An idiots guide to handbags

[Nateismine]

I'm 43 and love shoes but I have never been into bags. I started to look for a bag and then got totally confused with all the different types- tote, hobo, messenger etc. Are there any 'rules' regarding what bag to wear in different situations? Any no-nos?

I looked at some Radley bags and liked them, then I noticed that Mulberry bags are 5 times the price; why is that, is it the label or are they better bags? Any help for a novice please? Up to this point I have been using a corduroy Animal bag for everything!

Oh there probably are rules somewhere!

My rules are ...... black usually, more "rigid" bag for work because I think that looks best with the smarter look I go for at work.
I'm not a fan of Radley, or other brands / bags that have "novelty" attachments or adornments. Don't mind sparkly / dangly adornments .... but they'll have to go with what I'm wearing. Purple random flower is a no-no on a work bag

Mulberry ..... as with most purchases in life, there's cheap, mid-range and expensive bags. Even your idea of expensive may be cheap for someone else. Some folk will tell you they buy quality and it's worth it; others will berate you for spending more than £2.50. Only rule there is to buy what you're comfortable with. I, up until a couple of years ago would have preferred quantity (from New Look,Top Shop etc) to quality. Now I prefer quality ...., but still not spending £000s regularly.

I am a die hard mulberry fan but that'd because I can afford them, part of the expense is the label, part is the superior leather quality, and then the craftsmanship involved. In terms of style, a clutch or small shoulder bag (such as the mulberry lily) are for evenings or days out, and then whichever style you like for day to day use, I have a mulberry Bayswater. For days out where I need hands free, I use my mulberry alexa :)

I would also say, consider what you need from a bag, then search for that style, then filter down to designers - OR - pick a designer then look at reviews of each bag for it's good and bad points, most high end bags will have several reviews online about their functionality

You want to find a bag that's the right size, has a comfortable strap and is good quality.

Size - figure out what you carry and the rough dimensions. Be ruthless. If necessary, take it all with and try fitting it into the display bag in the shop.

Strap - I like flat straps because they feel comfortable on my shoulder when I'm carrying heavy things e.g. my laptop. Again, be ruthless. It makes a difference.

Quality - read the reviews. You want to be sure that the stitching won't give way, and that the leather will age attractively.

My perfect combo has proved to be a small black cross body with an adjustable strap (just big enough to carry a paperback, my wallet, mobile phone, comb and plasters) and a black Jaeger shoulder bag that's just the right size to carry my laptop and a textbook; it has a zipped opening.

Form and function!

I've been very disappointed with the "designer" bags I've bought.
Michael Kors- significant wearing on the handle.
Marc By Marc Jacobs- colour wears easily.

However, the older Mulberry bags were brilliant - more affordable and still look newish.

I love Radley bags. It's easy to take off the dog. £270 is about my limit.

Nate, I am not a bag lover either, but love good quality leather and adore decent craftsmanship.
I am not hung up on makes or brands but like to see 'Made in Italy' in a bag.

Just bought a very current season bargainous BNWT Russell+Bromley bag on eBay, so am well chuffed. And I know I will be using it for decades years.

I don't like hobos - too much fishing around in them to find stuff.
I used to have smallish cross body/small messenger bags because I likes to be hands-free when my kids were younger.
Now I have a grab-handle one, big enough for keys/wallet/phone+lunch and other random crap.
Black for smart, tan for casual and now my gorgeous burgundy one for any time time!

Go and look at some bags in a larger department store, John Lewis or the likes, carry them, handle them and see what attracts you.
Ebay is fine if you know what you are looking for and are prepared to take the risk of being flogged a fake (although eBay are quite good at sorting that out, and so far I've never had a bad experience, but I don't go in for high-end, v popular brands).

I avoid Mulberry, not because I don't think that the bags are not nice, they are. But I think it's become a bit ubiquitous and the logo is far too recognisable IMO. I like no bling, understated stealth chic

Fossil bags are good ans not too pricey

No 'rules' per se, but I would think it odd to see someone in elegant evening wear carrying a hobo.

You need to pick the styles that suit your lifestyle. Over the years I've realised I am a 'double-bagger' for work. So, I will carry a small crossbody for my essentials and a large tote/laptop bag for my laptop and papers.

Outside of work I really just use the small crossbodies, but my kids are now old enough to reliably not piss themselves etc. I have a few hobos/top handles but those sit on a high shelf looking sad.

I only use higher end bags, but these range from Russell and Bromley and LKB, right up to Chanel/Gucci/Saint Laurent etc.

I also have a load of different clutches for evenings because I have quite an active social life, but appreciate this may not be necessary for all and perhaps one lovely one could suffice.

I have one lovely evening bag. Small, simple, has a strap that tucks inside so also a clutch. Does opera to black tie. Bought it in 2005 from Harvey Nicks. It isn't a particular make - it's a bit art deco. Black satin, inside lining is dark silvery satin. I have never paid as much for a handbag but it has endured nicely. It has a matching purse. Just big enough for small purse, keys, lippy, hankie, phone.

