Rebuilding my bag wardrobe - suggestions for me?

[thedseer]

For various reasons (boredom, change in tastes/needs, etc.), I'm considering/in the process of purging most of my bags and rebuilding my bag wardrobe to a smaller number that I enjoy carrying and that fit my current needs better.

I've been browsing various subforums here to get some ideas, but all of the choices can be overwhelming. I was hoping that I could get some good suggestions for bags that might suit my needs, and then I plan to check them out in person, if possible, to narrow down my choices.

In terms of needs, I think I'm looking for 2-4 different bags (certain bags might be able to fill multiple needs):
1. A polished looking bag for work. Needs to fit a wallet, cosmetic case, phone, and keys. Thinking either a tote or handbag with a strap.
2. A small crossbody, smaller shoulder bag, or mini bag with strap for the weekends. Just needs to fit a phone and keys/key pouch.
3. A larger bag for weekend trips/travel/days when I need to carry a lot to work and when a large Le Pliage isn't big enough. Open to mens' bags for this option.
4. A lightweight tote that could be used for work or weekends. I have a few Le Pliages (that I plan to keep) but wouldn't mind something different for variety.

(While I'm tentatively planning to keep 4 of my current bags--not including a few Le Pliages--I would say that each of these either don't fit into the above categories or is not a bag that I would use with the regularity that I would need from the above bags.)

For likes/dislikes/must-haves: Monogram is not really my style, and I also don't like plaques/plates on bags (i.e., the LV Eva, various MBMJ bags). I want to avoid heavy bags. I generally prefer more classic looking bags in neutral colors (boring, right?), and would also like bags that wear well (or at least don't have a lot of known quality issues). I prefer bags that I can either fit on my shoulder or that have a strap option.

I am open to pretty much anything that fits within my needs, and I am open to pre-owned. I guess budget might depend on whether I end up with 2 or 4 bags, and also how successful I am at selling (since I would like to spend less that what I get from selling), but I will tentatively say $2,500 or less total, with less never being a bad thing.

I think (hope) that covers everything. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[msd_bags]

I can only comment on your #1, I have been searching for a bag for work as well. One of my choices was a Mulberry Bayswater. I like it since it is a tote (shoulder carry) and leather is very nice. But then, with the amount I've spent on bags this year, I told myself I'd probably get one next year. I like the Mulberry Double Zip Tote too but it is over my budget.

But then, this main handbag forum became very busy about Massaccesi handbags. When I checked the catalog, I thought the Athena could be a good everyday work bag and the price is just right. It has structure which is different from the many RMs I have. So I ordered one in black! It's a special order since I asked for it to have a long strap option. I cannot yet say anything how it is bacause I just placed my order, but maybe you can take a look at this brand too! Other models are equally nice!

 

[thedseer]

I can only comment on your #1, I have been searching for a bag for work as well. One of my choices was a Mulberry Bayswater. I like it since it is a tote (shoulder carry) and leather is very nice. But then, with the amount I've spent on bags this year, I told myself I'd probably get one next year. I like the Mulberry Double Zip Tote too but it is over my budget.

But then, this main handbag forum became very busy about Massaccesi handbags. When I checked the catalog, I thought the Athena could be a good everyday work bag and the price is just right. It has structure which is different from the many RMs I have. So I ordered one in black! It's a special order since I asked for it to have a long strap option. I cannot yet say anything how it is bacause I just placed my order, but maybe you can take a look at this brand too! Other models are equally nice!

Thanks! That was very helpful. I actually had a Bayswater about 5 years ago but ultimately sold it because it was not what I needed at the time. I like the style a lot and will have to check out the Mulberry store nar my work. Not familiar with the Double Zip-I'll check that one out.

Funny you mention Massaccesi-I keep finding myself looking through the catalog. I was immediately drawn to the Athena but was not sure it would work for me. But hearing that you can order with a strap (that is so cool!), it is definitely something for me to consider-and the price is good. Looking forward to hearing what you think of yours. Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[skyqueen]

Although hard to find...check out the Mansur Gavriel thread. Very discreet, no logos, lightweight totes, buckets and backpacks. Won't break the bank, either!

 

[cwxx]

I've been taking stock of my own bag collection as well so your question comes at a great time for me too!

1. polished workbag - my #1 choice would be Fendi 2jours hands down. Structured but lightweight, no quality issues so far, no bling bling logo and you should be able to get it less then retail. Farfetch (you can search for free international shipping) has at least 2 for 1700sth (full retail is 23 or 2400ish). Also check any runway TjMaxx or pre-owned for 1500ish.

2. small crossbody/shoulder - my 'splurge' choice would be BV mini messenger - it's tiny! But very functional and the detachable chain is a big plus, so you could use it as a clutch as well. BV doesn't seem to have a very strong pre-owned market...

