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Original poster

Handbag for a 21st birthday £100 budget?

154 replies

whoseafraidofnaomiwolf · 18/09/2023 23:30

My son's utterly lovely girlfriend is going to be 21 at the end of the month. I'd love to take her out for a posh(ish) lunch and then handbag shopping. I know my budget isn't the biggest (it's a tough year), but any suggestions/ recommendations for a good bag that will stand the test of time and make her feel special when she uses it?

OP posts:
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7
NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 08:26

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 06:21

This is the best suggestion.

This is a steal.

Show quote history

It's also awful.

I agree with others - bags are too personal. Someone suggested a Kurt Geiger quilted bag or a Pandora bracelet. I'm not 21 but at no point in my life would either of them go anywhere other than straight to a charity shop.

Quitelikeacatslife · 20/09/2023 08:34

Definitely not radley
My mum bought my DD a classy black leather bag just a bit bigger than camera bag. It had a black leather strap and interchangeable glittery gold strap. It is very classic.
If you can't get designer go for quality plain one
Or if she is studying, has she got a fjallraven rucksack, your budget will get one and that is sort of high end in the genre as it were . My DD loves hers , she has a mini one too

NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 08:41

OP, you should ask her. I'm not 21 but to my eyes there have been some horrendous suggestions on here- the Kurt Geiger ones and the Steve Madden ones are particularly horrible. The Chloe mini bag looks like a child's toy bag.

I'm in the Le Pliage camp but equally I know at least one person who thinks Pliage looks like the sort of cheap gift that used to come with In Style magazine.

nettie434 · 20/09/2023 08:48

It's really hard not to project one's own preferences onto the person actually getting the gift. All I can say is that looking around on the tube, I do see women in their early 20s with Radley and Michael Kors bags. £100 plus lunch for a son/daughters girlfriend is a very generous gesture. Shopping together will mean that the girlfriend can choose something she likes.

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 08:55

Steve Madden and Michael Kors are brands older women wear to look/ feel young.

NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 09:00

Or just give her a £100 Liberty voucher.

anomaly2 · 20/09/2023 09:01

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 08:55

Steve Madden and Michael Kors are brands older women wear to look/ feel young.

And women who have little idea of what's cool but think these are cool

anomaly2 · 20/09/2023 09:03

leighqt · 20/09/2023 07:55

Classy black bags there’s nothing wrong with Radley they are a good quality nothing at all wrong with a getting a 21 year old one.

and it’s not weird to get the girlfriend a gift like this if you are close.

It's not about quality. It's about whether a brand is considered desperately uncool to different demographics. It's like sketchers. Nothing inherently wrong with them but not something most young people would wear

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 09:04

anomaly2 · 20/09/2023 09:03

It's not about quality. It's about whether a brand is considered desperately uncool to different demographics. It's like sketchers. Nothing inherently wrong with them but not something most young people would wear

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Totally agree! I don’t like Radley bags and that’s fine. My aunt loves them and that’s fine. I wouldn’t buy one for someone who is unlikely to like it.

Beenalongwinter · 20/09/2023 09:06

Look at All Saints , they have some absolutely beautiful Cross body leather bags at just over your budget.

Stay away from Radley etc di s a younger or classic brand and go smaller if your restricted by budget.

NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 09:06

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 08:55

Steve Madden and Michael Kors are brands older women wear to look/ feel young.

You can see inside their heads can you? Alternatively they maybe just like the style.

I'm an ancient crone according to some posters on here. I like Radley and Le Pliage. At no point in my life have I liked bags in the style of Michael Kors, Kurt Geiger or Steve Madden. It's just horses for courses but comments like yours are ridiculous.

eastiseastwestiswest · 20/09/2023 09:09

People saying this is a cringe idea are so so cruel. It's such a lovely, kind idea. What a lucky son (future) daughter in law to have you. Lunch followed by a bit of shopping. You don't need to be "cringe" about jt you can just say "shall we have a mooch round the shops after lunch and see if there's anything you fancy? I was thinking maybe a new handbag would be nice? Is Zara a good place to start..." and go from there. Nothing cringe about it.

NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 09:20

eastiseastwestiswest · 20/09/2023 09:09

People saying this is a cringe idea are so so cruel. It's such a lovely, kind idea. What a lucky son (future) daughter in law to have you. Lunch followed by a bit of shopping. You don't need to be "cringe" about jt you can just say "shall we have a mooch round the shops after lunch and see if there's anything you fancy? I was thinking maybe a new handbag would be nice? Is Zara a good place to start..." and go from there. Nothing cringe about it.

Again, each to their own but unless they are really close and know each other really well, I think it's a terrible idea.

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 09:27

NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 09:06

You can see inside their heads can you? Alternatively they maybe just like the style.

