A good ‘starter’designer handbag?

[Coaster1]

I’ve had a bonus at work and would like to buy something nice for myself with part of it.
If I had approx £500 would that get me anything lovely and classic?
what would you S&B aficionados recommend?

these one’s are good ones
you can get a few of them but what you put in them is far more likely to cost you £500

It probably wouldn’t get a classic designer bag but there’s lots of really good quality midrange bags. Strathberry, RSVP Paris, The Horse, DeMellier for example. Or something from Coach (but I prefer their older styles so would likely look preloved).

Coach, Kate Spade or Westwood?
Probably below your £500, maybe £300 (depending on which one)
Nice but not too nice that you need to worry about what happens to it

I’d actually look at something that isn’t “designer” but is handmade and amazing quality (much better quality than most designer bags) and will last forever so brands like Kate Sheridan or Bleu de Chauffe. Of course it depends if your priority is quality or a designer label.

Depends on your style really. I’d go Strathberry, the quality is lovely, like mulberry used to be before it went downhill.

Hi and thanks. The priority is quality (and not old fashioned IYSWIM)

Polene

I'm currently looking at the Demellier midi New York or the Hudson bag. For Polene I quite like the cyme in the midi size. I also quite like the polene numero neuf or numero un. I have a Strathberry osette bag and the leather is beautiful. I do want the Strathberry mosaic bag but would like to try it on first to check which size would work for me. There is a few from Aspinal of London that I would like to see in person too. You could also look at places like Vestiare collective or Designer exchange if you are happy to shop a secondhand bag. Happy shopping!

I'd go for a Strathberry bag. I have mosaic bag for everyday and like it. After a couple of years of use, it still looks new. I also have a wallet from them, bought at the same time. It has been tossed into multiple bags, stuffed into pockets, used multiple times most days, and it still looks as new.
The Polene quality is said to have gone down as they scaled up, but I would still really like the Polene Tonca.

Can you get to somewhere like Bicester Village? The prices do tend to be cheaper, there is a lot of choice and I find the shops and sales assistants are more approachable, perhaps because they are more used to people browsing or going into the store and instantly realising it’s not for them and walking out again

Demellier midi Hudson as PP said, and £500 won’t be designer

https://demellierlondon.com/products/the-midi-hudson-burgundy-small-grain

Coach Empire Carryall 34 in merlot

https://uk.coach.com/products/empire-carryall-bag-34/CCC30-B4%2FTF.html?

But it depends, what do you mean by ‘classic’ vs ‘old fashioned’ design (any photos of examples for you)? What’s classic for some can be old fashioned for others. And are you looking for a tote, crossbody, clutch or shoulder bag?

I love Demellier

I’d love a steathberry bag.
classic and modern

What size/style of bag do you want?

Ugh lots of bag snobbery. I like the recs for quality over label.

I'd go for a Mulberry Antony as a good every day bag.

Look at Mulberry pre loved. You get a genuine bag for a decent price, fully refurbished at their on site factory. But it depends on what you are looking for. You could get a more flash second hand from Love Luxury, LV for example. Or if you want new, I would go for an Aspinal tote.

Strathberry has some lovely bags and really good quality too.

Avoid Demellier unless you get grained leather rather than smooth, as it will scratch.

The demellier bags look nice

I have quite a few coach bags and really rate them, really hard wearing and come in a large rage of designs, I like the leather and they always have loads of handy pockets

Stow London, Le Tanneur, The Horse, Parisa Wang.

I like a Kurt Geiger

Le Tanneur is a really lovely French brand that makes some of its bags in France still, supports artisans and does classic designs

Such a funny and original comment that has never been heard on a bag thread before

I love my fauvette Adele bag. Also the fleuron hortensia.
rsvp Paris is also lovely. And strathberry.

id say demellier (while nice) is a slight step down in quality. I do like Polene but have no experience of decline in quality. you have to watch which one you get though - check out reviews as some are more impractical than they look.

I've asked for the Coach Willow tote for Christmas. DD has one and the quality is just as good as my Mulberry.