Please help me spend £250-300 on a bag!

[Fillybuster]

I've been so lucky: I won a MN comp and now I have £250 Love2Shop vouchers burning a hole in my wallet :) :)

DH is in firm agreement i should spend them on something that's a 'treat' for me (rather than school uniform etc. which would be my normal attitude) and I can top up the spend a bit if there's something special out there.

I know, it shouldn't be that hard...but I've never spent more than £100 on a handbag before (and that was in this year's xmas sales, so still stroking it gently every time I use it), and normally around £50-70.

All I know is it must:

• be leather
• have long enough carry straps to hook over my shoulder on the tube (I commit approx 1 hour each way in London daily) or a long shoulder strap
• I don't like 'across body' bags as I have quite large norks
• Close properly: a zip or proper fastening. I do worry about someone fishing my wallet out of a shopper-style bag
• Be large enough for wallet, phone, kindle, mini hairbrush, makeup, other phone, nail file, tissues, small notebook, business cards and all the other crap I carry around...so definitely not a mini bag!

I think (but am not certain) that

• I'd like it to be large enough to hold A4 files (maybe?)
• I'd prefer not beige or light colours as they get dirty
• Not too bling but definitely smart looking
• I'd like some sensible sections so I can locate my oystercard and work pass easily (I'm utterly scatty so need help)

I don't think I care about

• Firm vs floppy (
• Colour (apart from caveat above)
• Brand

Thanks in advance...I'm very excited

www.harrods.com/product/selma-satchel/michael-michael-kors/s12-0401-076-MMK-193
How about this one? Big enough to carry an ipad, zips up, 2 straps and very solidly built.

Radley Grovesnor - google it before scoffing at the idea!

Michael Kors Fraser accepts love2shop.

Thanks :)

I've already looked at the Radley bags, and although I know this is S&B heresy, they don't really do it for me

I love both the Michael Kors bags, although prefer the tote in black Chops. Wish I could find some dimensions for it though....on balance I think I prefer the satchel Cathers suggested but it does go rather over budget, even allowing for some extra spend....

Any other suggestions, o knowledgeable ones?

If it was me, I would actually buy this ralph lauren I have a scarf that matches it, but saw the bag today.

I have a few MK bags, they are lovely. I have one similar to the one I linked, but in burnt orange. If you want really large, you could look at a Hamilton.

It's a bit limiting having to be love2shop really. I love Coach bags, something like this would be lovely.

As far as pockets and ease of finding things, this is my go-to bag: www.modalu.com/shop/pippa-bags-handbags.html/. Know it's been a bit over-hyped since you-know-who started carrying it, but I love all the pouches and pockets.

have a look at the Whistles hobo & satchels

Radley bags don't do it for me usually OP, but the Grovesnor is just lovely

I've just treated myself to a lovely Knomo bag, this is the one I bought www.knomobags.com/uk/devonshire-leather-blackcherry-13-laptop-shoulder-bag.html but they do lots of nice bags, and most of them have a specific pocket for laptop, iPad etc and my notebook fits in there

Oh Knomo bags are just gorgeous. They have some real bargains on their outlet on eBay too, I got the Lille from eBay, ex display I think, immaculate condition, for £75.

Gosh...some great ideas...thank you :) Now I've got to actually choose

Why oh why do I keep liking the really expensive ones? And why do you keep showing them to me?

Oddly enough I just went to John Lewis to take a peek around their bags and spent quite a while looking at that bag Reginald - only I had no idea it was famous (or who Modalu are... ) Its definitely got the pockets etc, and I like the plain leather and croc versions, but it felt quite bulky and I wasn't sure how comfy the straps would be - any thoughts?

Whatever I get definitely has to be leather, look a bit 'special' (no, me neither, but for that much money I want it to stand out a bit somehow) and not be a colour that gets marks on day 1.

It is a bit heavy, but you can now get a slightly smaller one with a shoulder strap which may be better than just the arm straps.

I have to say, it's probably not a bag that will last more than a couple of years... The workmanship is great, but their leather isn't the best. However, their customer service is fantastic! My last one was navy, and the colour had started to come off the handles, plus had a few scuffs and was a bit saggy, so emailed to see if they had a restoration service. They don't, but because I'd had my bag less than a year, they gave me a brand new one!

That alone would keep me buying from them!

(I'd never heard of Modalu before Pippa was photographed with the bag either!) but the pockets are SO perfect that I fell in love.

A second for the MK Selma bag, i've also seen this Peony & Moore Lauren bag which I like..

That bag comes in black btw... meant to link that one not the light one..;(

My work colleague just had this delivered. Is very nice!!

THe Modalu is a quality item, lovely hard wearing leather. I use mine daily for work, it is dumped on floors, kicked about, stood on regularly by my kids but the leather is the hard type of leather and still looks great when aged. I love Bridge handbags, although I wouldn't buy them in the UK, I picked one up in France years ago for about £50, came back home and seen them in my local shop for £300. Modalu and Bridge I would say are on par quality wise.

Thanks all. I quite like the Pippa bag but more taken with some of the DKNY and Michael Kors bags....think I might need to take a trip to House of Fraser on Oxford Street to take a proper look!

My top 3 would be
1 longchamp pliage in leather
2 radley grosvenor (and I hate leather)
3 Michael kors Selma, although am slightly falling out of love with this due to the copies

I love this

Oh gosh, I think I've fallen in love:

uk.longchamp.com/handbags/le-pliage-cuir/handbag-1515797?sku=65108

Talk me out of this and tell me to go for something sensible and useful?

That is gorgeous, but looks very delicate!

I have a Valentino bag that is made of gorgeous soft leather like that - it is lovely, but so delicate and the purse I bought with it is scuffed to bits. :(

I'd head to the west end if you are anywhere near London. House of Fraser on Oxford st has a fab MK range.

I just bought this and love it

m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/coach-bleecker-cooper-leather-satchel-handbag/p975121?kpid=232894623&s_kenid=43b6d1ca-971b-d448-6220-0000728336c6&s_kwcid=106x59477&tmad=c&tmcampid=73

Buy it! If I had the money I would (which is why I recommended)!

Check out the Outnet too for reduced Anya Hindmarch bags - fabulous quality bags and often 50% off on Outnet or after Christmas. I struggle to spend full price on a bag as I know they'll be at least 30% off come sale time!

Also Marc by Marc Jacobs worth a look. Really excellent quality leather for the price. Go to the Selfridges website bags section, and order it by price - there will be loads in your price bracket to give you ideas.