£100 budget for 1st handbag

[Slightlydustcovered]

I'm buying someone their first handbag. Her style is very paired back lots of blue, black jeans and plain t-shirts. Needs to fit wallet, phone, water bottle and have space for a small snack box.

I'm honestly a bit overwhelmed if you had £100 for a handbag what would you choose?

I'd look at Kipling bags, they're like Tardises.
This one may be OK , it comes in 17 colours.
https://www.kipling.com/uk-en/bags-c10544/cool-defea-black-noir-ki2849p3900-999.html

I'd get a tan coloured leather bag that can fit a laptop. Not a fancy label, for £100. M&S actually do nice leather bags.

How about a lomgchamps le pilage , a classic for a reason

Are we taking like a 14 or 15 year old here? As anyone older would likely have already had their ‘first’ handbag?….. because a young teens preference will vary to someone in Their 20s for example

Definitely agree with this.
DD2 found one in my mums wardrobe and as my mum has so many bags she gave it to DD.

She's just had her 19th birthday and we got her the next size that can fit her laptop in, perfect for uni!

I'm quite envious.

They're very understated and incredibly durable.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/5104480-you-dont-have-to-quote-the-whole-original-post?reply=136266841

If it is her first , surely she will want to choose it herself? Give her the money or go with her to pick it out. Handbags are quite personal.

If they're in their teens, the LAST thing they will want is a kipling bag or something from M&S.

I'd ask for recommendations for shops or styles they like, or they just will not use it and it will be a waste.

If they want leather bags, I rate &OtherStories, Cos and Arket for simple, cool, affordable pared back styles.

Baggu or Uniqlo for minimalist or colourful nylon styles.

However I am not a teen, and have no idea what's cool. So best to ask them!

I'd take them shopping instead. If I had to though I'd go for La Pillage but it's so very easy to get it wrong.

How old is this person? We need to know this information as if it's a child/teen it makes a huge difference.

I think I was about 2 when I got my first handbag!

Money might go further at TKMaxx Gold Label or a designer re-sale. A handbag is a very personal item...I think letting them choose is the best option.

The Longchamps le Pilage looks ridiculous, I'd hate that. Which proves how personal it is.

If you want to spend £100 on a bag for someone else, they need to choose it themselves. So take them shopping or buy them a voucher.

Does she even want a handbag? How does she carry these things now? She might want a rucksack, a cross body bag or just use her pockets. No-one on here can choose the 'perfect' first handbag for anyone else as they've no idea about how they want to carry it or what they like.

The Longchamps le Pilage looks ridiculous, I'd hate that. Which proves how personal it is.

They always remind me of the free gift with purchase my older relatives would get with an Avon or other catalogue order when I was little! But many others love them (especially MN).

I've been bought a lot of handbags and purses as gifts over the years, and felt obliged to use them but I don't like them half as much as the ones I've bought myself. If someone gave me £100 I could put another £30 to it myself and get exactly the bag I have my eye on from the Coach Outlet and would get daily enjoyment out of. If that same person had spent £100 on a Radley or Kipling bag, say, it would not be my taste at all but I'd feel forced to use it. I think bags should be seen in the same sort of category as perfume, expensive clothing or jewellery meant for daily use...deeply personal and best if the recipient is involved in the choice.

I can imagine a leather bag for a laptop will be really heavy. It'd last forever though!

Eco Suzie has beautiful laptop bags. But that's my taste.
https://www.ecosusi.com/collections/sale?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&ot_cam=20951076899&ot_grp=161355101896&ot_ad=701359080655&ot_kw=ecosusi&ot_plac=&ot_prod=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8rW2BhAgEiwAoRO5rEimNsqvfExBkbNkIpC1i9uGIiYXxk3V6mPokShR83JeZ_jLAR93IxoCTlIQAvD_BwE

I would ask whoever you are buying for.

Is there a particular label she likes? I’ve just bought a £200 bag for £50 on Vinted. There are some amazing bargains on there and you can filter on condition is you want it to be new

Are you sure they want a proper handbag? How old are they? They sound like they prefer a casual, simple style. My daughter (22) loves her Uniqlo cross body bag in cord but that only costs about £15. I'm not sure she'd have much interest in a proper leather handbag.

I agree with the others that it's probably better to let her choose her own. It's quite a big purchase and it would be a shame to get it wrong.

The bags most other people are suggesting sound too big to me!

Longchamp le pliage!! I am going to assume she's quite young if its her first handbag. Le pliage bags are very popular amongst the younger generation-lots of nice colours, waterproof and they give you a free repair in its lifetime like if you rip the edges etc. They've currently got a dark red/burgundy which is proving popular.

If this is a young woman, I work with several in their late teens and early twenties and they are all about those Marc Jacobs tote bags, Kurt Geiger bags for going out and the occasional LV bag (doesn't have to be real!)

I meant to add, that however at that age I wouldn't have liked that kind of thing at all - I'd have love the Dr Martens bags & backpacks or even a Fjallraven Kanken backpack

Youngest dd loves her navy pliage (large?? - the one with long handles) for uni. Wouldn't really call it a handbag though.

Really? A nylon foldaway bag that looks like it should be accessorised with people friend. That’s not classic.

They’re really popular with younger people

Is it for a teenager?
I‘ve bought mine vintage coach bags , in the past from beyond retro or rokit . You have to be careful online as lots of fakes, but some coach styles are real classics and still trendy, and are gorgeous leather.