This is all brilliant advice. Very helpful.

Great advice. If you're a "kitchen sink" kind of person, like me, you'll need a decent sized bag!

To some extent, you get what you pay for, but a lot of the high-end labels are overpriced for what they are. You can get superb quality in the Coach/Village England/Radley/Russell&Bromley price bracket, which I don't believe is any better if you pay £££ for Mulberry.

Make sure it's leather. Some fashion bags (Fiorelli and similar brands) are £50- £60 and upwards but are actually PVC and they don't last at all, wear will start to show on the handles and straps very quickly. Pay for a decent leather bag in a classic style and you will get years and years of use out of it.

I agree with the point about only buying leather. Every 'fake leather' bag I've bought hasn't lasted long at all, so now I only buy real leather or material bags.

I've just discovered handbag inserts and they are amazing and have made my life so much easier. No more rooting around in my bag, as I know where everything is. Plus I can easily change my bag by pulling out the insert and putting it into a new bag. I bought a cheapy one from primary and its brilliant.

There are no rules as others have said but if you're only buying one bag you need to think what you need to put in it. No my kids are older I tend to prefer a small crossbody as I generally only need keys/purse/phone. But I do like a shoulder bag if I want to look a bit smarter. If I'm using a bigger bag, my only rule is that I like an inside pocket to put in purse etc so I don't have to root around.

What's your style in general. If you're fairly casual then you probably want a slouchy bag but if you need it for work you may want something more structured. You also want a colour that will work with everything.

I tend to always go for leather too and tend to pay around the £200 mark so radley, Michael kors, DVF, fossil, Russell and Bromley. I've bought high st before e.g. Oasis/warehouse and as an everyday bag I find they just don't last.

Finally, I don't think you can beat actually feeling a bag before buying. I like my leather to be soft. John Lewis and house of Fraser both have good selections.

Another finally, make sure you treat your bag with something like collonoil (I can't remember it's exact name!) to protect it.

Agree with all above, especially about only buying leather. I would go to a big department store like Selfridges, have a look and try on lots of styles (as sometimes in real life they can be too heavy, fiddly to do up etc)

There are a lot of good 'mid price' ranges like Aspinall, Kate Spade, Tory Burch etc. Do your research and take time deciding what works for you (and your lifestyle)

Personally I like to go to Bicester village once or twice a year when they have their VIP sale (extra 10-20% off) with any Xmas/bday money and buy a bag there. It's also worthwhile looking in TK Maxx as I've seen some great leather bags in there too.

You could try looking on purseforum.com, a handbag forum. It's divided into sections for each designer/brand and is also split into high end (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Mulberry etc) and more mid range priced bags like Longchamp etc. Loads of advice and also photos of people's bags.

Can I ask about the Mia Tui bags on here, are they really much different to any other bag? x

What makes some of the handbags better than others ? eg a branded one such as a Louis Vuitton to a standed bag ?

I love bags and I only buy leather.
I think the following are key :
Big bag in dark colour for laptop etc. I have black with shocking pink interior.
Messenger or cross body, handy when sightseeing etc feels safe and can carry a lot
Tote style for casual wear
Evening bag - clutch or similar I have a beige embroidered silk which goes with everything
I have some designer bags but also buy a TKMaxx and with smaller independents such as Shona Easton.

DavidGTI It's not really about what functionally makes a Louis Vuitton "better"; if you want a bag because you like the way it looks, you can only buy an LV Speedy or a Neverfull from Louis Vuitton, you can only buy a Bayswater from Mulberry, etc. If you just want a tote bag of a certain size and you don't particularly have a preference as to what it looks like you could buy a Neverfull for hundreds or a £100 Longchamp foldable tote. Both long-lasting, but will give you different experiences at different price points.

I really like Fossil. I think for a durable leather bag, £150-£250 is a good place to look.

Loads of good brand new bags are available on ebay and at tk maxx,
only buy leather from brands like Aspinal, Osprey, Coccinelle, Furla, Kate spade and Modalu, these are all available at very good prices.

I used to like Jasper Conran leather bags but think the quality has gone down. If you find an older but classic style but brand new its worth it. However as for the newer bags sold, the quality of the leather is too hit and miss.

Also Ruussel and Bromley, Hobbs, Jigsaw and many other quality brands do good quality nicely styled leather bags.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

Ruussell = russell sorry

Have a look at liebeskind. Less well known, not cheap but stylish and brilliant and better value than some really high end bags in my opinion They wear really well. I think the brand is based in Berlin.

Hi, bag fan here (don't like shoes as I have horrid feet so indulge in bags instead)
I think you have to pay a lot of consideration to the length of the straps as well as bearing n mind all the other good tips on this thread.
I've often bought a lovely bag only to find the straps aren't useful. Do you need to have it over your body or comfortably on your shoulder? If you buy one with short straps "grab" bag style you never have hands free.
I've just bought a lovely black structured medium sized bag which has short handles and a long adjustable strap for on shoulder or over body so it ticks all the boxes.