Handbags and what planet ...

I love my mulberry.( bought in a sale)

I tend to use the same bag for months and if I have to change it I become completely . Like all 'designer' products, I find it incredible that people pay so much for what is just stuff. I tend to lurk in charity shops to pick up a bargain Having said that, I did buy a Lulu Guiness handbag in TKMaxx quite a few years ago for peanuts.

There is such a (to my mind) silly element of snob appeal with so-called "designer" items isn't there? We now preface things with the maker's name as a matter of course LK Bennett shoes Louis Vuitton luggage, but do we similarily say M&S pants or Sainsbury socks? I think the price of handbags is frankly ridiculous and out of all proportion. You can actually buy some really nice leather bags for a lot less - check out the leather stall at South Mimms services or most markets!l

I dislike carrying a handbag (they always seem to get in the way) and will avoid it at all costs. I do have two or three handbags but I bought them because a) I liked the look of them and b) they were functional enough to warrant owning them; I have no clue even today who manufactured them because it simply isn't relevant.

Now sunglasses on the other hand

I need a large shoulder bag. I wear it a cross my body as my hands are full with my crutches.
It has to be big to carry iPad,iPhone, paracetamol, zyloric, amytryptolline, hanky, spare hair grips, plasters
, hairbrush, make up, fountain pen, biro,pencil, screwdriver (non liquid form),emergency sewing kit, purse, credit card holder, visiting cards etc

Can't be bothered swapping all my stuff into more than one handbag [I'd miss something out like tissues, keys or my purse] so stick with the same bag. Although I might be nipping to a local antique shop to ask the price of a very old crocodile skin bag I saw in the window yesterday, as it would go with the vintage look I wanted for a wedding I'm going to. If I have a large bag it has to go across my shoulder. I do have a small bag that I always take on holiday that is just big enough for some money, hankey and keys which is great for just throwing across my shoulders if I'm going for a walk.

I buy mine on Ebay and have had some really good bargains. Not the highest of high end bags, but decent leather ones in colours that coordinate with most of my outfits. I have very rarely (if ever) paid more than £10.

When I started using a cane sometimes two, a friend bought a laptop bag in Aldi for 15€, he put a long strap on it so I can wear it across my body, it holds a basic shopping and the front pocket is large enough for a book, glasses purse keys and various baby bits if I have DGS with me. It once went through the scanner twice when I was going to meet a friend in an EU building for a coffee. I don't suppose they expected to see a loaf of bread and a litre of milk !!!!

I loved the Radley bag that DDH wanted to buy me for my recent 60th. I was very tempted, but at £355 common sense prevailed !

I used to wear a shoulder bag diagonally across my body, but now my choice is a small backpack. It leaves both hands free and is big enough to hold a surprising amount of shopping. In it I keep a folded standard canvas shopping bag for the stuff that won't fit the backpack (I alwayas but more than I mean to).

Wearing it on my back has the advantage of keeping my shoulders back and making me walk with a straight back. It seems that the same amount of shopping is lighter on my back than in a hand-held bag, too.

I don't drive, so everything has to be carried home, or pushed in the John Lewis shopping trolley.

Buy, not but.

nina on anno's advice a while back, I was reminded to take a look on Ebay and I bid for a gorgeous dark green leather Radley bag. New quality and it cost me £40. There are some great bargains to be had on there,

I love handbags and have too many to count - BUT I go for cheap and cheerful, I don't think I have paid more than £30 for a handbag.

Elegran I did consider a backpack for when I am on holiday but how do you know the person behind isn't undoing it and taking your purse/phone/passport etc?

Glad to have been of service, when! Mine are usually Tula bags, also made by Radley but cheaper. They are well made and durable. All this talk of bags is making me itch to go on Ebay again.

And we still haven't answered the 'what planet?' question! If we don't buy £1000+ bags, who does?

anno I'm going to look for a Tula bag on ebay too now for DD's wedding in July.

Yeah, what planet. Not mine anyway.

No wonder copies abound.........

Handbags really do not float my boat.

What I really do not like is the "fashion" for designer labels where it seems that the "branding" seems to be held as more important than actual quality and design.
I would love to know what the average mark-up is, for having a particular brand rather than similar product with the same materials and design.

I get annoyed by websites selling all sorts of things by giving you search options on "Brands" rather than a particular object itself.

Charity shops are good for bags, just keep looking in when you go past.

Nellie so do I (get annoyed with websites that want you to search by "brand").

Don't do handbags and don't do brands.

Ditto!

What planet indeed! - I think my life is entirely complete without designer handbags - or indeed their owners! I cannot begin to imagine what they must be thinking of.

Like Galen I too have a Mulberry bag and bought it in a sale but because I liked it and not because of the brand. Mine is actually quite small and wouldn't hold my Kindle.

I buy what I like because I like it, not because of the brand so that means I have a wardrobe (3 actually!) containing items from Primark up to things bought from small independent expensive shops. I look at something and decide if that particular item is worth the price to me before deciding to buy it so Primark linen trousers are great for throwing in the suitcase to go on holiday somewhere warm and a spectacular silk suit was ideal for a special wedding.

Don't think I fit into any particular category of shopper.

Damart are offering a free handbag at the moment, and you don't even have to make a purchase! That is my sort of bargain.