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Handbag help

11 replies

SarfEast1cated · 27/12/2016 06:53

Hi all, I would like to get a nice black handbag in the sale. Willing to go up to £200. Tragically have champagne tastes with beer pockets, so your amazing shopping skills would be appreciated.
I love this Paul Smith bowling bag but it is way over budget. I want something big and plain capable to taking packed lunch large book and other stuff necessary for daily work life. I did look at the Modalu bags, but am put off by the negative reviews this one I like quite plain bags but nice leather. This one from Oliver Bonas is nice, but not the right colour - want black if possible. The bag needs to be strong and capable of holding files and books from time to time. Any thoughts? Budget would be about £200 so not a huge amount.

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SarfEast1cated · 27/12/2016 06:54

Sorry for lack of punctuation - too many brackets which confused me!

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HmmmHashtag · 27/12/2016 07:01

Have a look at Coach uk.coach.com/shop/women-handbags-satchels

Or maybe Kate Spade?

SarfEast1cated · 27/12/2016 07:05

Thanks Hashtag - I like Kate Spade, but need to go into a shop and see properly I think. May gird up my loins and go to Oxford Street.

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ThisIsNotARealAvo · 27/12/2016 07:24

I've been looking at some nice radley ones in the John Lewis sale. Most of them don't have the silly dog on them
There are also a couple of Calvin Klein ones that are gorgeous. I can't really justify it atm but very tempting!

SarfEast1cated · 27/12/2016 07:31

Are Radley better quality now this? They used to be a bit average 10 years ago (when I last bought an expensive handbag).

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SarfEast1cated · 27/12/2016 07:36

This one looks nice thanks!

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SarfEast1cated · 27/12/2016 11:30

So this I have just got back from a fact finding trip to JL and the Radley bags are really nice. I like the Millbank one, but as it is not in the sale, don't need to buy it urgently. Thanks for the tip!

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SarfEast1cated · 30/12/2016 20:37

I am still mulling this over. I really like this bag, looks clean, unfussy and fits everything I need, but I can't decide on the colour. I work in a school so no need to look too 'young executive' and I don't wear very much black. Can i get a navy bag for all year round, or will that look when I do wear black. I think of it as a nautical colour that you wear in summer, rather than a winter colour. I know it's hardly a big deal, but do you have any thoughts? The pale blue is nice, but seems too pale for winter...

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HmmmHashtag · 31/12/2016 08:37

I think navy is classic and goes with anything, any season.

The light blue doesn't look that pale to me, have you seen it in real life?

ChishandFips33 · 31/12/2016 09:00

I can vouch for the robustness of Rowallan!

I have the navy laptop/work bag (looks similar to the Radley you linked) and it holds a canny weight

I also have a Radley Aldgate in brown, unused which might be the older version of your linked one - I wouldn't get a packed lunch in it but it would be good for papers, note book, tablet, purse etc

Fossil Emmerson??

SarfEast1cated · 31/12/2016 10:10

Thanks both I might get the navy then, the pale blue isn't really a pastel, but a diluted airforce blue I think. A colour I usually like but not 100% on this one. Brown is a hard colour to get right IMO, i like a really nice saddle brown, but quite hard to find that rich a colour unless you pay for really expensive bag.
Thanks again ladies. I like the Rowallian bags, but would need to see it in real life first though...

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