Alternatives to Longchamp le Pilage?

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

I was wondering if anyone here has any suggestions for a bag for me- I'm 41, not trendy but not square,tall, plus size.

I need the bag as alternative to my hardy rucksack to carry light laptop, work papers and bits and bobs. I will have a handbag for all my everyday stuff. I was thinking of the longchamp le Pilage medium shopper that was cool in my heyday. However it now seems to be on every young women's arm in London and Not carried by relatively passed it older ladies.

I do not want to be seen as a try hard etc so can you suggests some alternatives. Budget around £100.

I think they're such classics I don't see they have an age limit so u wouldn't let that stop you. My 70 year old mother carries one! As do I (30's!)

They seem to be carried by everyone. I was thinking of getting one but think they look a bit borderline old lady shopper. Watching this thread with interest.

maybe it's the colour thing. What colours do you and your mother have moomin?

They are classics! I'm about to buy one, and I'm mid-40s. They are lovely at any age.

Absolutely classics and beyond rather naive, school girlish definitions such as 'cool'. They are popular because they look good and they do the job brilliantly.

Definitely not try hard and, though some of us who carry them may be 'older' ( than what?), we are not certainly not 'relatively past it' ( whatever that patronising term is meant to convey).

We just have discrimination and timeless good taste .

And btw, wtf does 'plus size' have to do with this?? The kiss of death perhaps ?

Surprising ageist and sizeist assumptions here in one post about bags on what is usually a positive and inclusive forum.

Personally I m not a fan of Pilage bags. Jaeger have a new shopper /tote that comes in a range of really nice colours that I ve my eye on. At the moment am using a whistles tote in snakeskin one whistles have almost every season - can't link as on phone but google should be your friend on those two.

Hi,

Just to let you know I lived in Paris and Brussels until I was 16 and they are definitely not a bag just for young people, I'd see very smart Parisiennes in their late 80s wearing them better than me and my friends at school;) The only thing I'm unsure of is whether there's been a drop in quality recently as I've heard a bit about that and haven't bought a new one for years so couldn't say from experience.

How strong are they? I was thinking of getting one for work. Which handle is the easiest to carry?

Depends how you want to carry it. Over your shoulder, get the long one. Carried in hand, get the short handle.

I use mine for nights away, travelling etc and think it's great. Seems strong to me. Have the classic black with brown leather.

If I got another I might go for all black.

Might be a good Christmas present. Shame John Lewis don't seem to stock many, I'll have to go into that London!

I recommend the one that goes on your shoulder and have found it very strong -have carried masses of heavy books, laptop etc

They are brilliant!!! Very strong, I have navy and burgundy in the long handled ones
I think they are classics

Are they a standard price everywhere?

Definitely get the long handled one. I think they are classic and timeless and can be carried by anyone. I've had 2 - a bronzey-greeny-browny one with gold hardware and now a petrol blue one.

Well, they are pretty ubiquitous, I've seen them on the full spectrum of ages, but a lot of uni students seem to have them. I think they are classic and timeless to a degree, but they also are having a bit of a moment.

When you look at how they stack up to alternatives you can see why though, they are very understatedly stylish, can be smart or casual, suit everyone, good size, good zip. It's probably the best at what it does.

For something different I quite like this Dooney and Bourke but only has a magnetic closure.

I have two le pliage and like them but I also have a Longchamp Planetes and prefer it, the fabric is heavier weight and I feel it looks a bit smarter

www.selfridges.com/en/longchamp-planetes-small-shopper_193-2001484-2605002/?cm_mmc=PLA--Google--Bags-_-LONGCHAMP&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=96415825&$$ja=cgid:10761941374%7Ctsid:35948%7Ccid:196590454%7Clid:67108510054%7Cnw:g%7Ccrid:39704569414%7Crnd:17752450969150477718%7Cdvc:t%7Cadp:1o1&gclid=Cj0KEQjwzK6hBRCbzLz_r_f-3tkBEiQA-zyWsIL6B0-RLchPoHS3fJIkmrpo9qFcExbeuwXYUWH0CX4aApTV8P8HAQ

Thank you everyone (except Poly.......) I will look at other suggestions and if nothing grabs me I will get a me a classic pilage!

They are great, use mine a baby change bag and have a travel version in gold with dog design on it. They last ages and don't cost a fortune. Harrods were running a 10% off all stock promo recently so could get a small discount or wait until the sale, bought mine for £36 in summer sale.

OP, on re-reading I see I've probably misread your post and been over-sensitive.

I think now it was probably yourself you were self-deprecatingly describing as being plus size and 'passed it' - you weren't saying, as I thought, that the older women who carried Pliages were 'passed it', or implying, as I also thought, that you might be 41 but at least you weren't plus size.

Sorry if I misunderstood - I hope we can agree that no age is past it nowadays and that those of us who are plus size 'deserve' stylish bags as much as the next woman!

Although my cousin in Amsterdam tells me it's only a certain type of old lady who has these bags!

Do they ever go on sale?

A stylish type or the opposite?

I looked at some today in JL bit smaller but with long shoulder/cross body strap as well as carry handles lovely!!

I think JL has very minimum in when it comes to bags.

There are Longchamp shops though - eg in Bond St