Handbags

[Comefromaway]

If you didn't have the money for Loewe or Bottega Veneta but wanted a really nice, well made handbag (or two) with quality leather that will be both durable and stylish what brands would you be looking at?

A black every day bag to take to work and a smaller neutral colour bag for going out.

These are small EU based (I'm in EU) so I don't know the import/tax situation to the UK but La Perruque make high quality bags (shapes are a bit archetype) using leather from some of France's best tanneries that are also used by Hermes and Chanel. Guibert also has a similar profile, slightly more classic. Ateliers Auguste makes in and sources material from Italy, more contemporary. I also like Tsatsas but it's a bit more niche in taste, not sure exactly what you like at Loewe and BV as they have quite a range of styles.

Above is assuming you're willing to spend a few hundred.

I like Coach and Kate Spade. Both much more affordable than Loewe and well made. Lots of choices. I buy my bags when there's a sale on at House of Fraser or another department store. I got a £500 coach bag for around £250 last year and use it all the time.

Second Guibert. The prices are really reasonable and the quality is excellent. Yuzefi is also worth a look.

Arket or &OtherStories for higher end high street leather bags.

I'm also obsessed with a brand called Opelle who do the most beautiful bags at around the $300-500 mark. I've had their leather backpack since 2011.

Saccoo!

Any opinion on DeMellier or Polene? No in person shops for the latter so it’s difficult to judge?

not sure exactly what you like at Loewe and BV as they have quite a range of styles.

I like the fact the leather feels & looks lovely I believe both brands are full grain leather & they just seem very well made (from what I’ve seen in Selfridges at least).

I don’t like Gucci/Luis Vuitton etc. they look tacky to me.

I always recommend this company - bags come in a wide range of colours, the quality is excellent and some are even reversible so you can have black for work reversing to a brighter or lighter colour. https://www.anyasushko.com/

Demellier has terrible stitching, the hardware attracts enough attention for people not to notice it somehow but it's really subpar imho. Polene isn't fantastic either, I saw it when it first launched and wasn't impressed at all, it seemed to briefly improve, became very popular and now the quality is plummeting.

Bottega Veneta definitely has very nice leathers but Loewe is very mixed. I don't think both are necessarily always full grain leather, there will be quite a bit of top grain leather depending on application, still of good quality but BV definitely outshines Loewe when it comes to leathers.

Paula Kirkwood, beautiful handmade timeless
pkirkwood.com

I just bought the Demellier Vancouver that’s everywhere. Have lots of more expensive bags but it’s a honestly a treat. Not so expensive that you can’t use anywhere, stylish enough to lift an outfit, perfectly sized to take essentials (make up, phone, glasses - even a purse)

I honestly love it.

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/demellier-the-vancouver-leather-crossbody-bag_R04304418/?&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm7dgPegC_IXYpq4iTMN_JohBU5n2S69oJL46TguEb996Am4sl3hNfUaAqBdEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#colour=TAN

Can you buy Guibert in London stores?

Coach are very good quality.

there’s a guy in TikTok that takes bags apart to inspect the quality and he always rates Coach.

Polene - lovely quality bags and some very stylish.

Mulberry - lots of classics.

I've regularly used my Demellier for the last 18 months and the quality is excellent. I was tempted by Polene for my birthday this week but have gone for Strathberry instead and quality wise it's just as good as my more expensive bags. I've also recently been happy with Arket and Jigsaw. I was also tempted by some of the Sezane bags.

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-brigitte-woven-faux-leather-shoulder-bag-by-melie-bianco-oversized-edition?category=bags-totes&color=001&type=REGULAR&size=One+Size&quantity=1
bv dupe they come in 7!colours they are flying of the shelves just been restocked it’s not expensive but it’s a nice bag I bought it in chocolate

I'm very traditional with my bags but always rate Coach and vintage Mulberry

They do look very similar but I prefer something that is real leather.

No. I bought my first bag in Paris and the second online.

In case anyone is interested I got a Mulberry bag for my work bag and am saving up for a small Bottega intrecciato bag

Which Mulberry? Love a Mulberry!

I was looking at several but Selfridges had an Islington in the sale reduced to £800 from £1,600 original price!

When was this? They weren't in the summer sale I don't think. Very envious.

Arket has some really nice bags at the moment

Or Toteme, depending on your budget