What do you think of this bag?

[Auxiliary016]

www.ralphlauren.co.uk/en/mini-leather-marcy-satchel-3615739416595.html?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=alwayson&utm_term=googleshopping&utm_content=crid494574959235_campaign12178260143_adgroup117812606355_tidpla-297612067635&gclid=CjwKCAjwsNiIBhBdEiwAJK4khl-5E7VyIVFk2no13d7bP0jpUCyoE8cmMjBaNoWlbzHSwwGIPuGFQhoCCG8QAvD_BwE

Before I part with my money, I'd love some second opinions! I like the simple structured shape and the gold detailing. It also looks like the perfect size for my every day stuff, and has a handy strap too. Let me know what you think... Or if you have any suggestions for anything similar then let me know. I'm torn between this style and a crossbody! Budget up to £300.

Thank you!

Oh, those Polene bags are beautiful. Does anyone know how soft the leather is?

@Auxiliary016 I just bought the slightly bigger version in the blue (I'd have got the smaller one if Coach's oxblood wasn't a bit of an insipid shade)

Now I'm going to have to find more stuff to carry round, given my day to day bag at the moment is a small cross body Kate Spade Once face to face meetings are a thing again though I'll need notebooks....

@iminstealthmode Yay! The blue is beautiful. I agree - the shade of oxblood on the picture was really weird, otherwise I might have gone for that rather than black.

I'm in the same boat - I live in crossbodies and it will take some time to get used to, but fancied branching out!

Classic
Will stand the test if time

I love the Coach bag and that's an amazing price. I got the Coach Dalton 31 shoulder bag in the John Lewis sale (tablet won't allow me to link pictures) in oxblood and the leather is lovely. I'm sorely tempted to get it in another colour

Just to give you ladies a laugh .. I had a pretty woman moment in an airport once
This was many years ago so keep that in mind regarding the cost

Was just browsing waiting for my desk to open and looking at bags of course

Saw this beautiful soft leather baby blue Radley that was just - me ! I exclaimed out loud oh that is gorgeous to this bitch sales assistant she stops what she was doing looks me up and down and half smiles
" That bag is 229 " I said " bargain " swept it off the shelf and flounced to the till

Sad thing I was on my way to Spain where I could have got about 20 really nice rip offs for that price 🤭

I did like it and used it for years but the strap was annoying and it marked so easily
Maybe that was her sales technique! 🤣

@MrsFin

Do people really pay £200+ for bags?? And if so, why?

You get ehat you pay for.

I have a Fossil bag (which I linked above). The RRP is £159. It's an unusual colour and in theory goes with nothing I own and yet goes with everything. I think it's a timeless design. It gets many compliments and has worn really well.

I have used it every single day for nearly three years including several holidays (I hate chopping and changing bags). I finally replaced it this week as the leather is finally beginning to wear but I haven't yet been able to bring myself to change over to my lovely new £250 bag.

It has certainly been value for money and I hope its successor will be as "economical".

@66babe - that's a great story! You sound like me, I once over spent in Harvey Nichols because of a snobby sales assistant! I hope you enjoyed the bag

I agree, @StCharlotte. I've had a couple of handbags for about 20 years. Very expensive classics, but always look good and don't date. Quality materials and make.
I wouldn't buy anything covered in logos and very obvious, but good design and make is worthwhile.

I've got a few Kate Spade bags that have worn really well - Coach too.

They're all fairly stiff leather - I'm not a fan of the slouchy bag look.

Soft leather doesn’t necessarily mean slouchy. Personally I love it, I like leather that feels like fabric.

OP, what is the purpose of the bag? Is it for every day use or more formal occasions?

Can you send it back if you don't like it? Does the layout suit your purposes? How long would you expect to use it for?

@CaptSkippy

OP, what is the purpose of the bag? Is it for every day use or more formal occasions?

Can you send it back if you don't like it? Does the layout suit your purposes? How long would you expect to use it for?

Work and every day use.

Would hope to get a few years out of it. I'm a minimalist in terms of what I bring in my bag so the size is great for me!

Having said I’m not a bag person my absolute favourite is a bag I bought on sale. It was about 10% of its original several hundred pound price (I think it may have been a mistake frankly) and it is astonishingly beautiful and well made and a pleasure to use.

I like it. It’s a classic work bag.

OP, I meant these as questions for yourself to answer and then it will tell you if this bag is right for you.

Bit bigger but a bargain:
www.zalando.co.uk/lauren-ralph-lauren-pebble-grain-keaton-handbag-lauren-tan-l4251h0ar-b11.html

Nice cross-body one:
www.zalando.co.uk/royal-republiq-raf-curve-across-body-bag-ro451h01e-o11.html

Another RL
www.wardow.com/uk/lauren-ralph-lauren-new-city-handbag-tan-431-809891-009-en-1.html

Sometimes looking at the alternatives makes you know you found the perfect one in the first place!

The coach lora is beautiful I played with it in the shop for ages and was so tempted!
Coach do a lovely oxblood colour.

@Dozer

Don’t buy designer bags or have any bags that colour, but is nice and quite classic IMO.

It’s your preference/opinion that matters!

You are confusing Michael Kors and RL diffusion bags with their top end range. Ralph Lauren have hand made alligator skin bags on the site for £20k +. You must not have seen their range. The low end stuff is sold in John Lewis etc.

@JamieFrasersBigSwingingKilt

A good, practical work-a-day bag but a bit unremarkable for the price. Def see the appeal though. I'd see if Brandalley has any bargains for a similar price or head to Bicester Village. Agree that MK and RL aren't proper designer bags.

Again someone who is clueless about brands. MK and RL have cheaper bags. They also have top end ranges that sell for £20k +. Definitely designer and hand made. Get out more away from cheap stores and go to actual designer shops.

For anyone who is unaware that Ralph Lauren do make 'real' designer bags 🙄

It's okay but not nice enough to justify the price. You could get very similar for much cheaper imo.

This is my latest purchase - Aspinal. I absolutely love it. I got it in the sale plus extra off and I've used it every day since I got it.

I think it looks very much like your RL bag in your OP but in taupe, not tan. I just thought you might want to browse the Aspinal website. They're my favourite 😻

I love the tan Coach one you linked to OP and was seriously tempted by the one you bought from JL myself! I love Coach bags. I was a die hard Mulberry fan for years but their quality took a nosedive about ten years ago (about the same time as their prices rocketed, funnily enough). I still have all my old Darwin leather ones which I use regularly and have really stood the test of time.

If you're still after a tan bag can I suggest Mimi Berry? I have a few and they're absolutely stunning quality, and classic while also managing to be not boring! There's a summer sale on at the moment too.

Mimi Berry summer sale