Bags to die for (or just save up for)

[Nuffaluff]

My friend turned up for a night out with a gorgeous handbag. It was a Mulberry one. Lovely, but not quite the one I would like. But I don’t know what I would like.
She said she’s been wanting it for five years and been saving up.
So what bag should I save up for five years for?
Please show me the bags you’re lusting after, or possibly the ones you already own.

@Nuffaluff

Where else do people buy second hand really posh bags from? I saw a great post by Trinny on Instagram where she was just showing all of her handbags. That was an enjoyable half hour of my life

Vestiaire is good for designer bags and clothes.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

Aspinal bags are fab

Yes they look lovely, I don’t have an Aspinal bag but I often lust over their website!

I’ve got a nice collection although some are used a lot more than others!

I’ve got a few Mulberries, all bought in the sale up to a max price of around £650. My current fave is a Leighton in rust, I’ve used it loads so far.

I also love Strathberry and De Mellier London, lovely bags for under £500.

Coach is great too and they have good sales. I’ve got a lovely tan hobo that was under £200 in the sale.

If anyone wants a cheaper version of Chanel Disco, have a look at Aurora London.

Some lovely bags, keep the pics coming.

I love this LV Métis. It is difficult to find an excuse to buy it though as I have several bags in black in this size including a Chanel and a Saint Laurent Loulou. I have a wallet in the Monogram Empreinte leather though and it’s divine.

@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo so glad you have found a lovely Aspinal, I rate them so much.

@moleeye there are several fb groups I'm a member of, for example the handbag hideaway in the U.K., Chanel addicted, the woc lounge ( my personal fave ) lots of individual groups for the particular bag make you like ( Dior addicted, Hermes addicted - you get the picture ).

I've bought and sold some lovely Chanel through these groups. I've never bought a brand new Chanel - the Dior I purchased was the only brand new designer bag I've ever bought that wasn't preloved apart from some early mulberry's ).

Bag people are obsessed with keeping their bags immaculate so you can often buy an amazing like new or barely used bag for half the price ( certainly the case with Dior ) less so for Chanel as it does tend to hold its value.

You get to know trusted sellers on groups and it's always prudent to have your bag authenticated by companies such as lolipuff or Zeko Ect - it's only about £25 and gives you total price of mind, it's especially useful for vintage prices.

Do you know what kind of a Chanel you are after? I think wocs are amazing value and such useful little bags you can also get them at half the price of new ( so new maybe around £2200 but 2nd hand £1200 for an older one ( that's unless you need to carry the kitchen sink in which case I'd recommend a Grand shopper tote ) good luck on your hunt, I love bag shopping

Interesting thread! I just spent £60 on a new bag and that felt absolute decadence so it's an eye opener to see some of these prices.
Can I ask, when you're paying £2000 for a bag, is there a discernible difference in quality and if so, what is it? How about at the £200 mark? Are you paying for quality / design / the prestige of the brand?

@Nuffaluff

Where else do people buy second hand really posh bags from? I saw a great post by Trinny on Instagram where she was just showing all of her handbags. That was an enjoyable half hour of my life

Additctedtohandbags on Instagram has a big selection

The lady that runs addicted to handbags is really nice, her bags are really reasonable and I've bought and sold from her too so can highly recommend.

I am fairly new to the world of handbags £700+ but honestly, I can't say that the Mulberry camera bag that cost £380 a few years ago, maybe 2014, is significantly better than a House of Fraser/Linea camera bag in leather that i paid £55 for in 2017. My Mulberry is finished better/ stitched better/ better hardware quality and has beautiful nappa leather inside but the leathers are so different it's hard to compare.

My Abbey bucket bag and Bayswater leathers are amazing and the detail is very good. I'd say they are better than a £150 bag. They have been thrown around and not looked after but still look perfect but worth the ££££, I dont know!!

I haven't had my Lily Mulberry for that long, i love the shape and style but was a bit underwhelmed by the fabric - i got one that was part leather/ part fabric but kept it in the end as it was a useful colour and i love the Chanel look but dont want to pay £3000 for a bag because that would clear my saving out quickly.

I have LV canvas and leather SLGs and the canvas is good but its not worth the money really when you think about it.

