How much would you pay for a handbag?

I have a Radley bag which is lovely but it never sees the light of day now. It’s not something I would ever have bought for myself. It was a present from DD for my fiftieth birthday. I’m afraid designer labels are lost on me. I’m all about practicality. Apart from that one, I only have three that I use and they are all cross body bags - two are decent leather ones, nothing noteworthy, but the one I use most is a Kipling that I bought in a sale last year.

I only ever have two handbags for normal use, one for summer and one for winter. The last winter one cost £89 and lasted over 25 years. I currently am using the one I used to keep in our holiday home, which I have had for 35 years, but that is beginning to fall apart.

My summer bags do not last as long. My current fabric one cost £6.00 and I bought it 5 or 6 years ago.

I think having more than one or two bags is pointless, nobody takes much notice of someone's handbag. I can understand owning an expensive one, for the personal pleasure it gives, but more than one?

At one time I had a real thing for handbags and had many different types and in different colours but now I stick to about 3 that I use regularly. I had a good clear out and gave loads to a local animal charity.

It’s good job we aren’t all alike M0nica. My bags are as much a part of me, as my clothes, not just an accessory.
I’m afraid (being shallow?), I do notice other people’s bags and often think they say something about the owner - a bit like shiny shoes used to.

Charity shops and Ebay mean I can have new bags regularly.
I have a Kipling cross body and a Kipling backpack in use now. £10 each in perfect condition.

When my DDiL was about to emigrate 17 years ago, she had to part with some clothes.

She said she was selling her handbags on ebay. They sold for £100 plus, each!
It was an eye opener to me. She doesn't even seem the glamorous fashion conscious type at all.
She's the outdoorsy one. 😄

I bought a nice shoulder bag for my teenage DGD. Roka? Anyway it was bright and trendy looking. I never saw her wear it and as it was rather expensive by my standards (I have 7 DGC and not much spare cash) I now make sure via the parents what she really wants or needs.

I see she's now into 2nd hand shops. Hooray!

I'm really pleased with my latest bag it was £70 in Clark's sale. I only like leather bags but wouldn't pay more than £100 these days. Paid a bit more when I was at work but they had to carry all sorts and a lap top.

I pay nothing for my clutch handbags.

I fancy Bottega Venenta, not within my budget, they're gifts.

The most I have ever paid fir a bag was £85, about 15 years ago, red leather, a mad moment on a cruise, which I have never used, it was so posh it has its own bag.
I have a couple of others which also have never been used. A terrible waste. All are ok,but I prefer cross body bags now.
My current bag was £15 in matalan. It’s perfect for me.

Not a lot!
I don't think bags are my thing at all!

I like small crossbody and wristlet bags to keep hands free. I have two totes from working days which I rarely use now. I had a cull of bags a while ago because I just rotate a very few now, being too lazy to keep swapping them around and moving contents from one to another. I wouldn’t recognise a designer bag if I fell over one, unless it was emblazoned with logos (which I’ve always disliked) - but then of course it could always be a cheap copy.

Georgesgran

It’s good job we aren’t all alike M0nica. My bags are as much a part of me, as my clothes, not just an accessory.
I’m afraid (being shallow?), I do notice other people’s bags and often think they say something about the owner - a bit like shiny shoes used to.

Oh!

Well, good thing you can't see me 😀
You'd think "she doesn't bother!"

I think it’s personal choice. If the bag is within your budget, you like it and will use it, then buy it. What someone else is prepared (or not) to pay is irrelevant - it’s what you are prepared to pay that is relevant.

Claremont

and a lot of them made with cruelly farmed crocodiles, sadly.

BTW I have a vintage real wild crocodile handbag, silk lined, from my grandmother, from the 30s I guess. Wonder how much it is worth. If I can sell it for a good sum, would be happy to donate to the WWF.

Thanks for all the contributions, it makes for interesting reading.

Re the above- can anyone recommend a top quality vintage bag site where I could get the above valued and sold for the best price.

Money will be given to WWF- I would not wish to profit from such a disgusting trade. However, I imagine crocodiles in the 30s where not inhumanely farmed, but wild caught and killed.

This has made me have a look at my bags, some date back 50 years…!
Hhave transferred all from my matalan bag to a small cross body Oliver ? Bonas which my dd bought me for a special birthday which is a tad smaller, but decidedly smarter.

Georgesgran

It’s good job we aren’t all alike M0nica. My bags are as much a part of me, as my clothes, not just an accessory.
I’m afraid (being shallow?), I do notice other people’s bags and often think they say something about the owner - a bit like shiny shoes used to.

I notice bags too, but actually I think shiny shoes do still say more, because they show the world that you look after yourself, regardless of how much money you have.
With handbags I’m fickle, I’ve got a few expensive ones, bought years ago, but I don’t use them now because since I retired I prefer a much smaller and lighter bag, as I need to carry less with me. My current favourite is a tan Barbour saddlebag style which is cross body with an adjustable strap to make it a shoulder bag, but I regularly change them round.

I like Ness tartan handbags and Radley, but l don't like the price, so I tend to buy them on Ebay or Vinted, either new or nearly new.

As much as I could afford, I can't so I don't. My daughters do though, worked hard earn good money, good luck to anyone who does.

I love handbags and have several Radleys, Tulas and Ennys. Plus many more. I did however draw the line at a brand new Mulberry after my friend got one for her 50th at a cost of over £1200 (and bought in the Emirates). But… I did sell loads of stuff on Vinted and bought a second hand Mulberry for £100. It is beautiful - think soft leather hobo style rather than Alexa - and it been my main bag for the last couple of years.

I was with a very wealthy friend who frequently shopped in Harrods.

She bought a handbag for her daughter’s birthday, can’t recall the make, but it was about £800! This was a few years ago.

Couldn’t believe it. Am sure she had many others (bags).

To me, a handbag is just that, a handbag, something to carry your purse and ‘stuff’ in.

No idea of makes or fashions.

I really don't understand the obsession with designer handbags, nor shoes for that matter. Bags are just a receptacle to carry things in. I always use a backpack for convenience as I use a walking aid, and I also have a stoma so I find crossbody bag irritates it. The only requirement for shoes is that they fit and are comfortable.

As little as possible!!!

Thankfully I'm not bothered or even impressed by expensive accessories. So it's not something I would ever spend much money on.

I have a small selection of bags. My favourite two were made by my very clever DDil. They have been made with zip pockets the size I wanted so are very useful. If I'm out and about I use a small rucksack and my pockets mostly. I always used rucksack type bags even way back when they were baby changing bags.

I do have a few small handbags which match shoes. All originally bought as part of mother of the bride/groom outfits. I wouldn't have spent more than £50 max on the handbags. They do get used on the rare occasion I need to dress up.

None of these names of handbags mean a thing to me.
Apart from Radley - I know they feature a dog.

I find that strange, too.

I did once watch posh pawn or something, and there was a woman on there with a collection of bags, bought for her by some of the richest men, over the years.

All wrapped up in tissue, they were, and people wore white gloves before touching them

I have 5 Bridge leather handbags, all brown. The one I use mostly is like a large purse which I wear as a crossbody. I buy and occasionally sell these bags on eBay and have never paid more than £50. I also have a small black lacy bags which cost about £15 in M&S maybe 20 years ago.