Osprey london bag - what would you think? Silent judging.

[TunaTuna]

Am looking at buying a couple of bags - small cross body and a larger hobo.

Very slow fashion here, when I do buy it will be with me till it falls apart. I'm not bothered about a label for a labels sake.
But I work in a very judgy industry where sometimes I'll be required to go to an actual meeting with strangers ( I love zoom) and I don't want them giving my choice of bag the side eye.
So stuff has to be under the radar but awesome or no obvious label or acceptable to those who judge.

I was attracted to Osprey london , well the sale, but then the sheer number of discount shops has made me question the brand.

Don't hold back bitches, what would you silently think, or could you even tell, if you spotted an Osprey bag at the meeting room.

I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. I buy stuff because I like it and if it suits my tastes. If people judge me because of my choice of handbag then I wouldn’t care less. How shallow can you get? It sounds exhausting.

Check out The Leather Company for lovely unbranded leather bags

I see brands like Fossil, Osprey and Radley the type of thing my mum in her 50s would wear. My go to for bags is Kate Spade but that’s also probably a very specific taste

Creditability? Where did that come from? Crossbody!! FFS.

I get you.
I spend a lot of time searching out indie brands for something under the radar.

@TunaTuna

I had a feeling it wasn't going to tick the box.

I hate the judgyness, it was awful when I started out and had no money and it's awful now I'm almost old enough to be their mum. I aim for under stated eccentric, no labels, rarely patterned. Not try hard although they'll never appreciate the hours that go into this nonchalance.

I'm also out if practice of shopping in real shops. Not one suitable candidate in two department stores yesterday.

All alternative label suggestions gratefully appreciated.

does the judginess affect how well/efficiently you will be allowed to do your job? ie will the folk who side eye you affect your career? cos if not feck em.

Seriously, who cares what anyone else thinks if your bag? They don’t have to buy it or use it…

Buy what you like personally, what you can afford and hold your head up and look them right in the eye if they start.

What about secondhand old leather bag on ebay, as several people have said brands like Coach and Mulberry used to be better quality so you may pick up something that will last longer and will hopefully already be nicely aged !

Haven't noticed Osprey bags before, I love the logo and will look to buy one asap, thanks!

But I'm a country bumpkin although like to think my style is a little alternative ( for a non-city gal )

Elbea, how to make a woman feel old...! I can give your mum a good 10 years, but I hope I can still aspire to style.

Another vote for Elvis and Kresse, I have the large post bag in red and a wallet in yellow and they are very good quality, not too pricey, look great and they are also sustainable.

If you're willing (and have time) some of the US consignment stores can produce superb under-the-radar bags. Google Linda's Stuff... it's somewhere in Pennsylvania or Delaware. I have two Lambertson Truex bags from there, from the days before they were bought to become Tiffany's Leather Goods. As always, and like TK Maxx, you have to be open-minded and receptive, and ready to waste time.

I like osprey I have a lovely pumpkin colour leather bag bought from the shop by Leicester Square. I love it. Seems a weird yo sneer about it. Think they're a British brand too.

Well I must be ultra unfashionable because my favourite bags are Michael Kors - lovely leather and very well finished. My Aspinal cross body bag is also lovely although they are very ££ now (I got mine at the tail end of the sale a few years ago).

I'd have a look at the APC bags on the Liberty website because
1 They have minimalist vibe that should work with your COS clothes
2 Anything (within reason) from Liberty is a bit cool
3.APC are a French brand and therefore even cooler
Just thought I'd throw another suggestion into the ring!

Someone mentioned it upthread but have a look at Strathberry.

I have Dior, Gucci, Fendi, YSL etc bags that I barely use. For day to day stuff I use a Kipling cross body, it's lightweight, got lots of compartments and water resistant. I also have a large leather bag from Coco Barclay, their bags are designed and made in the UK and are excellent quality leather. I have this one: www.cocobarclay.com/product-page/minny-satchel

mine is tan leather not purple. I chose them because I like the bag and really wanted to support a UK manufacturer.

If someone thinks less of me when they see me with my cheap Kipling bag rather than my Fendi they're a dick!

In this situation I'd go completely under the radar. As PP said, perhaps look for an indie brand from a non-UK country (poss Scandi, Japanese, Australian etc) that makes bags you like, or a local UK artisan bag if you have some makers nearby. Something the judgers can't actually place easily (or at all) is better than something they can, as they won't be able to tell what they are supposed to think of it (as all fashion judginess is just people thinking they are 'supposed' to think an item is worthy/unworthy according to the arbitrary fashion rules of the day).

My APC suggestion was for the cross body bag. I'd also second the Elvis and Kresse particularly if you want something more spacious. I've not got either of these brands myself but they do look good.

An American ‘under the radar’ brand -
https://www.finell.co/collections/handbags-eu
I’ve purchased a few over the last five years after I hunted down the brand after falling in love with the tote used by one of the actors in Blade Runner 2049.
Unfortunately, it looks though they are closing down as the close out prices show. However, I stocked up about 3 weeks ago and everything arrived ok so may be still ok to buy whilst the prices are so good!

@TunaTuna

www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/news/g36703/best-mid-range-designer-handbags/

I would also recommend Elvis and Kresse. I have a smallish cross body bag and wear it every day. I have had people ask me about it and I tell them. It's different for a good reason!

I’d go for something high-end, preloved but stealthy from Vestiaire or similar.

[quote TunaTuna]@scootalooser I go to meetings at TV Production companies where the receptionist looks like a model. I work in a specialist role, only a few if us and I'm good but I don't look like what they are expecting - male, mid thirties, public school.

I can look different to them but I never look like the middle aged mum that I am. So I wear Cos rather than Fatface to the meetings so I don't distract from the work.

I've got a bloody brilliant laptop bag, a name but not a name.
looking for a cross body, relatively small, secure pocket for Oyster card.[/quote]
Your choice of handbag sounds pretty irrelevant then as it's not going to change your sex, age or education!

I have two Osprey bags, had both for a while, one I've used loads. I love them both. I have no idea what a pp means about "the faults being obvious".

I quite like handbags, I have quite a few, but none are designer or cost more than a couple of hundred pounds at most. I have a very old Orla Keily bag from before she put olive leaves on everything, that's really nice.

For work I use a Samsonite rucksack and a green unbranded camera bag with a guitar strap I bought separately. I guess the latter is dated now but I like something that goes cross body (so less likely to be grabbed, doesn't slip off if I have to hurry, plus settles in front of me for easy access) and is small for just purse, phone, train ticket, maybe Kindle. Anything else can go in the rucksack.