Cross body bag, £200 to £300 ish?

[Willow9293]

So I’ve never spent more than probably £50 on a handbag before but have decided to treat myself a bit (too much watching Love Luxury, though I could never do those prices!) and up my budget a bit to £200 to £300, possibly a little more if there was something I really loved. But I’m struggling to find something, any ideas?

Criteria
cross body bag, this can include one with handles plus a cross body strap
leather
Neutral colour (though doesn’t have to be black)
Silver colour hardware
’Regular’ size, anything titled mini or micro will be too small, and I don’t want anything too big, I don’t need it to hold a laptop or ipad
Not ‘in your face’ branding, like MK all over or ‘Marc Jacobs’ in big writing over the strap

Obviously I’m not familiar with brands in this price range, so any suggestions appreciated! I did take a look in TKMaxx but didn’t like anything there and they didn’t have anything much more luxurious in than I d had before, at the other end I popped into Flannels and they didn’t have much on display, most of what was there was way beyond my budget anyway!

Not really other options where I live so will probably buy online.

Have you tried Vinted ? You can put your price bracket , size condition in to the criteria sections then see what there is ?

Have a look at previous recommendations here?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5480436-a-quality-large-crossbody-bag-for-everyday-use

I like this brand.

https://annapugh.co.uk/collections/all

And this brand - though I can't tell the hardware colour.

https://www.anoncph.co.uk/products/sicha-crossover-bag-soft-calf-dark-taupe

By neutral do you mean beige/tan/navy? Burgundy? Leopard??

Less than your budget, but silver hardware (I think) & Jaeger bags used to be really good quality. Not sure now though, as they're owned by M&S.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/leather-top-handle-cross-body-bag/p/clp60733017?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

Radley are also a decent mid-range option. Their hardware colour seems to depend on the bag colour - eg this style has silver on the pale green & burgundy bags.

https://www.radley.co.uk/products/pockets-small-ziptop-ns-cross-body-black

I’ve just taken delivery of this. It’s lovely and just the right size.

https://www.ospreylondon.com/en-gb/the-narissa-crossbody-in-chestnut

I've had Osprey before - the leather quality is great & very robust & hardwearing.

@EdinaTheConfessorthat bag looks amazing

I’m a big fan of the Cambridge Satchell company. I have a fabulous burgundy backpack that looks as good as new almost a decade after I bought it. Their cross body bags are really lovely.

Maybe a second hand Mulberry Darley or Lily, lovely bags. You could probably find one with silver hardware quite easily at the top end of that price range.

John Lewis website has a great filtering system. They have over 500 cross body bags on there at all price points.

I have the Whistles Bibi handbag. Mine was only £12 (charity shop), but it’s nice leather, small, but I can get a book, purse, phone, random notebooks and pens and a small water bottle in it.

Mine has been bashed about, but the leather is still soft and nice looking. I would cheerfully pay the £100 - £120 new price (and I am very mean). I particularly like the green version.

I also have the Osprey Narissa (£2, charity shop), which is also nice. But I definitely prefer the Whistles bag.

This from Fossil would meet all of your criteria bar having gold hardware.
https://www.fossil.com/en-gb/products/jolie-leather-crossbody-bag/ZB7716216.html

Your charity shop finds are impressive! I was going to recommend Whistles bags, as I have a few. Also Jigsaw. They're both very good quality for bags which last really well.