LV Speedy bandoliere or Small Bayswater?

[Bagsonthebrain]

I've come into some money and DH is insisting I flitter away a little on a Forever Bag. I only wear cross body bags.

I have two I've always adored but can't choose between them!

First is the Louis Vuitton Speedy 25 Bandoliere (in other words, on a strap)

Pros:
Light as a feather

Fairly waterproof/bombproof in this check version despite being coated canvas. I wouldn't have to be that careful of it.

Is basically a big bucket so can hold lots.

Holds big resale value so could be passed down to my daughter or sold at any time.

Cons:

The strap needs breaking in

Is Louis Vuitton so perhaps a bit knobby for the countryside where I live!

Opening is a bit small though not sure that'd bother me as I don't tend to carry very bulky things like coffee mugs.

More expensive than the other option.

Other option!

Mulberry small Bayswater satchel

Pros

Cheaper than the Speedy

Leather

Not as much knobby factor

Iconic design but in a smaller lighter version

Strap is probably more comfy as its leather.

Cons

Might look a bit more beat up after a few years - might need more treatment and care.

Is heavier

Possibly doesn't fit as much though reviews say it is deceptively big inside. Hard to know with thick leather.

WWYD?

100% the Bandouliere. Light, easy, indestructible, brilliant for travel, won't date. But weight of bag v important to me. Also I am not a Mulberry fan.

probably not helpful as I'm about to say the opposite to aniceearlynight ......
I much prefer the Bayswater. It's leather, so will require more looking after, but it will age beautifully if you do look after it. There are several options with regard to colour so you can choose whatever will go best with your wardrobe.
I have a small Bayswater satchel in oxblood, which seems to go with almost everything, and you're right, they are somehow bigger on the inside - there is always loads in mine!
I like some LV bags (have a Neverfull), but I don't use it nearly as much. I know what you mean about them being a bit "nobby", and at the opposite end of that,, they are more regularly copied and you might well find most people assume it's a fake.

If I were to buy a Speedy it would be in Empreinte Leather or Epi leather but I know they are way more expensive. And I see far too many of the canvas ones around I'd go for the Bayswater

It would definitely be an oxblood Bayswater, I just couldn't find a modelling shot of it online. I agree it's lush.

Another thing that separates them - the handles. On the speedy they lie flat when crossbody, whereas on the Bayswater they stick up at all times. Would they rub against my elbow as I walked? I don't know.

Oh wait, they've actually flopped down a bit on the pic I found, I just noticed.

Fabellini how much do they flop down?

They are both lovely bags - probably slightly prefer the mulberry, especially in oxblood - but don't really see either of them as proper cross body bags - neither of them really sit right and if that is the way you will be carrying the bag 90% of the time I would look for something more traditionally cross body.

I'd get the mulberry. I really dislike the ostentatious lv logo.

I love my canvas bandolier speedy. I think mine is a 30, can't remember exactly and i don't find the opening small nor did the strap need "breaking in". Lovely, very useful bag, a good size and shape.

I'm not keen on mulberrys, never have been.

So do I, so the one I'd pick is that check in the picture which has no logo.

Obviously some people would know it's LV but certainly not everyone.

Apple the opening is bigger on the 30 but I don't tend to carry around a vast amount so all that extra space would be wasted on me I suspect and things would just rattle around (literally) in there.

They flop down a bit, I've never had them rubbing against my elbow! I always wear mine crossbody, it "sits right" on me, and it's not a problem at all.
I have another Mulberry - a "Seth" which I think was originally meant to be a man bag - its a more typical crossbody style, but it's no comfier or easier to wear than my Bayswater satchel.

I agree that there are lots of LV fakes out there but somehow I don't see that many people carrying the Speedy, especially not the bandouliere version.

The Seth is a lovely bag too. But not for me, too long and too narrow in the base. I've had bags like that in the past and the flatness of them always drove me mad.

I need a bit of girth!

The Speedy loses its shape and sags. Not ideal. Not sure what else they do at the moment which would keep shape. You need a flatter style. Not a fan of Mulberry as they are a bit dated now. LV keeps more relevant.

So I just watched a video about the Bayswater and it frightened me a bit!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=wVDeoem6IM4

She was talking about how much/often you have to treat them with product to protect them from wet. A lot! She's been treating hers for two whole years and says it would now withstand "drizzle"

I live in a wet and windy coastal area - I can't be afraid of a bag getting wet. Not for so much money!

What a load of guff! I've treated mine once, live in the Highlands, and it's still absolutely fine. Started off treating it like a delicate piece of china, but now it gets slung about, and isn't the worse for it at all.

I'm afraid it's a moot point now cos I tried it on in a department store today and it was too short!

I didn't realise the strap was non adjustable. The bag literally sat between my waist and my boobs and the SA went ".........oh"

So back to contemplating the Speedy!

Oh that's a shame. How tall are you?

Oh no! How tall are you?

Only 5'7!!! And a size 12-14.

So ok I'm not petite but I'm hardly Brienne of Tarth either!

I was pretty taken aback. That girl in the picture above must be tiny.