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 notice but I am honestly not into fashion in any way. I wish I was!

What's your budget?

@VaginaRegina

One thing I don't understand is who buys all the cotton bags that expensive handbags come in. I mean, what's the point? Same thing with empty posh candle jars and packaging (e.g. Diptyque).

I store the bags I'm not using in the dust bags - they do serve a purpose for people who collect handbags.

@Mandatorymongoose

My laptop bag is Osprey. I like it. It's blue, comfortable to carry and fits all my random junk in it. I don't mind if people silently judge but out loud I've only had compliments.

I made this mistake. Osprey London and Osprey are two different brands.

I have a hiking bag and a work/laptop bag from Osprey, definitely not the same as Osprey London.

Osprey:
www.ospreyeurope.com/gb_en/

Osprey London:
www.ospreylondon.com/

Osprey London do also make laptop bags though, so it might be theirs.

I’m probably a cheapslate, but I usually get leather bags from Jigsaw. My current one is a lovely dark green crossbody from Jaegar, which popped up in an Instagram ad for M&S, and I bought with Christmas money.

I used to use and love Modalu bags when I was working, mainly the Pippa. Just had a quick Google and their website no longer exists, so it looks like they've now folded.

Have you looked at Esin Akan? Her bags used to be more under the radar but in recent years they seem to be getting a lot more PR. I get the impression that there's been a significant injection of capital into the business as she tries to go mainstream.

Victoria Lam is genuinely under the radar but that means that her bags are frequently out of stock for long periods. I love her shoulder bag for carrying my work tablet.

For under the radar but awesome smaller bags, look at Angela Valentine. I get LOTS of compliments from fashion/design world people when I use her multicoloured Gavi bag. She's US based so you will get stung for import taxes though. Wolf & Badger have started stocking her but it's cheaper to buy direct from her (she has an Etsy shop - that's how I first found her - which used to often do discounts as well as a website now).

Finally, for more enduring bags that won't date, have a look at Matt Fothergill. All handmade in Shropshire.

I just bought a Ganni cross body bag. Good prices, nice minimalist designs, and got that cool Scandi vibe.

I also considered buying a Marni. Marni bags aren't as expensive as Gucci, say, but the deigns are much more interesting with a mixture of colour and clean lines/shapes.

I saw some nice Stella McCartney bags in the sales too.

In the end I went for a Ganni made of fabric rather than leather because I walk so much and I find leather too heavy. That was my main criteria. I have a lovely woven Marni bag from their Market collection that does the same job, but it's not quite smart enough for work.

The above post sounds like I don't like Gucci bags, actually. Which is 100% untrue. I'd love a Gucci and spent quite a lot of time recently adding them to my online cart and trying to decide if I should go for it...

I agree re: Want Les Essentials. I have a lovely leather tote from them I've had for ages, and I love it.

If you want something really small, the crossbody wallet might be good. The models wear it incredibly short and frankly unattractively, but the strap extends to 120 cm. www.wantlesessentiels.com/collections/wle-women-bags-small-bags/products/foster-leather-crossbody-wallet-black-900

Or the another:

www.wantlesessentiels.com/collections/wle-women-bags-crossbody-bags/products/castillo-convertible-belt-bag-fap-0102gw

Are you extremely wealthy? Or extremely intelligent and/Or good at your job? If so you don't need to prove anything to anybody with choice of outfits, handbags, cars etc...

Obviously I'm neither so sometimes I fret about looks and brands a bit but am too lazy to do anything about it. So Tk maxx works for me!

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

I’m probably a cheapslate, but I usually get leather bags from Jigsaw. My current one is a lovely dark green crossbody from Jaegar, which popped up in an Instagram ad for M&S, and I bought with Christmas money.

I don't have a Jigsaw bag but I do have bags from High St shops like Hobbs, All Saints, Jaeger etc. I've found them really well made and they last years. I've had more expensive bags that have been far worse quality.

www.demellierlondon.com/the-marrakesh.html?color=680
I have a couple of crossbody bags from here and like them a lot.

Daunt’s Holland Park book tote. How can even the most dedicated fashionista be snide about someone who reads books and is good enough at their job that they can afford to live somewhere very expensive?

How about a Russel and Bromley bag, then there’s no label and they are really nice leather.

@stclair you've got me looking at this in lime now. I've been looking for a green bag for ages. Someone please tell me that I don't need it and to step away from the website!

www.demellierlondon.com/the-marrakesh.html

Try Tory Burch for something bougie.

Or Furla or Ralph Lauren.

But honestly go for simple but well made with no name.

Buy whatever you want OP. Some people find the expensive bags garish and in your face. Others may think osprey is not cool. Who cares? Our secretary at work who is a lovely woman has a few. She carries them well. They also remind me of going shopping with my mum to JL in my early 20s and seeing them all hung up.

If osprey is off the list I suggest polene. It's European, interesting designs, not too obvious, good quality (I have number one mini) and priced ok. Enjoy shopping

[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]
Mimi Berry Francis.

DH bought me one for Christmas and it's the best bag I've ever had. I have a few from MB already, some of them are over a decade old and they're still beautiful. I mainly carry MB and Mulberry but the quality and longevity of my MB bags is far and away better than Mulberry.

Mimi Berry Francis

For some reason it wouldn't let me post the link earlier!

I've got an osprey bag for work, it's lovely. Hard wearing and still looks as good as the day i bought it