8 months to save for a investment bag !

[surelyitcantgetworsethanthis]

I've had a tough time (multiple failed rounds of IVF) I'm 40 in 8 months time. I want to save and treat myself to an amazing bag to mark the occasion and give myself something nice to look forward to.
Open to options, nothing ludicrously expensive (I'm looking at you Chanel!) because I still have IVF to pay for, but open to ideas.
Hit me with some options!!

Anything Mulberry! They are my go to treat (often off Rebelle or Vestiaire Collective if funds are low).

Sorry to hear about your IVF woes, it really sucks.

What are you aiming for, budget wise?

No budget set at this stage. If it's up there price wise I might get DH to pay the shortfall. But would ideally like to fully fund it.

Mulberry is so much classier than Botton end Chanel or LV.

If it was me I'd go for a Mulberry Amberley. I'd love one.

Yves Saint Laurent Loulou, which comes in several sizes or their camera bag.
They're lovely, good quality, classy design and quite understated.

Sorry to hear about your IVF experience.

Personally I don't like a Mulberry for a special, 40th handbag. Especially as an investment piece. Very few handbags retain or increase their value like a Hermès or classic Chanel, but obviously they're ££££ to start with! I see so many Mulberry around - they are a beautiful bag of course but IMHO I would be after something different to mark a 40th.

Personally I would go for something like

Céline Classic (the box shaped one), Céline belt bag, Bottega Veneta (any)... their leather is among THE softest, most luxurious.

Ultimately I think it's a perfect opportunity to get yourself to somewhere like Harrods that stocks all of them and get trying on

Mulberry or LV. X

I live overseas so no chance to shop Harrods, but have all the main labels here !

Pictures welcome !!

I think I'm a bit 'low end' and def not an 'investment'- but for my 40th, when my (now Ex)DH gave me a badge making kit (via the kids) and nothing else....
I bought a gorgeous, versatile Kate Spade bag, in the sale with vouchers I'd got from my class (teacher!) and it still looks fabulous and fancy and goes with everything and I hope I will keep it forever (pretty neutral style and colour) and tell the story of how I got it for myself 🤣

It depends on your clothing personality etc and your lifestyle . Are you classic , natural , gamine ....

Mulberry always pops up first in bag threads but they really do say “40” in bags.

Here are some other suggestions for classic chic bags:

Givenchy Antigona
Gucci Sylvie or Horsebit
Lady Dior
LV Alma or Montaigne

All of these are classic bags.

Does rather depend on your budget, a months mortgage payment on a bag is rather a lot

I bought myself the see by Chloe Mara bag.
It was about €395. I love it suits me and my lifestyle.

I have several Mulberries but agree it's something a lot of women get for their 40th!

How about the Chloe Marcie instead? I have one and love it - admittedly I bought second hand but if I had the money I'd buy another.

https://www.24s.com/en-gb/marcie-hand-bag-chloeCHLM2H38?color=cashmereegrey&lgwcode=4180-CHLM2H38GRYZZZZZ00&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4NTxBRDxARIsAHyp6gD9WbJAi90o5Xf9AabJHLrHpKEs9H2Ke0V9opemio3RwYcc9rq0gi0aApJNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Mulberry is so much classier than Botton end Chanel or LV.

Totally disagree with this. Mumsnet is obsessed with Mulberry but to the rest of the world, they're nowhere near being top tier bags.

I agree. They have no cachet abroad at all. However a Chanel 2/55 says a lot and a LV in leather is always worth having.

YSL is classic and not so outrageously expensive.

LV Alma in their epi leather. Plain, discreet but classic shape (no shoulder strap though I don’t think with PM size) and quite easy to find in excellent condition second hand. worth checking size though and looking up mod shots - I find the MM too big and the BB too small.

Bottega Veneta intrecciato tote - can get lots in.

Gucci top handle bag.

Things to narrow down:
Do you prefer gold or silver hardware?
Do you want a shoulder bag which is hands free and means you can walk everywhere without getting annoyed by it? Downside being most shoulder bags (not all) are too big to wear out to a smart dinner.

Or do you want a top handle that is usually more of a hassle to physically carry but a bit smaller so can be used for evenings too and usually smarter. But carries less.

What colour palette do you wear? Do you want a summer colour bag (potential for colour transfer) in a cream or blush pink neutral (as PP said, Lady Dior is good) or a winter neutral in tan, burgundy or khaki?

Or just safe black!

A very pleasurable thing to research anyway!

I’d like one of these hillandfriends.com/products/happy-cross-body-chain-bag-leopard-print-haircalf

Or something from Danse Lente

I always think of these hand bags as the sort of thing my mum would use!!!

Thanks ! Some great ideas. Definitely not mulberry. Not really my style and I can't walk into a shop to buy one here. I want that experience....
In an ideal world I'd buy a Chanel 2.5 but that's not going to happen.
I'm smart, groomed corporate and on weekends pretty classic. But we live in the tropics, so summer dress nearly 365 days per year.
So not fixed on black!
Budget up to 2k I'd say at this stage.

And ideally something you don't see lots of fake of!

I would suggest a Chanel wallet on chain if you want a very small bag (it technically isn’t a bag but it’s so nice and with a longer chain than some of the bigger Chanel bags which are too short to be carried crossbody).

Or, if you want something understated but still looking for the Chanel shape and metal chain, a Bottega Veneta Olimpia. It is a heavy bag though, but the quality is amazing.

If you like the Bottega Veneta style, but want something less dressy and quite small, then the Nodini is lovely. Same quality as the Olimpia, but not as heavy.

YSL is also nice, but more flashy because of the logo.

Loewe is quite nice too (I’ve only looked at their bags in store) and is quite fashionable now, but the quality seems great (imo) and their designs have the potential to become classics.

Lady Dior bags are really lovely, but the price is outrageous. I find the Dior calfskin very delicate, so I personally wouldn’t use the bag very often.

How about a Celine trio? Has the nice handbag feel of a Chanel 2.5 but obv cheaper and v practical www.celine.com/en-us/celine-shop-women/bags/trio/large-trio-bag-in-smooth-lambskin-187613BEB.38NO.html