Designer handbags vs high street

I nearly always buy my handbags from a cheap and cheerful market stall but am getting a bit cheesed off as the quality is getting worse and recently a few have zips that have broken really quickly and linings seem thin. I'd love a designer bag but would be frightened to use it everyday if it was really expensive as I'd have to save for months to afford it

Ooh going to take a look at that site Lavande :-)

Don't despair Willow500 I have bought several shopping aka Tote bags from the Folksy.com website for myself and as gifts. There are hundreds to choose from. I like this website because it enables small, often home based enterprises to display their products to a wider customer base.

I have a handbag fetish I think I don't possess a designer one but have a lot and seem to be constantly on the look out for the one ideal bag which doesn't lose all my possessions in the bottom but is big enough to get all my stuff in. The former is too heavy to go shopping with but the latter won't hold my phone and purse etc. I see a lot on the shopping channel and wonder who would pay £200 plus for a bag - I don't think I would even if I could afford it. This week I found one in a drawer upstairs I paid £6 for in Primark so have the essentials in it and now have that in a bigger bag so I can take it out and put it in a shopping bag if I need to. Then of course we now need to have shopping bags with us as we don't get carriers any more so that's a whole new lot of bags to collect 'sigh'

Digressing a bit - but, I think the whole "designer label"thing is one big rip-off. In December last year I came across a Kickstarter project by two young Spanish men. In their pitch they said that all sunglasses are produced by just two manufacturers and they would prove it by matching a well known brand for quality, appearance etc. Long story short, for an investment of just 15 euros I got two pairs of very smart, strong sunglasses that look just like Raybans. Including soft and hard cases.

Alima, same here with the Kipling bags. The gorilla key rings are given the younger grandchildren.

I used to buy leather (not bothered about designer labels) but I now prefer lightweight, practical and roomy enough to carry an Ipad when traveling. Size also matters so that my handbags need to Ryanair compatible.

Digressing a little I've just read a lightweight but charming story about a woman who is mugged in Paris. Her handbag is dumped and someone finds it and tries to track down the owner from the contents. It's called the Red Notebook and it was a cheapo on kindle by Antoine Laurain.

My stepdaughter has several designer bags, including a Mulberry. I remember shopping with her once, going round Harvey Nics looking at all the bags. I looked at some Marc Jacobs bags which DH said to buy if I wanted but I couldn't justify the cost. We then went to Vivieene Westwood where she paid about £650 for a bag. Two shops down she gazes at a dark green Mulberry (£900 - eek!) and even went in to look at it. Still, she works hard for her money, and if that's what she wants to spend it on I wouldn't begrudge her. Her fiancé just shrugs.

I have a Bridge handbag. I have had it for 7 years now and use it every day. I still love it.

I always buy Radley bags-half price in Bicester village. Average about £150. Usually a birthday present .But have never thought of them as 'designer'. I only really use one hand bag at a time They last 2-3 years of daily use . Current one 'goes' with my best coat, as did the last one .I'm sunk if they stop making the colour (maybe I should stock pile ...) . I also have a Radley purse (bought by DDs two Christmases ago. Hideous price but I love it. )
I have a small Kipling, nylon(?) rucksack-y type bag for travelling But I hate that gorilla and have cut it off .
And two non- descript cross -body bags, ditto.
Plus three evening bags .
Bought a lovely leather bag from a 'factory'(hand made) in Venice once Had my initials in and everything . Was sad when it died .

I would love a Mulberry

No not wearing the buggy, though I bet she would have done if she could

Some bags can look spectactularly good in posh shop windows. The really expensive ones. Wouldn't buy one. You need the clothes to go with them. High heels and tight skirts.

She as wearing the buggy?

Money can't buy you style. You've only got to remember the photo of what's her name from Eastenders wearing head to toe Burberry including the baby buggy. I believe their sales dropped right off after that one.

If you've got an eye for colour and proportion you can look good on very little money.

