What is THE bag to have if you only have one?

[TomorrowYesterdayToday]

If you only had one leather bag that went everywhere - work, out with the children, etc and you wanted a few years at least from it being used everyday what would it be?

Budget to about £1300

Needs to hold stuff, not just a small handbag!

Maybe the OP would rather have a bag than a holiday. Maybe the OP can have a bag AND a holiday. We all buy things that could pay for something else.

I really hate the I'd rather go on holiday comments,like what rootypig said,If someone can spend £1300 on a bag its very highly they can afford to go on holiday,

A Bottega Veneta Cabas or a Fendi Peekaboo

Mulberry oak alexa satchel. I like across body bags and mine is prefect, slightly slouchy, not too structured. It was £1100 - (a serious one off!)

Prefect?! Perfect, of course!

I have lots of bags as I am very old as I am lucky enough to receive bags from DP and from my girlfriends as presents. I think £1,300 is an awful lot of money for a single bag and would rather have two or even three bags for that budget.

Another vote for the Mulberry Alexa (mine is in oak too). I've had it for 2 years and still looks ace. I take it everywhere, leave it on floors etc. The only thing it doesn't like is water so I do keep it toped up with the special spray.

For me probably a Chloe Marcie in tan

Not sure what I'd choose as I'd need to see irl and make sure there are pockets/compartments for my needs. Style wise, I like slouchy rather than structured. I love the weaving of the bottega veneta bags. I personally wouldn't like just one bag as it may not go with everything I wear and some days I like cross body and other days I like shoulder bags. Also depending on how old your dc are you may not need a large bag in the coming years. So I would definitely be considering buying 2 instead of just 1.

Otherwise I'd get a Chanel 2.55 and make do with a carrier bag for lugging all the kids stuff about (grin)

I wouldn't spend that much on one bag ( if I had it) but buy two or three 'cheaper' ones . But if you want to do that good luck to you and enjoy.

I'm not an expert in that end of market ( more a Russell and Bromley LKBennett buyer) but would just urge avoiding a Mulberry. I think they've really been done to death and lost any special oomph they may once have had. Don't think I'm alone as there was a lot in press recently about their poor trading results.

My personal taste is for the Balenciaga. I like that look and tend to go for it in 'cheaper' labels ( eg Zadig and Voltaire).

If it's for daily use you can't beat a pliage from long champ, IMO, and spend a bit more on a clutch for going out - maybe a mulberry lily.

Pliage now comes in,leather, but the canvas is so versatile, light, and who cares if it gets wet or a bit muddy one day.

An Alexa, or www.anyahindmarch.com/Day-Bags/Maxi-Zip-Cross-Body/Black-5050925728812.html?start=23

www.anyahindmarch.com/Day-Bags/Maxi-Zip-Satchel/Black-5050925717564.html?start=12

Oops, no the satchel as I need a bigger bag.

Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Neverfull or if leather is a must the LV Epi leather Neverfull.

I've had mine for 5 years, no signs of wear and I've used it for travel, home, beach and weekends. Great bag.

I also didn't see anywhere where the OP asked if £1300 was too much to spend, so not sure why some feel the need to comment on it.

Does anyone own the AH maxi zip satchel? Or it's sister bags? What is the wear like?

I'd get a Givenchy Antigona or Nightingale, or maybe a Balenciaga City. Or Celine Luggage. Not that I've thought about it.

I've got the maxi zip satchel in black. I love it. I use it every day.. V roomy, lots of pockets and gorgeous leather. Wish I had it in a different colour too. Best bag ever. But DH calls it my last bag ever, because of the price!

Littlepinkpear, I have a red AH satchel, I've had it a couple of years now and it looks like new still.

I'd get two or three bags for that amount ... the sales will be starting soon!

Doesn't anyone find designer bags v heavy? I have one of those Celine luggage bags, got it as a present, and it's quite heavy. I don't use it much at all.

If I had £1300 to spend on a bag, I would be making sure it was good quality but light. Bottega Veneta? But I'm not sure you'll get much for your £1300. I'm not sure what I'd 'bag'. But I am looking forward to this discussion.

lurkin I gave up on leather bags (not really expensive ones like these, more like Fossil for 100 ish) because I found them too heavy.

I can't carry a shoulder bag at all because I get loads of pain in my shoulder and neck, so use cross body bags instead. OK they don't look as nice, but I'm happier being able to turn my head and lift my arm .

Does the expression More money than sense spring to mind.

I have no problem spending £1300 on a bag if that is what floats your boat.

I can't get my head around a £1300 bag being the most practical thing to use with children though - surely that would be a light weight back pack that has a few compartments, can be flung in the washing machine and can cope with sand, ice-cream, pens with the lids off, plastic bag of dirty clothes etc. etc. and be flung in the washing machine.

(Unless your children are grown up and taking you out for lunch of course…)

A bag that costs £1300 is almost by definition not practical.

When people comment on how much bags cost etc, those people have no clue how the purchaser came by that money, they might have saved for ages, inheritance, a 'just because' purchase because they can afford it. Whatever. Life is too short not to have what you want, if you have the cash. Things are never black and white are they?!

YY merrymouse. I could afford a 1300 if I wanted to spend that much, but I would be scared of ruining it, or changing my mind about it being the bag.

I have no DCs but I am quite capable of making a mess with sand, ice-cream and non lidded pens without any help from LOs anyway .

And you have just described my latest bag purchase quite well. I know they are not popular on here but I've just bought this, and it's great when a small cross body bag isn't big enough. Prices are a bit all over the place, because I only paid 45 for mine.

I like QueenCadbury's plan of a Chanel 2.55 and a carrier bag for the kids' stuff

Otherwise - I think Chloe Marcie is a good all rounder. I'm not a fan of the Paraty, I think the proportions of it are weird and a bit fugly. But I am aware I'm in a minority on that! The AH bag also lovely but the zips annoy me, it's really faffy to get into. A Gucci Jackie bag would probably be my first choice actually.