I have £2k for a beautiful bag - which one, though?

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I am fortunate enough to have been given £2k by a very dear relative and instructed to treat myself to a new handbag.

This will be a treasured item (because of the person I will always associate with it) and a massive, unprecedented splurge.

So . . . what do I get? I want beautiful quality rather than the usual brand names . . . and not a work bag, as I work from home. A small crossbody, probably. Any suggestions? Thank you!

The OP explains in her fourth post why she's in a position to treat herself to a bag. Nothing to do with being a wannabe.

And the whole point is to find a style she likes, not show off with a particular brand.

Come the apocalypse, I'll know that I have happily lived my life as I wished and well and comfortably. I shall know I didn't settle for anything I didn't truly love.

There will always be joy in my heart, even as the bang fades and the dust settles because my spirit will know I was never a meanie.

@Maireas

https://scott-samuel.co.uk/products/leather-grab-handle-bag

Lovely quality and has feet.

To everyone saying to Paris / Barcelona to buy a bag, please be aware that you are legally have to declare the purchase when arriving back in the UK and pay 20% VAT.

Im not saying that everyone does it and most don’t hide the gift bag / box and sneak it through without paying. I’m just pointing this out.

And come the apocalypse, I’ll bet a lovely bag still has mega cachet amongst the zombies anyhow!

If it was bought AND made in the EU (which a Bottega or Loewe etc bag will be) then the customs duty is zero rated. You can ask for a statement of origin when you buy it.

Every time someone posts photos of a Flamenco, I come under the risk of buying one - beautiful bag.

I wish I could bring myself to dive in to the replica market, really. It's all just mind boggling though, over and above not actually morally agreeing with it. (Not meant to sound sniffy, I have absolutely considered it.)

Would very much like to understand this to absolute certainty, as am in Seville in September ...

Really? I didn’t know that. Very interesting! Thanks for confirming

Look up repladies on Reddit.

I paid £140 for this Goyard bag.
I think the rrp is about 2.5/3k

I actually have a genuine Goyard but the quality is awful, I’ve had to send it back twice for leather peeling. I wouldn’t give them my money again.

The rep is just as good as the original.

Not virtue signalling, but aren’t they illegal?

Theyre illegal to produce but not to buy or own.

Has to be for personal use only of course

If the total value is less than £1,000
If the total value of all the items you declare is less than £1,000 the evidence for each item can be:

• a label or packaging showing it was grown or made in the EU
• evidence it was hand-made or grown in the EU (for example, a document or written note from the person or business you bought it from)

A Border Force officer might ask to see this evidence. If you are unable to show this, you will have to pay any customs duty you owe.

If the total value is more than £1,000
If the total value of all the items you declare is over £1,000, you can claim a zero rate of customs duty if you can prove each item was grown or made in the EU.
This proof could be an invoice or document from the person or business you bought the items from which includes the:

• item you are buying
• place and date you bought it
• ‘statement on origin’

The ‘statement on origin’ is formal wording from the person or business you bought the items from which confirms:

• the material used to make the item was from the EU
• their registered exporter number (if the total value of all the items you declare is over £5,500)

https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain#:~:text=than%20%C2%A31%2C000-,If%20the%20total%20value%20of%20all%20the%20items%20you%20declare,item%20you%20are%20buying

I'm lucky enough to have several Mulberry bags, I really do love them. But... I really don't think the quality versus price is there any more. My first one was preloved and I've had it for years, it's an amazing bag but subsequent newer/brand new purchases just aren't the same.

I love Loewe and I've currently coveting a Mini Flamenco, but the Puzzle bag is just gorgeous, my sister has one.

For something classic, have you looked at a Balenciaga Rodeo? The small one. I love these too.

Just for information (bnot relevant to this thread as the price exceeds OP's budget) be careful of bringing exotic goods in. There are special rules and regulations (I don't understand them as I've never bought an exotic bag but thought I'd mention it as we are on the subject)

I've heard that about Mulberry Definitelynotme Such a shame.

What an ignorant post. If someone isn’t interested in expensive bags they must be a wild camper? This is why I don’t like the ‘cult of bags.’ The awful one upwomanship and judgement involved. Exhibited on this thread by loads of ‘you just can’t afford it’ posts. Life isn’t a competition.

Illegal because the proceeds are most often used by gangs and to fund terrorism. Ffs. 🤦‍♂️

lsj.com.au/articles/the-new-blood-diamond-how-cheap-knock-offs-fund-terrorism-and-crime/

Thank you!

That’s by gangs who buy them in multiples and resell them…….. I’m buying directly from the manufacturers in china. Not the same page.

The dupe you're buying might not be criminally based in the way that link refers to and might just be "inspired" by the original, but there's taking inspiration and then there's ripping off other people's ideas.

It’s not a dupe. You buy dupes in Primark. It’s a rep, a pretty exact copy. As per my pp I’ve bought authentic from the same brand and the quality is not worth the rrp. Maybe if they upped their game, I’d buy a real one.

I don’t feel any guilt. Have you never taped a song off the radio or watched a copied dvd?

Same objection so far as I'm concerned. It's ripping off some one else's original idea.

To answer your question- no. I've never done either of those things.

Ah just a touch of child / slave labour then eh? On you crack

Aha - so to be classy you must be understated? So many rules of the bag