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!

I would have a look at Sellier Knightsbridge, but a lovely classic. You can also visit their store too if you were in London for the day, I went not too long ago but emailed in advance about the bag I wanted to see.

Enjoy shopping!

In the apocalypse I think we’ll all have bigger things to think about than anything we may or may not have spent money on!

If you aren’t interested in bags, perhaps this isn’t the thread for you?

I also wouldn't buy preloved
Have a look in the sales. They are on at the moment selfridges, harvey nichols, mytheresa. Also stalk hermes online, you may be able to get a pico or Evelyn there but you have to be quick as they disappear within minutes.

Gucci every time.

Every. Fucking. Time.

Every time there’s a designer handbag thread, there’s an influx of posters coming along to disparage the purchase, to criticise the perceived consumerism, to proclaim from lofty heights about buying a bag for life and and donating the rest to charity etc etc etc.

Quite why they don’t have the intelligence to realise the thread is not aimed at them and just scroll on by is beyond me. Perhaps they think we’ll all be impressed by what they consider their wisdom, and will never again purchase a designer bag.

But I never ever see those same posters on threads about wedding dresses, which sometimes cost multiples of the amounts discussed here and are only worn once, whereas bags can be great workhorses for decades… I’m still using one I bought almost 20 years ago. Or they never appear on threads about luxury watches. Or holidays of a lifetime. Just women spending their money on things they want. Why is that?

If I had the lovely dilemma, I’d go for a Dior pouch. It’s a classic Dior style in lamb skin with a chain strap. I’m swooning just imagining it. I’d also ignore the miseries who crop up on threads like these.

👏👏👏

Good points, @sammylady37 . It's as if they believe that they have some sort of moral superiority. It's funny how it's an item for women, not designed for men's pleasure which draws so much ire.

Or they are outright condescending and assume the woman in question is just a bimbo who will pay for the bag with a credit card, has no savings and is incapable of assessing whether her budget allows for such a purchase

True!

Under budget, but I’ve wanted this bag for so long. It’s beautiful and very wearable.

https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/chloe-marcie-medium-leather-cross-body-bag_R04490834/#colour=TAN

Absolutely this.

Annoying comments aside, this thread is dangerous, so many lovely options. I’m not buying any bags this year but I’m loving the window shopping.
Hope the OP finds a lovely bag as a tribute.

OP you sound like you have your head screwed on. You appreciate beautiful craftsmanship and the poignancy of this sentimental gift. But you also realise it’s best to let someone else take the depreciation hit. How about spending a grand on a vintage bag and then - if you want your friend’s legacy to stay with you forever - putting £1000 in a passive index fund from Vanguard with very low fees tracking the whole stock market? If you leave it for ten years, it will return £2.5k to you. If you have £50 a month to add to it, it will make you over £12k! The magic of compounding. You can then get several bags or make a donation to a charity in your friend’s name and keep the rest invested, their generosity living on forever.

Wow. Did not expect so many responses! Or for so many people to ignore the context and get on their high horse . . . hey ho.

A MASSIVE thank you for all the suggestions. So many great possibilities to take on board - definitely going to make an experience of it, rather than just buy online; and having my loved one’s initials on the bag somewhere is just perfect, I absolutely will do that, if it’s possible.

In terms of actual bag, there are strong contenders - the mini Puzzle, the Flamenco, and a couple from Bottega.

It’s a very bittersweet endeavour, so I really appreciate the posts from everyone who took the time to read and understand.

I don’t know where in the country you are OP but I have the details of Loewe Sales associates in London & Manchester. Others I’m sure will have other brands.

Maybe not your vibe, but I love the Stella McCartney Falabella's - there was one in gold fabric last year that I coveted so much. Loads of different sizes too:

www.stellamccartney.com/gb/en/women/the-iconic-falabella/falabella-tiny-tote-bag-391698W91321000.html

I’ve got a small Puzzle, it’s the perfect sized every day bag. I love it!
I got it pre-loved, but it was new. It was a fab price. From NPN.
She has a few Loewe bags, including a Flamenco in the sale. Defo worth a look, here:

https://www.npnbags.co.uk/naughtipidginsnestshop/prod_8253438-LOEWE-Mini-Flamenco-in-Deep-Aubergine-Calf-Nappa.html

Maybe they should get back to wild camping somewhere.

How lovely OP.

My vote would be for a Loewe puzzle bag. I’ve lusted over one for years. Recently found a dupe that I’m happy with.

Enjoy choosing and please report back.

Poor people buy brands so they can show off apparently.

Rich people say dont buy brands until you're rich.

Treat yourself if you like, but if you're not rich expensive bags etc tell the rest of us you're a wannabe (though I do love a nice bag I tend to buy on style not for a brand)

Where was your dupe from, please?

I think the OP is looking for style, isn't she? Not a particular brand.

It would have to be a mulberry for me

The bags being discussed on this thread are not label strewn 'designer' bags. They are good quality and understated. They are not at all about 'showing off'