Find me a fabulous bag (please!)

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I’m in the mood for a new fabulous bag, but I am fussy and can’t find what I want. Budget is not at Chanel levels but happy to pay for something really special. My criteria:

• probably black, but a nice soft kind of black rather than shiny/patent/likely to scratch. Open to a lighter more summery colour though
• everyday rather than just evening (I have a couple of beautiful bags for evening already)
• not too obvious a logo. I do like the Gucci Marmont style but the GGs are too much for my taste (and lifestyle if I’m honest!)
• small-ish - I’m really short and don’t want a big bag
• adjustable or short-ish strap that I can wear cross body. I tried on the Gucci Marmont camera bag and liked the style but the strap was just too long (and the GGs too obvious, as above!)

Any ideas? I’m in no rush so happy to just get some inspiration from you knowledgable people! Thank you 😊

Gucci Marmont with the matte black GG’s? It’s a lot more subtle than the silver or gold.
Marmont

I don't know if you can get them in the UK but French brand Le Tanneur does several that fit your description

I have a Gucci marmont in the nude colour and have just bought the Blondie bag in black - I love it, it can be worn as a crossbody which I love as I don't like having to hold bags and it's just the right size for phone, purse, lipstick and sunglasses. I have a Gucci tote and an LV neverfull but find the crossbody bags much more user-friendly.

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwi_oMis08L-AhUa7e0KHYJoAokYABAKGgJkZw&ohost=www.google.co.uk&cid=CAESbeD24uwfIALLz5nbETcEtTa3gaUkEbvCaNEuXSHBUycBAg7gImtWQlyi-avBe5EW5nj8DZnxCYv0hntZ1XIPzRdkxqcZ89cTcuo3fiwtY41ZcBiqY3pM0Voxv3LSkL_cH8BR_NqThIgSxP41IUI&sig=AOD64_3M2gRJi1iaTPRkE1GbBDQztz-oxA&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjD6b6s08L-AhXISUEAHdrwArwQwg8oAHoECAYQCg&adurl=

Polene?
https://uk.polene-paris.com/collections/numero-un-nano

The Lulu Guinness Ruby in Peony is beautiful. It's also in black. https://www.luluguinness.com/products/peony-medium-leather-ruby

Jerome Dreyfuss bags are fab. The Igor is a great everyday bag.

What about DeMellier?

https://demellierlondon.com/collections/cross-body-bags

OMG. I shouldn't have looked at this one. I love it!!!

I'm left-handed too although I always wear my bags on my right side/shoulder.

If there is a design on one side of the bag, it can be worn on the outside/so it's visible, irregardless of which side of the body it is on. However, the way the zip opens is effected - it will either open from the front or from the back. (I hope you understand what I mean)

I found the opening/zip on the Loewe Puzzle a little fiddly, something a PP has also mentioned.

Re. Bottega intrecciato leather, mine (albeit in a different style to the Loop Mini) is a little over two decades old and it's fine and not curled at all. I cannot speak for the newer bags.

All Saints cross body - maybe not big enough?

Aspinal Hampton - £495
I got one for my birthday and the quality is BEAUTIFUL. Lots of leather. Double flap. Shiny heavy hardware. Feet. It has Chanel classic flap vibes without being remotely dupey. Has a crossbody strap and a shorter strap. I like the croc print version but you mentioned you don’t like shine.

You've mentioned the Gucci Marmont several times so I kind of feel like that's what your heart wants if that makes sense? Maybe explore other Gucci camera bags with less logos?

I have the Gucci Soho Disco in black which I love, the GG logo is embossed into the leather rather than gold hardware so isn't that visible unless you're looking for it - also you can turn it around so the plain side is visible if you want. I believe the Soho Disco have finally been discontinued and replaced with the Blondie which a pp mentions above.

