[HyvaPaiva]

My go-to for classic slouch, leather that gets better with age, very hard-wearing, yet buttery soft and beautiful is my Lalla 'Habibi'. Lalla is a Moroccan designer and I've only shopped in the Marrakech boutique so I'm not sure if they are easy to find elsewhere. It cost around £190 so not high-end or investment in terms of price by any means but it's a great piece.

[orangina]

What about Anya Hindmarch? Am contemplating an investment purchase there and would appreciate any experience.....

[santamarianovella]

i would avoid fendi if i were you,the quality is great but the designs date and go out of style very quickly,they last for one season,the vanity,spy,and B bag were all popular for about 5 minutes,and then they disappear. so i think they are a waste of money.
i have a chloe paraty in black,its one of my best bags,had it for three years now,and i dont think i will part with it any time soon,

bottega do gorgeous slouchy bags.

im loving celine bags ATM,would love to get the trapeze one.

if you like chanel bags and can afford one now then go ahead and buy it,the prices are increasing every year,

and concerning resembling a wag or someone from towie, i think you shouldnt worry about that,i saw many chic french ladies wearing chanel and chloe bags,and i didnt think for one minute that they reminded me of wags,instead i was admiring how great they looked,everyone has their own individual style.

[DoBatsEatCats]

I second Delvaux.

I really like Shanghai Tang, but have only had my bag from them for a few weeks, so don't know how it will wear.

[PosyNarker]

I have a slouchy Miu Miu bag and it's wearing very well. The leather is soft but very thick and the sticking / lining / general finishing is beautiful.

Agree Mulberry quality has gone downhill dramatically. I still have a small Mulberry bag from around 2005 that i wearing well and looks fab, beautifully lined, stitched etc. Their latest stuff seems fairly crap and the prices are just insane.

I also love my 'Michael' Michael Kors bag. Now admittedly that's probably not the level you're wanting for Xmas, but there are a couple of lovely hobo type bags in his higher end range that I'm quite tempted by but can't justify

[hollyisalovelyname]

I was going to suggest Bottega Veneta- pure class.

[Longdistance]

I have a Furla that has lasted years.

I've had my Longchamp for about 7 years, and that has lasted.

I've recently bought an Osprey bag...only time will tell.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I would go for Delvaux - a Belgian make, and they and Hermes are the only ones to use continuous stitching (one piece of thread, no knots) in their bags. They will also refurbish for you. For a cheaper option that is fab quality and wears well, I would second Coach.

[FreddieStarrAteMyHamster]

Fendo?? Fendi- GAH

[FreddieStarrAteMyHamster]

Gah, got that the wrong way round. It was a Loewe that was nice, the Fendi have been too structured. having said that have just seen a nice Fendo Hobo bag on the Nordstrom website.

[Corygal]

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

[FreddieStarrAteMyHamster]

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.

[hettie]

Longchamp are good quality

[FracturedViewOfLife]

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.

[Marylou2]

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.

[Financeprincess]

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

[SeeYouNT]

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

[Corygal]

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.

[HelloBoys]

Hermes you need a 2nd mortgage for though.

not seen Trussardi.

[EldritchCleavage]

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.

[HelloBoys]

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.

[Twinklestein]

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

[Twinklestein]

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.