The idea of "designer" anything is ridiculous. All bags (and all consumer goods) have been designed by a designer.

I would never wear anything with a logo or visible label. If these designers want us to be a walking advertisements they should be paying us.

Hear, hear, synonymous. If anyone were so rude as to comment on my lack of designer possessions or to be obviously judgmental I'd simply dismiss them (silently, mentally) as twats. They must know this, surely?

No-one ever has, btw. It must be the "don't dare or I'll (figuratively) bite your head off" look in my eye

I think it's sad that people mind so much what twits and twats think of them. We should teach our children to rise above such nonsense.

One can be smart without having 'designer' possessions.

That is not a negative comment about designer products. It is a comment on the fact that smartness is not dependent on designer products.

I have a beautiful Radley bought by my husband and daughter for my birthday. I use it every day and love it as the design is good and the leather lovely. I a, not sure I would have dared spend that much on myself though I might have got one in a sale. My daughter works in the city and says high fliers there are very judgemental about clothes, shoes, bags and so on. She bought herself a Mulberry in the sale last year at a price which made me gasp. Still, she earned the money! I am not sure what I think. It's shallow to value 'stuff' but nice things do give one pleasure and clothes and accessories do make a statement to the world. Sadly, the way human nature is, a smart woman will always be treated better than a shabby one. My bag is part of my 'armour' .

No I would never bother with 'designer' anything just for a name and I am very uninterested in what anyone else thinks about my purchase if I am content with it. I will buy something lightweight and with all the bits and bobs I consider necessary and I always buy to please myself.
My DH considers himself and our bank balance to be truly blessed!

In summer I like Kipling, light and strong, plus I actually like the fluffy gorilla. Several conversations when travelling or in cafes have resulted from mutual recognition of Kipling. I have a 3 year old Radley wallet, a present, which has many times been commented on by much younger women in shops. To be honest this coveted item is too big, too heavy, hides cards in its many compartments and was surprisingly expensive. Also the little dog's painted-on cake has almost disappeared now.
In winter I use a plain black leather Coach bag DD gave me for Christmas about 20 years ago which just seems to improve with age. I don't think anyone has mentioned Coach. I didn't use it in rain for months! One evening I was waiting at a poorly lit bus stop when the women next to to me said 'That's a Coach isn't it? I have one at home.' which surprised me.
I didn't see the point of mega expensive designer bags until once in Selfridges DGD aged 10 and I passed a Mulberry display and simultaneously gasped at the same bag, a gorgeous shade of purple. We both knew we'd never have it but almost fell in love with that beautiful bag!

Conni7
See my post 13.21 today- I am pleased with mine, very useful and not expensive

I have just bought a 'cross the body' bag from Hotter - then suggested DH gives it to me for Xmas - now waiting for the dosh!! I have always used a handbag/shoulder bag - but am fed up of the tussel to get something out of it when shopping - so gone for something to go around my neck. Watch this space to see how I get on with it! I used a smaller cream one in the summer and did find it useful - but couldn't get my lovely zipper purse in it so needed something a bit bigger for the winter. Needless to say, I got 30% off - no big spender me.

I get my bags from M&S or TK Max who sometimes have designer seconds.
But I can't tell the difference. What I really need is an inner bag that I can lift out full of things, when I need to transfer to another one. At the moment, if I change bags I always leave out the thing I suddenly need.

I make my own handbags from old and reclaimed curtain fabrics, pretty skirts etc I have kept since I got married, but I do use a leather bag in the winter/wet weather. I couldn't afford designer but do think they look lovely when I see them in the shops. My handmade bags are 'designer' though and unique.

I`ve never had a designer bag, although 2 daughters do love Radley, they have a couple each. Apart from one, I`ve had all mine for years, and they`re from market stalls, mostly costing £3.99. I did go mad a few weeks ago at a shop in town, and bought my most expensive bag ever, it was £15, outrageous for me, but it was just the shade of blue that I`d been looking for for ages, to go with some blue sandals.