Been gifted £200 to spend on myself - would a Longchamp bag be a good choice?

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I like the Le Piliage Original Large Shoulder Bag in fawn but
it is £120, a bit different from the usual £10 Primark bag I have used for years 😁- I keep talking myself out of it, then thinking it would be great for a carry-on airplane bag too

Any views appreciated!

I have them in all sizes, all in the black with tan handles, they are used all of the time, especially for overnight stays, weekends away or days out. I love the leather iPod case too, but that is an extravagance - although a great gift for the person who has everything!

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle the 'give away ' makeup bags are what I use too.

Why don't you put the money in a separate account and then when you do see something you want to buy or do, use it then?

I don't see the point of hunting round for something to buy just because you have money now, that sounds like a chore and means you won't have money when you think 'I'd like to do/buy X'

£200 could buy you a spa day with lunch and you'd probably have enough money leftover to buy an unbranded bag in a similar style and quality from somewhere like M&S.

I like this
https://www.jigsaw-online.com/collections/bags-clutches/products/heckfield-suede-tote-tan-1
But I think my style is quite casual and loose (not boho tho).

It you love the bag and will use it a lot then it’s a good idea.

I have had one for 15+ years and it’s brilliant. Overnight bag, hand luggage bag, beach bag, folded up and packed in suitcase as an emergency bag it’s done it all! While it may not feel luxurious it’s a real workhorse style and you will get lots of use out of it I’m sure.

if you can get to Bicester Village they have an outlet so you might get more for your budget there. I would avoid the light colour and go for a darker shade. Mine is the khaki one and I find that goes with everything.

Are you anywhere near Bicester? The shopping village has a great Longchamp store with good discounts. If you google it there is phone number, might be worth a call..........

You should get one if you love them, they are good quality and a lot more practical than many expensive handbags.

Don’t know if “LePiliage” was a typo in your OP or not but just in case you do get one and don’t realise- they are called LePliage (luh PLEE-ahj) because “Plier” means “to fold” in French (think English pleats and pliable, and of course pliers- same root).

I could get to Bicester Village, yes. Will have a look into that. Was thinking of John Lewis just to have a look and see what there is.

Ah, thanks for that @HotCrossBunplease - I wasnt sure how to pronounce it, thank you 😘

A good looking bag but as with the other leather tote suggested starting from empty it's heavier than a Pliage and will be even heavier once you add stuff.

That one has at least some fastening but still looks insecure to me.

Yes, I've got several and love them. Practical, hardwearing and fold up so easy to slip in a case or another bag. I've got a great handbag insert that I bought in Zara a couple of years ago which gives structure to the larger totes and then a small handbag organiser for the smaller bags, or I use a pouch to pop my purse, keys and phone in.

I've also got a zip top clutch with a handle on top which I use as a toilet bag when I go away - the handle enables me to hang it on a hook on a bathroom door (if it has one). Roomy and easy to wipe clean.

All my bags have been used in planes, trains, cars, been chucked under my seat at the football, days out, on the beach, you name it. I love them and wouldn't hesitate to get another.

Very nice and great price. I've never understood the attraction of the ubiquitous Longchamp bags.

whether or not it's a good choice, know that Longchamp have very good seasonal sales - think 40/50% off. You could potentially get a leather one at the right time of year.

Aspinall products are nowhere nearly as good quality as they were. They market themselves as investment pieces to hand down from generation to generation but only guarantee their items for a year. I recently had a problem with an expensive item which had been cared for only 14 months after purchase and they were dismissive. I was annoyed and posted on my own social media page about it and at least 5 friends recounted similar experiences with seams splitting, zips on purses not working, leather peeling (which was the issue on my item). On that basis I do not think they are worth the price and you will get better quality and customer care from other brands.

As for Longchamp, I have one for travel (outbound I take it folded up in my main luggage and use it if have made purchases on holiday for the inbound flight). Mine is navy and has worn well but I wouldn’t find it particularly comfortable to have it as a general purpose tote.

They’re excellent bags, so useful. I have a black one which I use mainly when travelling but Dd had 3 in varying sizes. The one you’re looking at she has in Navy, uses it everyday , overfills it , carries a laptop and doesn’t particularly look after it and it is still like new 18months on.
I have to say I was very sceptical when she first bought it , but treated myself 8 months later having seen how much use it got .

Yes I would - in fact I did exactly this a couple of weeks ago. Been thinking about getting one but couldn’t justify the £120 for a non-leather bag. Anyway I bought it with a mini bonus and I know I’m going to get loads of use out of it so glad I did.

They are excellent bags and very practical.
I own everything from these to mulberry, tom ford, delvaux, lv chanel etc and i go for this one all the time.

I would 💯 go in to store and look and and try on a few to decide what you like.
If it means paying £110 vs scrabbling about online to find it for £90 do it.

My vote to is make a day of it and go somewhere nice with your dd after... either a nice cocktail or wine bar or for a milkshake depending on age 😅

Me too 😄

I also like a Le Pliage bag. I have one in navy. It's great for travel too. It's not the most fashionable thing but if you have a classic style you can't go wrong in my view. You definitely need a zipped pouch inside though, as others have said, to contain smaller items. I find I have to replace mine every so often (the corners at the bottom start tearing) but I use it regularly.

I've bought more expensive leather bags but find them heavy and don't end up wearing them. Depends on your lifestyle I guess.

I have one in navy and I love it. Use it mainly for travelling. In fact, this thread is making me crave another one in a different colour!

I do like the Aspinal tote further up thread (well, not that portrait shape but the more landscape one) but it's a totally different bag from a Pliage.

Love mine and dd has one for her university day bag to carry her laptop etc back and forth. They clean up really well and last for ever. I also have a Longchamps leather shoulder bag dh bought me in about 1996. It still looks good (timeless) and I still use it.

Lots say they’re a Roy Cropper Shopper 🤣 but I love mine, my laptop goes in it for work, all my kids stuff if we go out and great for the aeroplane. I have the black though, the fawn would be filthy if I had it as it gets chucked around a lot.

I have a few Mulberry bags but they’re heavy and don’t fit as much. Also would be more concerned about damage etc.

I’ve had one for 20 years and still looks like new. Very useful bags, I don’t care that everybody has one. It will last a lifetime so money well spent.

Yes. I had a brand new fawn one and accidentally rested it on a cafe table.. now has a grease stain that I can't get out. I think they do mark easily.
.. I thought it would be good for holidays - but quickly realised not with the amount of sun cream I use.

Just to add. I also got a really nice Radley cream bag (smaller) in a sale and took it on holiday. Suncream meant that the cream finish came off on the handles and strap and now it looks really tatty.