Work bag - help me decide!

[headcheffer]

Help me decide please wise S&Bers! I'm returning to work after my second mat leave in three years, and my longchamp has finally given up the ghost. I'd like something more stylish and grown up, and that makes me feel good when I use it. My style is fairly simple and classic, and I wear mostly black tan and cream with the occasional jewel colour thrown in. Want a bag in black or tan. I have £170 that I've recently got from sale of another item, and could top this up to £250 for the right item. I commute to the city once a week, and have to carry the usual laptop and big water bottle etc and ideally I could fit my lunch in too but happy to use a separate bag for this. I would also need to use the same bag when attending conferences etc too.

I saw the first bag bizarrely on a woman in soft play (working while her kids play, genius), and asked her where it was from as it was really nice. I was shocked when it was so cheap and it's been on my list for a while, but since then by budget has increased and now I have the rest on there too! Sorry for the long links!

www.parfois.com/en/gb/bags/laptop-bags/15”-laptop-bag/200433.html?dwvar_200433_color=_KK&dwvar_200433_size=L&cgid=104#lastIndex=12&cgid=104&start=1&sz=30

www.luluguinness.com/products/black-large-crossgrain-ivy-tote

www.johnny-loves-rosie.com/collections/tote-and-weekend-bags/products/black-large-stella-tote-bag

lawfullondon.com/products/lotus?variant=40864211763247

lawfullondon.com/products/rosa?variant=40864213073967

lawfullondon.com/products/aspen?variant=44759094395198

Any other suggestions welcome!!!

Knomo
looks like my roller brief case isn’t made any more 😢

but my on shoulder one is still made

theyve gone all rucksacky

Oh wow thank you for all these suggestions! I'm going to have a lovely perve on more bags while the baby naps!!

£140 is a lot of money for a PU bag.

I think it should be made illegal for retailers to describe PU as "vegan leather" or "PU leather" or to use the word "leather" in any form of the description of a synthetic material.

I agree with this. And often it is just listed as leather and only if you look into the small print says vegan leather or pu leather.

This £250 bag also appears to be synthetic:

https://lawfullondon.com/products/lotus?variant=40864211763247

From the "Care" section:
"As vegan leather has a non-porous surface, grime, dirt and spillages cannot soak into the material, allowing for marks to be easily removed by spot cleaning using a smooth damp cloth. Please take extra care with the corners of your tote to ensure they do not damage. Our materials are beautifully crafted but can be fragile if scuffed or brushed against hard surfaces."

With a leather bag, especially dark colours, like black, navy or dark brown, it's often possible to polish out minor scuffs, scratches or wear on corners with a good shoe renovating polish. But it would be more difficult to treat these with a synthetic fabric.

well that's me skint - I love them all!!

This is beautiful but out of my budget! I love it though.

My favourite work bag is a coach bag but I also like Fossil. I like a top closure on my work bag personally so something like this if I’m carrying a laptop https://www.fossil.com/en-gb/outlet/?prefn1=family&prefv1=Bags&prefn2=silhouette&prefv2=Workbag

Kate spade everyday tote - classic, capacious, elegant and hard wearing. I have it in navy and choose it over my Bayswater any time.

Knomo Maddox maybe

https://www.johnlewis.com/knomo-maddox-leather-tote-bag/p6436453?s_share=jlappdroid

It's a bit over budget at JL but I got mine for under £100 direct from knomo in a sale.

Knomo Audley is also nice.

I have always been a big fan of LuLu Guinness and have quite a few of her bags but I’m not impressed with the last one I bought. The strap is wearing badly already, the quality doesn’t seem what it was.

I have a Paul Costello from tk Maxx.

Not a polene or a lulu but I've had it 10 years and it really leather

I have the echitta day bag ( I think)

Similar to this but this is over

Search for paul Costello outlet. Also in vinted

I like the Lulu Guinness and the third Lawful London bag.

www.rebeccaminkoff.com/en-gb/products/darren-tote-hf22mdntf3-black

I have a Rebecca Minkoff bag very like this one. It's great.

That is beautiful @mathanxiety

The first one is the nicest I think and if you have seen it in person and liked it, then does it matter if your budget has increased? Spend the extra money on something else like a decent travel coffee cup or nice lunch box etc :)

Have a wee look at Bond and Mason handbags. They have a great range of colours, styles and prices.

I have two Kate Spade bags for work - really rate them. Good quality, look great, can carry loads of stuff! Also have two Love Moschino bags - vegan leather rather than real so not as robust but lovely styles available.

I have the Coach bag posted earlier. I really like it and the leather is beautiful.

Fairfax and Favor do some nice work bags. They’re big enough to fit a lap top in and have big zipped compartments for papers etc. I know it’s over budget but they also do Klarna if that’s any help. And it comes in leather.
https://www.fairfaxandfavor.com/products/the-windsor-work-bag-tan