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!

Suede is not the most practical but...

Quality suede is just beautiful, though.

Hmm, I didn't mention classy or talk about rules. Quite the stretch there

and Ferragamo suede never disappoint!

Lovely 😍!

It’s a very reasonable question. Every single bag thread on here gets infiltrated by the sanctimonious martyrs who are so keen to demonstrate how they are above such things. It’s beyond tedious.

My Theresa is a good site to buy bags.

I’d buy a Vivienne Westwood tote, matching purse and one of her bucket bags. Comes in just under budget. Bought my DD a VW bag for her 18th birthday, she’s thirty now, uses it frequently and it looks like new. Have a frivolous splurge OP, yes it’s a lot of money, but the person giving you this money wants you to spend it on a bag, so do them proud.

I always picture people like you driving some small 25 year old car, carrying a Sainsbury’s bag for a handbag and wearing canvas plimsoles with your toes wearing through.

Charming.

How patronising.

Oh I love that bag, I really can’t justify buying a new bag as I have plenty of nice ‘work’ handbags (groomed appearance essential) but if I could I’d be very tempted. I’d have never thought of looking at Stella McCartney.

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.

That manufacturer has stolen the design from a company who pays the designers. That could be a british business, paying western wages to design these lovely bags, and have them made through supply chains that meet our standards.

The Chinese manufacturer likely doesnt give a shit about the supply chain, where the leather or fittings are made, how much the workers are paid or their conditions.

When you buy a fake bag, you fund crime. Period.

Well, look at Loro Piana. They don’t make fakes or steal designs. Still got busted doing slave labour though.

I hope you find THE bag, OP, and enjoy it for many years to come.

OP I hope you have found or will find something fabulous to enjoy and treasure and that your benefactor will be delighted to see you use if they are still able to do so. For the reasons you have explained around the circumstances, I am sure whatever you choose will hold a value that is beyond priceless.
I have loved reading the comments from the helpful posters and seeing the many gorgeous designs. I too am lusting after a Dior book tote or Chanel (second hand) but I recently spotted this beauty and now I can't get it out of my head! https://www.harveynichols.com/chloe/sea-treasures-medium-grained-leather-shoulder-bag-35006-ivor-deep-ivory-220590/?source=shoppingads&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20512934047&gbraid=0AAAAADiGUeeN08VKDDBGZeDDlIuWSW4If&gclid=CjwKCAjw4efDBhATEiwAaDBpbgr3fSqa8Xh0aROK9yctkyMnTebMzGMXBDETTl1lS2nOg80YCITw9hoCMMQQAvD_BwE

No more patronizing than being told you're wasting your money.

You can't compare the two comments.

You made a rather horrible and nasty assumption that the poster would look like a 'bag lady' (literally! ) with a plastic carrier bag, and old car, tatty clothes.

There is a huge range between using a supermarket carrier bag and a £2K bag.
Many people even with a bottomless pit of money would regard it as a waste of money.

It's nothing to do with being rich or unable to afford one.

God the handbag threads do bring out the worse in some mean spirited posters don’t they. Snippy comments and holier-than-thou attitudes.

OP I hope you find something that gives you and your generous benefactor much joy. Just don’t forget to come back and show the rest of us what you have chosen!

I don't understand why posts about bags in style and beauty get so much vitriol. The poster hasn't posted in the aibu section. She's already explained the circumstances in which she is to be gifted the money but shouldn't have had to.

I have quite a few bags on my wishlist op. If I was gifted £2k I'd put some extra in and buy the celine 16. Its a classic and would go with so many different outfits.

I do have mid luxury bags like Ateliers Auguste, Demellier etc but in the situation you have described I'd go for the bag that I really covet. If you are looking at mid luxury then Aspinal of London, Strathberry, Polene, Demellier, Ateliers Auguste, Launer London are all brands I would consider. If you are thinking more high end then I'd consider the Loewe puzzle or flamenco bag, Celine 16 or triomphe, YSL sunset or Bottega andiamo.

I'd take some time to think about your needs. So would a tote bag be more suitable with your lifestyle? Do you prefer a bag that closes completely for safety especially if used on a commute, do you prefer larger or smaller bags, do you prefer structured or slouchy? Check out Handbagholic on YouTube.

I was talking about the terrorism claims that a PP made but you chopped off the start of the sentence to change the context?

Also your first point is invalid in my argument. I’ve already explained this, twice. This will be the third time now.

PS and the original of my bag isn’t British. Most high end designer bags aren’t.

The point about the Chinese manufacturers you buy from stealing other people's ideas hasn't been "explained". You've just decided that copyright theft is something you're happy to overlook.

I’d avoid a puzzle bag if I were you, I feel like they are a bit played out now. Could you wait for Black Friday? Selfridges and Harrods etc often do 20% off and your money would go much further.

There’s never 20% off in most of the “premium” brands we’re talking about.

But you will always know it's fake. It's knowing it it real is part of owning a quality handbag.

Yes I do know it’s fake, it doesn’t bother me. I own a mixture of both real and fake bags. Some I think are worthy of paying full price for the real deal, others I don’t.

Harvey Nichols sometimes does blanket discounts on online deals.