my dream scenario may have arisen. I may be in a position of picking an AMAZING handbag

[SomeDayMyPrinceMightCome]

It's a significant birthday and DH/family are clubbing together.

I am finally in a position of having a truly investment-type handbag. It's a dream!!!

Honestly, this is just my idea of heaven, I'm not a jewellery person or a watch person and I spend very little on myself these days as it all goes on DD so this is a Big Moment!

I think the budget will be approx up to £800 [faints] and I think I have narrowed it down to two very different choices. A Penelope tote from Longchamp. Or a small Bottega Veneta shoulder bag.

If I was less uselss I could link - sorry!!!

The Penelope bag (£540 ish) is stunning, I absolutely love Longchamp and one of their less expensive bags has lasted me YEARS so the quality is great. It's the perfect bag style-wise for my life, I want something I can use day in day out, yes it's an investment bag but I want to USE it and love it, not only bring it out for special occasions. So I really am drawn to this one.

The other bag is just about the smallest Bottegae Veneta you can get. So it wouldn't work as an all day every day bag for me, BUT I would still use it a lot, just not constantly. ie it wouldn't be a special occasion only bag but it is that bit less practical.

It's STUNNING. (And £820...)

The reason I'm drawn to this one is because about 20 years ago I first saw BV bags in Italy and was just blown away by how much I loved them. Obv most of them are in the 2k range which isn't in budget. But this particular, small one is in budget. And I love it.

So, for a significant birthday (OK, I'm 40) wwyd? I guess on another birthday, if I did happen to have a lot of dosh to spend, the Longchamp might edge it as it's definitely that bit more practical, I will use it to death etc.

Buuuuuut... for a 40th, when I suppose I'm looking for something symbolic and Significant, in a way... would the more expensive but less day-to-day Bottega Veneta be the one you would choose?

I had been thinking of a watch (ie I'm definitely thinking about the need/opportunity to get something Significant and long-lasting) but I'm such a bag demon that it HAS to be a bag.

But which...??

I do realise btw that this is a ridiculously fortunate problem to have. Hence why I'm only daring to post here and not in Chat

Sorry again that I don't know how to link pics.

botemp, I like the fact you've got it all sussed!! Can tell you're a not-so-secret Venice fan... Treviso v affordable flights, now just need to find a weekend when DH can definitely cover me for an entire weekend on the DD front, he works weird hours so it can be tricky... but worth it!!!

I always thought I'd hate Venice thinking it was like Disneyland for adults but like a stereotypical sap I fell in love at first sight...

If you are going to be head turned by Hill & Friends though find out where they're made. I was set on buying an Alexander Wang bag, I think it was around the £800 mark only to find out it was made in China (the newer collections are being made in France now though). I just couldn't justify that kind of money for a bag made in China. Anya Hindmarch had a huge PR thing going on with the bags being made in China, don't know if that ever got resolved but for me a luxury bag partially 'justifies' its price tag from being made in Europe at high labour costs that follow a tradition of centuries of craft.

I'm not going to be head turned by Hill and Friends come to think of it... gone back on the Matches website and just remembering why I started this thread in the first place... Here's the BV I adore

www.matchesfashion.com/products/Bottega-Veneta-Intrecciato-small-shoulder-bag-1053775

Looking at it again, there is no contest really

Glad you've come to your senses! Those bags are VERY Emma-Hill-at-Mulberry (God, have you seen the hideous bags Mulberry are churning out under the new boss?!) but I dislike the winky face locks and the price points are set way too high for a new brand.

Oh, dear! I'm up for you with the love of BV bags. Especially I like all bags in the deep vine color. They are gorgeous. But for my opinion they are a bit overpriced.
If I chose a bag for the daily life and evening, I would choose Prada or Fendi.
I, personally have bought marvelous dark pink classical Prada bag on www.lxrco.com/. It's a difficult color but if fits really good to my clothes and looks trendy. And the style is forever fashioned, looks good with jeans and dress.

Maybe you should buy one bag but those who will good with no hesitation?

tissa fontaneda is worth a peek