cross-body bag - advice on which would be better quality

[TempersFuggit]

Hi there, I am toying with the idea of a proper grown up handbag. I usually buy from Oliver Bonas, or Zatchel, so not completely au fait with expensive bags, and only really need one to carry my phone, lipstick and keys. I like neat and un-blingy with lovely leather.

I really like this one from APC:
Mini Leather Demi-Lune Bag

and also this one from Mulberry:
Small Darley Satchel

Would both of these be good quality and wear well? Or can you advise if there are other brands I could be looking at that would fit the brief.

Thanks in advance :)

Out of those two I prefer the mulberry. Practicality wise the Liberty has an open top, things fall out when you put it down!

I get most of my bags from fossil. Generally good quality and not quite as pricey.

The Liberty link may be incorrect - the choices are the APC bag, and the Mulberry, both with zips (thankfully) 😊

I have the Mulberry one which I like but the strap is not very long , I prefer my Anthony

APC bag

Oooo the APC one is lovely!

It is isn't it - I just don't know how well they last.

I personally love my coach bag as feels really high end but a third of the price of a mulberry.

I'm happy to pay less, but can't see an oxblood one in similar style.
It's my 55th birthday coming up, so feel I'm due a posh bag for once in my life 😊

Enjoy!

I'm always surprised on Vinted just how knackered some of the mulberry bags look. I think the quality may have gone down.

So maybe the APC would be better? I don't know anyone who's ever owned one before to ask.

I’ve got the APC one and I never use it because it hurts my hand getting things in and out of it - the zip is very ‘jaggy’. I’m disappointed as I’d wanted it for a long time and thought I’d use it all the time… I’d go for the mulberry one.

Thanks so much for this, you may have just saved me lots of money! That's really good to know, and not something I would have thought of trying in the shop.
Sorry that you don't use yours though - that's really annoying

I have mulberry Anthony too, a small red one for summer, and slightly bigger for winter. Amazing quality and look as good as when I bought them

The Anthony's aren't quite what the look I'm going for. I have an similar style from Osprey and never use it.

Thanks everyone for you help - much appreciated

uk.polene-paris.com/products/numero-dix-monochrome-noir-graine

I know it's not really anything like the other two you linked.. but have you looked at Polene? I saw someone who takes apart bags review these and they said the craftsmanship was excellent and up there with the best most expensive bags.

I think they look beautiful and a good price but depends if you like the style.

I have the APC and I really like it but it's a bit annoying getting things in and out because the zip is quite tight. It still looks pretty good though after several years, and mine is in a lighter colour than the one you linked.

They are beautiful, thank you for suggesting this shop. They aren’t quite what I’m looking for, just wanted some neat and small, but will definitely keep an eye on the site.
thanks again

Thank you for this @MujeresLibres very useful. I may need to rethink.

I have the APC one in red and in pink. I like it as it's quite modern looking but it's stylish bag rather than a luxe bag. Which is why it's half the price of the Mulberry. However, I think that particular Mulberry one is really frumpy. Very middle aged woman being sensible (I write this as a middle aged women who most definitely doesn't want to be sensible).

https://uk.polene-paris.com/products/nodde-cognac-lisse

this could work though @covetingthepreciousthings it can be worn across body. May need a quick trip to Paris to check it out! Win win!

I'm a Radley fan for crossbody bags, I've had 4 in succession as everyday bags for about the last 20 years, they are hardwearing. My one has quite a bit of organisation going on but they have loads of different styles and sizes

https://www.radley.co.uk/handbags/across-body-bags?perPage=24&sortBy=price&order=DESC&page=7&_gl=1s4ty8q_upMQ.._gaMTcyNzkyMTA1Mi4xNjk4NjIwNzgw_ga_PCRT4X52DVMTY5ODYyMDc3OS4xLjAuMTY5ODYyMDc4NC4wLjAuMA.._ga_SQ555Q934R*MTY5ODYyMDc3OS4xLjEuMTY5ODYyMDc4NC4wLjAuMA..&exterior_material=Leather&product_category=Technology-Handbags&radley_product_type=Cross+Body+Bags

Thank you, @SageRosemary but I’ve never really clicked with Radley.

i saw this Adolfo Dominguez bag when we were in Spain a while ago, but there are no stockists in UK as far as I can see. I think this is a little too compact though, and the bigger ones have top handles that I’m not keen on.

How far away are you from Bicester shopping village OP? Might be worth a day trip! They have a mulberry shop and loads of others. I got some beautiful leather cashmere lined gloves from the mulberry shop a couple of years ago.

Strathberry do some beautifully made small bags which are a bit more reasonably priced than Mulberry. https://www.strathberry.com/collections/new-arrivals