Want a designer handbag but am poor - any ideas?

[Sparkletastic]

I am so bored of my trusty M&S black shopper stylee bag. I'd love something new but only have max £50 to spend. Anyone know if any good handbag websites - maybe 'designer inspired' (ahem).... Needs to be big - I stuff everything in my bag - and have a shoulder strap ideally. Don't mind about colour - normally stick to boring black but could easily be swayed by another colour.

Tkmaxx are great for bags if you look carefully. I've got a beautiful Italian leather bag with a strap and big enough to carry a file and the usual rubbish for £40. I don't know much about labels for bags, but I did google mine and discovered that in the shop I would have paid over £200.

If you want a 'name' that's not much use, but if you're after quality

have you ever thought of a longchamp le pliage? I don't think they're much more than fifty quid, you can buy them online now (you'll have to google them) - you can fit everything in one of those, and they come in all sorts of lovely colours - also they're light, but strong, and very long lasting

TK, but you have to look hard.

have you ever looked in your local charity shops i have managed to get 3 designer handbags and 1 purse all for a matter of pounds each bag was no more than 5 pounds im not fussed about second hand good quality designer bags i know some people would never dream of it but hey i feel good and hardly spent a penny lol

I've just bought a gorgeous Marc Jacobs bag from Ebay for 80 quid (retails for £700). TK Maxx is also brilliant for bags

Right thanks so much ladies - had a brief look at TK Maxx but was frustrated by lack of product info - e.g. whether bag leather or not etc. Need to persevere. Faustina - I always thought Longchamp were massively pricey so had never even considered one - will look at your recommendation - many thanks. Never anything other than dodgy ex-New Look bags in our charity shops - maybe I need to go to a better area to search bubblagirl? Ebay scares me - registered years back but have never bought anything so have no 'rating' or owt - not sure how it all works really

I have a "Le Pliage" bag. Is it really "bling" enough to count as a designer bag?

It's very, very practical. And very understated. In fact it's so reliable, dependable, and so on, I'm beginning to think I should marry it. But I'm not sure it would satisfy the longings to which "designer handbag" speaks.

But perhaps I'm like a chick lit heroine, who hasn't noticed that Mr Darcy is a potential lust-object as well as being the sensible choice ... .

Go back to the Maxx! A quality leather bag will feel heavier, the stitching and finish will be great and it should be lined and well finished in a quality fabric or fine leather. Any clasps or buckles will also feel and look better and any areas of weakness will be reinforced. I can't tell you what a top notch bag us like, but this has served me well!

The Osprey bags that TK MAxx have on their site at the moment are definitely leather (and it's very good quality). I know because I bought one today! The deep blue and red are lovely bags and they are a good size too.

Also brown and a paler blue in stock.

Osprey bags

i bought a very nice purple leather handbag (can fit A4) from Accesorise for £30 a couple of weks ago....

then you'll have some change to spend on acessories

hbfac - le pliage is definitely not bling, not an IT bag, but it's beautifully made, comfortable, comes in nice colours, strong etc etc, and - I suppose it's an understated designer bag really, and you would be getting the real thing for your money instead of something possibly dodgy off ebay.

i think I should probably marry mine too : )

The Osprey ones are lush but I think possibly too small and sleek for my ridiculous amount of clutter. Maybe I need a trip to an actual TK Maxx store although I never seem to find anything much in my local branch.... Le Pliage is very nice but a tad too sensible to satisfy my darkest desires - think I'm looking for a lover rather than a husband IYSWIM Have been ruined by some it bag I saw in black leather with tough looking silver studs all over the base. Is sooooooo annoying as now nothing seems to match up to something impossible to achieve!

Have you tried outlet villages? I went to one today (Gunwharf in Portsmouth) there are lots of designer bag outlets there.

Would mandarina duck count as designer? sorry I have no link, but they have an online shop too - lovely squashy leather

Gunwharf Quays, Gloucester Quays and York Designer Outlet all have Osprey London stores with leather designer bags ranging from the elegant to changing bag size - all with at least 30% off.

These places have one-offs, press samples, the lot i.e. well worth a visit. www.ospreylondon.com for stockists.

Lurking on this thread as am poor and want a nice bag too...

Had a look at TKMaxx. Forgive my ignorance, a crossbody bag is one with a shoulder strap??? Does it HAVE to be worn across the body ie is the strap so long that you have to???

i like Cath Kidston bags which arent too expensive very flowery though

Another one saying TK Maxx. In amongst the sparkly shite with random chains and tassles, there are some gorgeous bargains.

With TK you have to go for quality rather than name IMO. Give it a sniff for leather verification! You can always keep an eye out for a pretty silk scarf in charity shops (or a designer one in TK, I saw a Givenchy scarf that was RRP £400 for £50) and tie it to a more sedate bag for a bit of designer flash.

It's worthwhile popping in to charity shops in wealthier areas if you're visiting, too- where I used to live it was just supermarket clothes in the charity shops but where I've moved to it is quality and designer heaven! Oh I want to get a handbag now...

Am confined to internet shopping as DD2 is a nightmare in the real world shops. Have taken the plunge with a bag from TKMaxx - thanks so much for the tip-offs for that shop as I would never have thought of it. Is not a designer that I know of - is actually French Connection / Tokyo 7 - but looks quality, is big, interesting purple shade, has the stud details I wanted and is only £25! Hurrah Now praying this snow doesn't settle and the post man can make it to me with my new lover....

MaryBS - I think cross body ones can double as shoulder strap bags as long as you aren't a tiny short person.

LOL, I am neither tiny nor short!

Both my across body ones have adjustable straps so you can use them either way. Don't like the style that much TBH but nothing else is practical with two young DCs but no longer using a pushchair and believe me I've tried every style there is!