BAGS - Mulberry? Balenciaga? Something else?

[VesperMartini]

Need a new bag for work (bonus treat!) - something structured for my fairly corporate job, not a hobo or something similar (maybe next time). Needs to be able to carry a laptop or file, but not mega massive as I would like to be able to carry it every day when I'm not toting loads of work stuff around.

My initial thought is either a Bayswater or a Balenciaga City. So... one of those? Which one would you buy? Something else? What colour - is black boring? Budget is up to about £1.5k although could go up a bit for the right thing...

Prada double bag is lovely and very functional, retails for £1985 but Bicester village may have some in their Prada outlet.

Also the Bally Sommet is gorgeous, I bought one last year it's my workhorse carries lots and the leather is beautiful. You can pull the sides in to make it more square but I don't not do I put the flap across.

www.bally.co.uk/en_gb/shop-woman/bags/top-handles/sommet-medium-womens-medium-leather-tote-bag-in-coffee-6203951.html#via=HP-B1&start=1

I hardly use my Bayswater as I find it heavy and the postman's lock jabs me in the armpit.

For work (also corporate, laptop lugging type job), I find a large durable tote the most useful. I actually tend to buy more mid-range (Coach, Philip Lim etc), big work bags and then carry a smaller, nicer bag (Chanel, Valentino etc) as I find the leather is more hard-wearing and less delicate at that price point.

I use a Bayswater for work. Fits my laptop etc in nicely. My only gripe is that I'd like a bigger / maybe outer compartment for keys and phone etc.

I want a Balenciaga city for leisure. Is it durable? Does it lose shape?

I've been carrying a Balenicaga city for about 10 years. I have several of them at the moment. I've tried a few other brands, (mulberry was the last mistake) but I always go back to Balenciaga. I love how light they are, and so flexible, and spacious.

Not sure if they're a perfect fit for a work bag (I use mine every day) but it depends on how formal your office wear is...

Cooltoned it depends on the colour you go for. Obviously a pale toned bag won't take as much hacking about as darker one.
I've got a black, a red, and a purple one. Would love a green, and blue. Some day...

UpYerGansey - black is the colour I am going for. :)

Mulberry is overpriced for what it is currently, Balenciaga is a bit in limbo with the designer shuffle so wouldn't be surprised if they slowly phase that bag out in favour of a different aesthetic since it's been around for so long.

Is the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour something you'd fancy? Might be slightly over budget though in the UK (I'm only familiar with EU prices). It tends to work well from work to casual but still formal enough in an understated way.

Also agree with PP that Prada stands up to daily wear very well, though the designs for the work bags are somewhat less exciting.

I dunno botemp - they tweak the City a bit regularly, (size of hardware/metals in hardware) but they still produce it in regular hardware every year too - it's a classic.
Detractors mention the switch from Goat to Lambskin leather, and I have to agree, the goatskin is soooo lush and soft and ages so well. My black city is battered to hell but still looks great. It's 11 years old now. That said, a more structured "formal" bag would really just look a heap after that much time.

I think they're a great investment - depending on your style of course.

cooltoned I'll probably buy another black city before the green and blue....pushing them even further down the Want list...

Prada double bag, celine luggage or LV tote are my work bags.

I have two Bayswaters - oak croc print and one of the new black leathers with soft gold hardware. The new thicker leathers look really lush in black and not at all boring. They are heavy bags even when empty though so I suggest trying it for weight with your laptop in it.

It is a great work bag though - plenty of room for laptop and A4 papers and looks nice and keeps its shape if you're just carrying your personal things.

Should not have opened this thread. I have fallen in love with the mini balenciaga city in grey, very tempted to treat myself as its my 30th next month.

Anyhow, I have a mulberry Bayswater in oak, it's a beautiful bag and gets a lot of compliments but it is very heavy, I wouldn't like to try and commute any distance on public transport with it. I do like that it holds its shape even when it's virtually empty though.

I use my Fendi 2Jours daily for work. Hard wearing, nice and formal, long strap for when I put too much in it, fits A4 stuff in it.

Big plus for me is that it has 3 pockets - I really dislike the bayswater as its one great big pocket and therefore rooting round for ages to find something.

I'm not in the uk but I paid about 1500 quid for it.

I have it in black and in red because I thought black might be boring. However, I've used my red one about 5 times.

Also the prada saffiano, but no idea on price as it was a christmas pressie