I'm an ancient crone according to some posters on here. I like Radley and Le Pliage. At no point in my life have I liked bags in the style of Michael Kors, Kurt Geiger or Steve Madden. It's just horses for courses but comments like yours are ridiculous.

Show quote history

It’s not ridiculous.
It’s how fashion is perceived by others.
Some people care about that. Others don’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 09:51

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 09:27

It’s not ridiculous.
It’s how fashion is perceived by others.
Some people care about that. Others don’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

Show quote history

It's your personal projection about bags you don't like presented as an authoritative statement and carrying about as much authority as the majority of MN authoritative statemens about style (I.e almost none)

You have no idea what the motivation for buying them was.

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 09:51

NatashaDancing · 20/09/2023 09:51

It's your personal projection about bags you don't like presented as an authoritative statement and carrying about as much authority as the majority of MN authoritative statemens about style (I.e almost none)

You have no idea what the motivation for buying them was.

Show quote history

Yes. I am the authority.

Flyinggeesei234 · 20/09/2023 09:54

Beenalongwinter · 20/09/2023 09:06

Look at All Saints , they have some absolutely beautiful Cross body leather bags at just over your budget.

Stay away from Radley etc di s a younger or classic brand and go smaller if your restricted by budget.

@Beenalongwinter great shout. All Saints do some gorgeous and very good quality bags. You get a dust bag with them and they are a bit special.

ek20 · 20/09/2023 09:54

Whatever you do make sure you are very clear about the budget. Had a friend offer something similar for a big birthday of mine but never told me her price point, had no idea if she was meaning £20 or £200. Ended up never getting anything at all.

Mamafromthebeach · 20/09/2023 09:59

Hi - my girls are around that age and both have completely different tastes in handbags! One loves canvas totes - honestly she has loads from all sorts of different stores and she loves them all. When she goes out at night she usually just takes her phone and puts lipgloss in her pocket ( she has pockets in everything).

The other dd loves handbags and will save for ages to buy the one she likes but is particular about style.

So not much help but I do think it is tricky to get it right.

Maybe instead of a handbag an overnight bag or beautiful toiletries/make up bag?

DD1’s boyfriends parents gave her a small carryon suitcase for her 21st! She loves it and has used it quite a bit.

ilovemydogmore · 20/09/2023 10:00

TizerorFizz · 19/09/2023 16:55

@ilovemydogmore I particularly mentioned the cheaper brands at BV. They definitely are under £100. There are other cheaper brands too. You don’t need £2000 either as a regular shopper there. Have you actually been? It is not all high end and lots of choice for under £2000!

I've been plenty of times but I only go for discounts on the high end stuff so suppose I've not noticed - I wouldn't wear DKNY personally so wouldn't have gone in

ClarkWGreaseball · 20/09/2023 10:15

God only on here could a nice gesture be twisted around to be cringe!

Op - I'd probably go for that Chloe bag or a pilage. Both nice (in different ways) and special and both would probably appeal to a 21 year old

You know her and we don't - so you obviously feel she will appreciate the gesture and enjoy what you buy her

I'd steer well clear of 'navy radley bags' or Ted baker etc etc ... I wouldn't go near those as I consider myself too young - and I'm ancient!

Flyinggeesei234 · 20/09/2023 10:17

eastiseastwestiswest · 20/09/2023 09:09

People saying this is a cringe idea are so so cruel. It's such a lovely, kind idea. What a lucky son (future) daughter in law to have you. Lunch followed by a bit of shopping. You don't need to be "cringe" about jt you can just say "shall we have a mooch round the shops after lunch and see if there's anything you fancy? I was thinking maybe a new handbag would be nice? Is Zara a good place to start..." and go from there. Nothing cringe about it.

I’m cringing just at the thought. I would feel so self-conscious under these circumstances. It’s more about the gift giver than recipient.

I know it’s well meant but it’s not right for everyone. Also as it’s a handbag there will be the obligation to be seen to be using it. Too many conditions around the whole thing.

nonevernotever · 20/09/2023 10:23

Or Pompom cross body bags?

EquallyDetermined · 20/09/2023 11:01

eastiseastwestiswest · 20/09/2023 09:09

People saying this is a cringe idea are so so cruel. It's such a lovely, kind idea. What a lucky son (future) daughter in law to have you. Lunch followed by a bit of shopping. You don't need to be "cringe" about jt you can just say "shall we have a mooch round the shops after lunch and see if there's anything you fancy? I was thinking maybe a new handbag would be nice? Is Zara a good place to start..." and go from there. Nothing cringe about it.

The scenario you describe would to me be a cringe, I would want the floor to open and swallow me up. The thought of being considered a future daughter in law at 21 would have had me running for the hills too. The GF in question might be different but it is not cruel to point out that not everyone would love this experience.

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