I honestly think it's the perceived "exclusivity" value that you are paying for. They are a rip off but still so desirable. Fairly common but not in everyone's reach if they are a bag person.

I adore mulberry. Why do people not like them?

I dont understand Hermes Birkin prices and why they are so sought after. Pretty bags, amazing colours but sooo expensive.

Maybe if i had a Bentley, a housekeeper, chef and a £10 million home I'd "get" what they represent!!!

I love Mulberry too, I have 4 of them all fairly recently acquired, maybe from 2014 onward.

They are stylish, not too wacky, well made, understated and affordable.

@Laaaaa

I adore mulberry. Why do people not like them?

I just find them meh.

Mulberry increased their prices whilst decreasing quality.

I have a Lily a few years old but no way would I spend LV money on Mulberry.

@saturning

I dont understand Hermes Birkin prices and why they are so sought after. Pretty bags, amazing colours but sooo expensive.

Maybe if i had a Bentley, a housekeeper, chef and a £10 million home I'd "get" what they represent!!!

The whole Birkin thing blows my mind. Imagine carrying a bag worth that much money about with you? Then there's the whole lore about how apparently you can't just walk into a shop and buy one, you have to build a 'relationship' with the brand first. No idea if that's actually true. I suppose they do retain their value to a large degree. But still, bonkers money for a bag!

I just find Mulberry to be...cheeky. They used to be on a level with Aspinal and then they decided to double their prices. It's interesting though at a branding level to see that a company can just do this. 'We're currently a mid tier brand but we're going to become a top tier brand by charging twice or three times as much for the same product'.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

I just find Mulberry to be...cheeky. They used to be on a level with Aspinal and then they decided to double their prices. It's interesting though at a branding level to see that a company can just do this. 'We're currently a mid tier brand but we're going to become a top tier brand by charging twice or three times as much for the same product'.

Yes I completely agree. And it's just not a prestigious enough brand to be charging what they do. I would rather buy LV or other brands that had stood the test of time and are better quality IMO

To answer OP's original question. Saved for bag is Chanel jumbo. Have not carried it in 3 years. Doesn't work for my lifestyle. Won't sell because it is now twice the amount I paid for it. My most used bag is pictured. Present from DH. Bought 4 years ago. I wear to the park, shops, school run whatever.

I have no more super expensive bag wants now I got it out of my system before more important things cropped up. Have a polene numero Uno nano in green heading my way in the next few days. Will see if it can knock this one off most used.

Also I started buying expensive bags after what I would buy from places like HoF and JL for £50 literally fell apart after 6 months. I have worn the Chanel pictured nearly daily for 4 years and not babied it and it is fine. I think when he bought it was 1900. Now sold for >3k. No intention to sell but could hopefully make my money back if I decided to. Despite it being used as it's a currently popular rectangular caviar mini.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

I just find Mulberry to be...cheeky. They used to be on a level with Aspinal and then they decided to double their prices. It's interesting though at a branding level to see that a company can just do this. 'We're currently a mid tier brand but we're going to become a top tier brand by charging twice or three times as much for the same product'.

Totally agree with this which is why I have switched over to Aspinal!

I think the same with Louis Vuitton, price increases every 6 months i think. No changes to quality.

I had a pochette Felicie saved in my wish list, it was £745 in canvas last week, on Friday the price increase took it up to £865.

uk.louisvuitton.com/eng-gb/products/pochette-felicie-damier-ebene-nvprod200160v

That one is now firmly off my list to buy. buying second hand might save me £100-150!!!!!!

I had a Demellier from my parents last Christmas. It was my first ‘expensive’ handbag and I love it. I use it every day (even though I’m still WFH) and it just makes me happy.
My dad wants to buy me another handbag this Christmas and I’m lusting after the Mulberry small Amberley satchel in green but this thread is putting me off a bit. I’m worried they’re not really worth it.

Saw this thread on Purse Forum the other day and thought it was interesting. If a brand is dead on there, then something has gone wrong.

forum.purseblog.com/threads/where-have-all-the-mulberry-buyers-gone.1040961/

The brand is really not dead. Honestly. Its the brand I spot the most when Im out and about. It just doesn't scream!!!

My Mulberry bags are my most commented/complimented on when I'm out and about.
For context, as I said before, I only started buying the brand in the last 6 years.