Status but every day handbag

[MademoisellePraline]

I've decided to treat myself, but I don't know where to start.

Firstly I don't know what else to call the kind of bag I'm after, hence "status" bag. I like Chanel, LV, which I know some fashionistas like to sneer at, so please, if that's you, respect that we all have different preferences.

I'm looking for a lovely every day bag, that I don't look stupid with on the school run etc. We live rurally, and didn't before, so all my Chanel and LV with chain straps etc would look majorly over done and I'd feel ridiculous wandering round town on casual shop with one. I do sometimes take my neverful but I'd like something much smaller. Slouchy and comfy as opposed to stiff leather.

What's a casual but still "status" bag that I could go for? I don't like massive gold logos etc like the GG Gucci bags, or the ones with big YSLs down the front. I would like it to be recognisable as branded, but from close up, not from across the street if you see what I mean.

Thank you.

Yes, GirlWithAVibe doesn't "get" the expensive handbag love that's the topic of this thread.

Yes, she sounds genuinely perplexed by it all - & a bit naively earnest in her desire to change people's minds.

And, yes - she could have expressed herself better minus the text speak (if anyone really wants to get picky).

BUT ...

No - she has not been in the slightest bit sniffy, judgemental, snobby or moralistic - she's just a bit bamboozled by something she doesn't understand, & holds a perfectly valid & justifiable opinion (even, I'm sure, to some of the handbag lovers on this thread).

Your response, on the other hand ...?? Maybe it was your intention for it to read as drily witty, but instead it comes across as horribly sneering - as do a few other comments on this thread.

(Perhaps I've misread things - I hope so.)

God, this thread. I saw the smug, sneering reference to 'the provinces' (and have we had the equally cringe-inducing 'wealth whispers' yet?) but I didn't actually think it would sink to a point where somebody actually used the disgusting expression 'bridge and tunnel'.

I hope whoever it was is thoroughly fucking ashamed of themselves, but I suspect they lack the self awareness

Ah, now. Let's not be faux naive.

When someone calls a collective group of people "ridiculous" for attributing value to a brand, quality, or image over solely functionality, they aren't "bamboozled.". As if their brain just can't compute why any person on the planet might buy a Bentaga over a Kia Sportage. Clearly, they are both just cars and get you from A to B. Why the necessity of a nicer one? Just pick anything as as you like it. What fools, slaves to a trend...

@User7989776 was not the sneery one

No judgement from me, for sure. I was only noting that it's an of the moment thing with the mums in my central London neighbourhood, where the look is much more casual than when my kids were very little and there was lots of dressing to be seen on the school run.

Honestly, I think they're hilarious. They honestly don't have the first idea. The types that say "oh, genuinely posh people don't say posh, they say smart" very knowingly. I've met Wills and Kate, at the Ark gala. He called the feathery decor "flamboyantly posh." He clearly didn't get the memo.

But, that's not my life today, and I'm very happy to chuckle at the kind of comments my ex would chuckle at too. Reminds me of a woman who's husband had a boat in ST port. Nice enough boat, but in context, nothing at all. I was sat on this little boulder thingy near it, just minding my business. "Which one is yours then?" she sneered. "None of them. But my partner's is that one way out there. In the cluster of ones too big to moor."

For every proper big fish, there are 10,000 smaller swimming on the peripheral. And they're the ones who really, really want you to know they belong in the same waters. They'll tell you what "real wealth" does.

Exs wallet was from Mountain Warehouse (or something similar). Neon green and purple nylon. One of the kids bought it for him.

I like my thread. There's been some lovely people with lovely suggestions, and I'm pretty certain I'll be trying a Demellier. There's been some other comments that have made me smile too 😊

Oh no, this may be why some ex-school gate friends have ghosted me. I have a no-name bag, so I must be an ' everyday, average woman'.

There's also a Coach that looks very similar .

They don’t break the bank!

Those prices are extortionate, Mumsnet is a different planet sometimes.

Your Agnes bag is beautiful. The Khaite one is also lovely - but looks as if it might become misshapen if you carried anything much in it?

Manu Atelier bags are gorgeous - I think it's the colours that set them apart as they come in some beautifully rich, distinctive hues.