Second the blondie bag by Gucci doesn't have a massive gold hardware logo. I have the disco for every day in tan cross body and I'm short and I totally hear you about the shoulder bags falling off your shoulders especially if you are wearing a slippy jacket/coat! Someone mentioned Polene but didn't read you already have Polene and didn't want the same bag in different colours !

Have you looked at Chloe? The Marcie small saddle bags are 😍😍

Can’t fault Mulberry Antony!

I <3 Balenciaga, have a few and my crossbody is a few years old, but a proper workhorse. I’m less keen on the current downtown style, but the men’s selection are what I’d go to: https://www.balenciaga.com/en-gb/men/bags/crossbodies-and-messengers

Lovely position to be in OP, enjoy!!!

OMG so many beautiful bags. I’ve been trying to look at them all while doing kids tea! Thank you so much for suggestions - some great ideas.

Polene - I actually already have the numero un nano and the Beri 🙈so don’t want another. They are stunning bags though

deMellier: I ordered and returned the Vancouver a while back. It was lovely but a bit too rigid for me - I prefer something a little softer

Chloe marcie: Agreed, they are stunning but I have and adore the mini in tan already 🙈

Aspinal: looking at the small Lottie (but I do have one already in navy and find it’s more of a dressy bag rather than every day due to the pretty strap). Hadn’t seen the Hampton so will investigate more as Aspinal bags are very lovely

Haven’t heard of Jerome Dreyfus so will look at them later, thank you!

Lulu Guiness: will have a look at that too! First glance I think it might be bigger than I’m looking for, but it’s very pretty. I do prefer a more east-west bag rather than a deep one due to being so short. Will also look at the AllSaints one!

Mulberry: now I do have my eye on the Lily. It’s very nice and size/style wise fits my requirements. How is the quality of mulberry these days? Worried if the quality doesn’t match the price tag - I don’t mind paying more but it needs to be absolutely spot on at that price (partly why I love my Polene and Coach bags - quality is amazing at the price point).

Will have a look properly this evening but keep coming with the suggestions- I’m having a fabulous time looking at them all! I do agree with the PPs though - I think my heart wants the Gucci Marmont flap bag and none of the others are the same, which is why I’m
picking faults with them. I also have realised that I do have lots of options already and a) really don’t need another and b) think I have a bit of a bag problem 😂. I don’t drink or go out much though so justify it that way! I did see they have some more subtle colourways in the camera bag so I’ll look again! The shoulder strap needs to be adjustable though as I think on the original camera bag it was too long for me and I couldn’t change it 😩

I'm love my YSL Lou Lou! The leather is quite hard at first but it softens nicely whilst still keeping its shape! There's (I think) toy, small & medium sizes. I got the small which is perfect day time bag size! I think it was around £1800 for what I can remember. Had it for years and there's not a mark on it

Oooh I missed this post, sorry! I’ll have a look now 😊. Thank you!

Missed this one too, apologies! Have had a quick look and they are fabulous, but I’m not nearly cool/edgy enough for them I think 🤣 I have a friend who would look fabulous carrying one though.

I do like the YSL Lou camera bag actually - it’s really lovely. A bit dressy for every day maybe? (And I have to confess I have a black WOC for evening already so maybe should go for something different).

Definitely appreciate I am in a very lovely position to be able to look at all these beautiful bags. The rest of my wardrobe is definitely much less exciting!

Probably a bit of a wild card and definitely at lower end of your budget but I have one of these in blue and it is fab, have ended up using it much more than I thought. It’s comfy and practical when worn cross-body and I wear it on the left too, can be used day to day and is soft leather.

https://www.kurtgeiger.com/women/accessories/bags/cross-body/leather-multi-cross-body-black-combination-leather-kurt-geiger-london-9090005109

What about Anna Pugh? Some lovely soft designs there. Or Wanderers Travel Co

For example:

https://annapugh.co.uk/products/pixie-black

Or

https://wandererstravelco.uk/collections/crossbody/products/the-marseille-woven-crossbody-clutch?variant=29987341467723