First grown-up job = first grown-up handbag!

[Kimonolady]

Hello all,
Am starting my first proper adult job this month, and need a handbag - my canvas tote bags aren't going to cut it. Would very much appreciate some help!
I'll be working in law, and it's a very conservative environment. I'll be wearing all black, everyday (also need to start on a new wardrobe, but that's for another thread...)
Bag must be black, ideally leather, and has to be big enough to carry around a standard size laptop (around 13"x 9".) I'd like it to have a zip, too, rather than being open at the top. And not too much hardware - just kind of clean and simple.
I suppose I could spend up to £180, maybe a little more...? God, I've never spent that much on a single item before. But I suppose I'll be using it every single day (and will soon be receiving a salary, yay!)
Any suggestions for bags, or just brands I should look at?
I've spotted one from Banana Republic, but I'm suspicious that there's no zip.
Thank you so much in advance!

I have several bags from them www.yurishop.it/en/tote-bags/1283-black-leather-tote-bag.html and they ship to UK.
High quality bags

Yoox has a very good selection with good reductions on designer labels.
Are you starting puillage, by any chance?
You really don't have to get a black handbag. You can get any colour.

Showing my age here ... I remember starting my first job in accountancy and going to buy a briefcase in John Lewis. The lady told me that buying your first one was very special :).

Does anyone have them these days? (Other than my son, who bought one in a charity shop to play Hit Man with ... )

Animal I remember moving from the infant school section up to the prep school and we got to replace our satchels with briefcases and felt so grown up! And cue dramas as we were 7 and no one could remember their combinations. This makes me sound ancient but it was actually 1996!

But as for work and a laptop bag I’ve gone full circle and have a Cambridge Satchel laptop bag. It is black and you can monogram your initials for extra snazziness; it cost about £200 I think.

And congratulations on the new job OP!

Thank you all for the suggestions! Hoping I can have a little skull around London this afternoon, any more suggestions where I should be looking please?
Yuri looks good, will definitely be looking more into that.
I’m a bit concerned that I look fairly young as it is, and carrying a satchel will only make it look even more like I’m a school girl on work experience haha!
And @EarlyModernParent... got it in one! I’m impressed, I’ve spent the last couple of years trying to explain to people what I’m doing/what pupillage is and to no avail. I’ve been told by others it’s not essential for my bag to be black, but I suppose I’d just prefer it - plus I’d rather play it safe!

I have a lovely black structured Radley that sounds like exactly what you’re after. I’m not generally a Radley fan but this is gorgeous. Might be worth a look to see what they have at the moment.

Good luck with your pupillage! Exciting times.

Lovely laptop bags here:

Www.nvcalcutta.com

I’ve worked in City law (conservative corporate law firms) for over a decade. You really don’t need to wear all black or have a black handbag!

Coach. Their bags last for years and the leather is beautiful.

www.berberleather.com/shop/marrakech-satchel-limited-edition I have the read version of this as my laptop bag.

Red - curses to not previewing posts.

TKMaxx is brilliant for well made, real leather bags...lots of gorgeous Italian and Spanish leather goods at well under your budget.

one like this maybe? link

Congratulations on your pupilage! Black suits are what most barristers I know wear or black dress with a jacket.It’s still pretty formal in the city. The banana republic bag is lovely. Or how about a black longchamp?

Leather bags tend to be heavy. Bear in mind that you might not like carrying it loaded.
Could a bag that could be carried as a backpack or cross-body be possible?

You would get a nice Fossil one for that money, or Radley

I have two Shona Easton Nicky bags.
One is black with shocking pink stitching. This years black version has turquoise stitching so it just adds a quirk to plain black.
www.eastondesignstudio.com/shoulder-bags-shopping-blackturq-nicky-square-shopper-2255-prod.aspx

I like THe Tannery bags. The shops are scattered around (I discovered it on a Norfolk holiday) but they sell online. They have a wide choice of styles and colours, and the leather is lovely.

www.thetannery.co.uk/c/2020/Handbags/3

I'm a bit of a fan of Radley bags. The dog tags can be taken off if they are not your thing. Their sales are pretty good and the bags seem reasonable quality for the price charged.

The Berber one 😍

I want it!

Good luck @Kimonolady!