I have my eye on either the Manu Atelier or the Demelier Hudson for my next bag purchase, both have the same classic elegant look for what I consider a great price compared to big name designer bags

@SocksAndTheCity & @floisme - nothing whatsoever to do with handbags (but very slightly to do with the Queen!). Outside the gallery there's a really lovely garden area that was designed & planted for her Diamond Jubilee by a really respected landscape designer called Nigel Dunnett. It's laid out with narrow stone paths creating diamond-shaped beds filled with shade-tolerant perennials, ferns, bulbs & grasses in a beautiful mix.

Best in springtime & may look a little tired now (not been down to London for quite a while, sadly).

Apologies if you know it already - or have absolutely no interest in planting design!!

Oh, well. Now we're placing ourselves on the 'People Like Us' scale, my handbags are all Osprey and Fossil, plus an Anya that a generous friend gave me. I've just ordered a Y2K Yoshi from Ebay because I like the colour.

I love Osprey. They are very nearly as good as really posh bags, and affordable in their never-ending sales. Well made, they're practically indestructible, which is handy since I abuse them. The leather doesn't have the strokeable, almost edible quality of high-end leather, but that's okay. It's good leather.

You would definitely be able to place me on the 'Not Like Us' scale 😏Even if you made allowances for my well-chosen handbag, the Clarks/Puma shoes betray me and you should see my teeth! (No, don't look at my teeth. I try not to.)

I'm very much enjoying all the imaginary shopping you've inspired, though. May we always find the ideal bags for our current purposes and budgets - and the ones we'd like if only ...

Cynical, yes - but I'm neither naive nor am I (trying to be) faux-naive!!

Her post didn't call a "collective group of people" ridiculous. She was talking about people finding their own unique style, one that didn't rely entirely on other people's opinions as to what's considered on-trend or high-status (& she actually apologised in case it came across as rude).

She said that she thought needing a status bag was ridiculous. Well, it is rather, isn't it?!! Fashion itself is ridiculous, when it comes down to it - I love & am passionate about lots of it, but that doesn't mean that I can't also see the silliness of much of it!! Which is partly why it's such fun ... 😁

(And the poster who castigated her so remorselessly was absolutely sneering at her.)

I wonder where my bag collection would place ME ...?!!! 😆

I think some are genuinely completely bamboozled though - some really really don't undertsand brands or give a shit about a fancy car. It's not that they are making some kind of statement about it. Some do actually just value things according to how useful they are. And that's ok. I understand why you want a nice handbag (although I would be upset if I trashed it with spilt food and drink or a toddler drew on it). As previous posters have I think pointed out, it may look a bit odd to be carrying a handbag on the school run.

That's a very endearing collection! Artistically displayed, as one would expect.

Semiotics is a thing. We're signalling all the time; it always surprises me that some deny it so strenuously or get massively offended when people consciously acknowledge it.

It'd depend heavily on the school, though, wouldn't it, @mcmuffin22? Sounds like OP has sussed hers out pretty clearly, as her requirement's so exact. One assumes she won't be delivering her DC to a school gate thronged with mums in gym gear, pyjamas or muddy waxed jackets.

I actually have no idea what upmarket, designer-wearing women throw on for the school run but I guess OP does! Extremely well-fitting jeans and cashmere, maybe?

The bag I use most often is a Co-Op bag for life 😆They have shoulder straps.

I didn't mean carrying a designer bag on the school run...I meant any bag! I am just out of primary school years but pretty much everyone was just in a coat and holding keys and kids' stuff. Also I may have wrongly got the impression from her posts that her child is just starting school.

It places you as someone who does not look after their handbags.

This display is really bad for the handles and the dust is bad damaging for the body. The light can also cause discolouration.

Not everyone drives to school though? I walk with my kids and carry a handbag as do most of the mums.
And I love to carry my designer bags with me ❤️💅

Lost the post I was replying to.

That was to EleanorMc67.

You are ruining your bags.

Finding this thread fascinating. As I’m on the hunt for a a white/cream crossbody bag that will fit a lot of stuff in that is suitable for day and evening and no handles. My current bottega is just not big enough. I want it similar to my black Dior. No idea of the names. I only have a few designer bags but they are well looked after.

Has to be crossbody as use a walking stick and occasionally walk the dog. Have learnt a lot. Hope you enjoy your bag @MademoisellePraline

will be buying at Christmas so I’ll be buying from Selfridges as have lots of vouchers to use. And they all expire in January 😁

if I remember later ill post photos of them or do a google search of the names but they were from Bicester I think, so may have been just made for there.

Thank you, I didn't know and I'll look out for it!