Handbags and what planet ...

It can also be used as a weapon!

There is one enormous advantage of handbags over other items of clothing is that (wait for it) is that you don't need to go up a size!

My favourite is a Hi-design leather back pack which I've had for about 20 years. It cost about £90 but the cost per wear must now be a few pence and tailing off to nothing.
It's as good as new and has been in every single holiday and trip with me.
I don't worry about pickpockets as there are two zipped pockets that are inaccessible to passers by.
The only downside is the requests from MrA to accommodate his camera, wallet, sunscreen etc, as he has conveniently forgotten to bring with him the man-bag I bought him for that very purpose, and which he loathes with a passion

Where Oldgrey? Sounds like my sort of place, wonder if it in driving distance. What is it like for choosing a mother of the bride outfit?

Spoiled for choice here:
Mulberry Factory shop..... strictly for looking only.
Street Outlet ( several brands including Radley, as mentioned by Debn)
Dents factory shop, my favourite, their sales are amazing. (Pretty little evening bags from £5..... for those of you who cruise.... in the nicest sense of the word, of course!)

annodomini, re the Damart handbag. The small print on leaflet says 'Should you not be placing an order at this time you can still receive your handbag'! I should add that I haven't requested one as I can't be bothered to have more than one on the go, so will stick to my Ameribag healthy back bag which I bought with staff lottery winnings about 15 years ago.

Hi Granjura, yes on the Oadby side. I also live somewhere else part time, like you, so a meet when we are both there would be great. PM me and we can arrange it. X

No, never understood this designer obsession. Surely everything we have is designed by someone and is therefore "designer". The most expensive handbag I ever had was a non-leather handbag (vegetarian) my DH bought for my birthday, but still under £5O. I have several (inexpensive) handbags and keep my vital stuff in a movable inner bag which I bought for £3 on eBay. It means I can change the look without missing something important. I once read that the base of a woman,s hand bag is often swarming with germs from being rested on the floor of public toilets. I now try to hang my handbag up when in a loo!

I think deedaa means it was leather, but a shopper-type tote? That's how I read it. Anyway, it was well reduced. I missed that one!

M&S were charging £90 (originally) for a 'leather-type' bag, Deeda?

No wonder their sales are down...

I have quite a lot of handbags (fewer than I did as I have just sent about 6 to the charity shop.) Most of them are presents or hand-me-downs from my late dear friend who could not resist buying nice handbags.

I read in Fashion Babylon what sort of mark up they put on bags, and it's astronomical. Very much "How much will the idiots pay for this?" Obviously quality of materials and workmanship costs money, but not as much as the big names want us to think.
I recently bought a pretty little Guess shoulder bag in the sales and this week I bought a leather shopper type tote from M&S for £30 instead of £90

J52 are you on the Oadby side? We could meet up for coffee in MH next time I am over

I like handbags/shoulder bags and have lots , but most not expensive. I bought a Radley bag a while ago but cut off the silly little doggie 'tags' that dangle.Nice leather but unless in a sale [it was] I wouldn't buy them.

I'm about 12 miles away, but prefer shopping there to Leicester. DS
and families live en route to Harbs so it is a frequent journey. X

Do you live in the area J52? We were there only last week- our flat is very close to the shop I love Market Harborough, I do

Love handbags! I even managed to buy one in a shop next to a car park, before DH had parked the car and bought the ticket. I only went into the shop to get an umbrella!

Granjura, I know that shop in Market Harborough, full of beautiful leather goods. It is a always a Christmas shopping must! X

I can't imagine going through life without a handbag (or shoulder-bag in my case). I don't have pockets in trousers or skirts, and wouldn't use them if I did, who wants additional bulges?

I blame this thread for making me go on e-bay and buying another bag, but perhaps I should thank it instead as it looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous...

whats wrong with pockets, I use one pocket for car keys, one for purse n mobile. If im with the baby I take the changing bag which weighs a ton and does my back in so im longing for her to grow up a bit so I can buy her a backpack of her own for her stuff.

I do love handbags and buy many of them but they seldom cost more than 20-30 pounds. Having said that DDDDDH bought me a Radley bag recently at £70 in Street, Somerset, and I love it so it should see me through the summer (dv)

I tend to buy a handbag when something has gone wrong in my life and it certainly beats taking up smoking again.

Just spent a 'fortune' in my book, £68, for a nice leather packpack, from the lovely leather shop in Market Harborough. Because I have one leg quite a bit shorter than the other, I like a small backpack and well balanced on both shoulders. Agree that those huge and massively expensive bags are totally awful.

Anno- so agree about so-called 'Damart' offers. I actually had an article published in our equivalent of WHICH magazine here about an offer last year. The picture showed a plush, luxury, blanket covering + overhang to the ground, a huge superking bed. The one I received covered half a single bed, and was clearly NOT of the same quality as the one on the picture- with a backing made of something like garden fleece. I complained to Damart, who agreed the offer was misleading- and the Bon à Savoir consumer magazine gave them a donkey award. I've since asked Damart NOT to send me anymore catalogues or publications of any kind.

Handbags for me have to be very small and have a long strap so that I do not need hands. Any bigger and they usually accumulate rubbish and lead to poor posture.
I think the large handbags that have been in fashion in recent years are hideous. Conspicuous consumption of unnecessary rubbish.

We must have different Damart catalogues, shysal. Mine says the handbag is free 'with your next order'. I'm not tempted.

I have a practical leather shoulder bag which I bought in a sale at a quilting show. I have no idea what make it is - just that it suits my needs.