Otherwise, my go to is Etsy
Got this from office of minor details almost five years ago - completely handstitched and still going strong after five years of use:

he doesn't seem to have this style in shop anymore, but there's this messenger:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/61876346/leather-messenger-bag-satchel-black-hand

3. larger bag for weekend trips, etc: again my choice would be Etsy - maybe the rucksack or carry all from this seller since you mentioned men's bags:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/treesizeverse?page=1

4. tote - I recently bought this embossed leather tote from LokaStudio on etsy:

Holds all my stuff on casual days, got stuck in the rain with it and leather is still perfect.
I think this was a one off with a piece of embossed leather she found, but she has this waterproof canvas one in her shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/195367471/waterproof-canvas-tote-bag-canvas-market

Heh as you can tell I like to go to etsy for my non-designer bags - besides vintage, I don't have any contemporary designer bags due to posts on quality issues and thus overpriced at even 300-600 So it's worth it to me to wade through the not-so-great etsy sellers for a few small shop sellers

Good luck and would love to know what you eventually get!

 

[msd_bags]

Thanks! That was very helpful. I actually had a Bayswater about 5 years ago but ultimately sold it because it was not what I needed at the time. I like the style a lot and will have to check out the Mulberry store nar my work. Not familiar with the Double Zip-I'll check that one out.

Funny you mention Massaccesi-I keep finding myself looking through the catalog. I was immediately drawn to the Athena but was not sure it would work for me. But hearing that you can order with a strap (that is so cool!), it is definitely something for me to consider-and the price is good. Looking forward to hearing what you think of yours. Thanks again for the suggestions!

You're welcome. I hope you find bags that will work for you. Keep us posted! I'll also post when I get my Athena.

 

[thedseer]

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone! And sorry for the delay in replying - work has been crazy. Hopefully it'll be calmer soon so I can resume with my closet clean out, which will get me closer to being able to rebuild my bag wardrobe and simplifying.

Although hard to find...check out the Mansur Gavriel thread. Very discreet, no logos, lightweight totes, buckets and backpacks. Won't break the bank, either!

Funny you mention Mansur Gavriel - I placed a preorder for a large bucket in camello with gold interior about a month ago after getting an email from Moda Operandi. The estimated delivery is March/April 2015 (so long to wait!), but as I'm not too familiar with MG, I figured this would give me plenty of time to make sure this is the bag for me and cancel if not, while reserving one in my preferred color combo while actually available. I love the look of the buckets, but want to do more research to make sure this is the bag (and size) for me. I will definitely check out the thread. Great suggestion too on the MG tote. I hadn't considered that, but it looks like it would be a great option. I also love the look of the backpack, but am not sure I can pull off the style. Love the simple designs and price point of MG.

I've been taking stock of my own bag collection as well so your question comes at a great time for me too!

1. polished workbag - my #1 choice would be Fendi 2jours hands down. Structured but lightweight, no quality issues so far, no bling bling logo and you should be able to get it less then retail. Farfetch (you can search for free international shipping) has at least 2 for 1700sth (full retail is 23 or 2400ish). Also check any runway TjMaxx or pre-owned for 1500ish.

2. small crossbody/shoulder - my 'splurge' choice would be BV mini messenger - it's tiny! But very functional and the detachable chain is a big plus, so you could use it as a clutch as well. BV doesn't seem to have a very strong pre-owned market...

Otherwise, my go to is Etsy
Got this from office of minor details almost five years ago - completely handstitched and still going strong after five years of use:

he doesn't seem to have this style in shop anymore, but there's this messenger:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/61876346/leather-messenger-bag-satchel-black-hand

3. larger bag for weekend trips, etc: again my choice would be Etsy - maybe the rucksack or carry all from this seller since you mentioned men's bags:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/treesizeverse?page=1

4. tote - I recently bought this embossed leather tote from LokaStudio on etsy:

Holds all my stuff on casual days, got stuck in the rain with it and leather is still perfect.
I think this was a one off with a piece of embossed leather she found, but she has this waterproof canvas one in her shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/195367471/waterproof-canvas-tote-bag-canvas-market

Heh as you can tell I like to go to etsy for my non-designer bags - besides vintage, I don't have any contemporary designer bags due to posts on quality issues and thus overpriced at even 300-600 So it's worth it to me to wade through the not-so-great etsy sellers for a few small shop sellers

Good luck and would love to know what you eventually get!

Great suggestion! I love the look of the 2jours but don't know much about Fendi at all. I will definitely look into this.

And I'm a big fan of BV. The mini messenger looks like a great little bag, and I like that the strap is detachable. I've had a few BV styles, but am not much of a hobo gal - a crossbody BV would be a great way to have that beautiful and soft BV leather while having a style that would work better for me.

Love Etsy - got a bunch of stuff for my wedding from there (wedding bands, invitations)...so much great stuff but it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes, so it's nice to get suggestions/direction. Great suggestions - I especially like the waxed look that the shop with the men's bags has.

 

[eggtartapproved]

For leather that wears well, may I suggest roots - http://canada.roots.com/leather/han...Gn6JwvouXvVXwGLCoscNFIl6KN2GzActPdxoCP9Xw_wcB

Their leather are lightweight and wear very well and price points are very reasonable, my husband has a messenger from them that I jealously look at and it gets more beautiful everyday. After more than a year of everyday use (and abuse) it still smells wonderful. I would suggest it as a travel, and small messenger option.

Another brand is m0851 - super lightweight and patinas beautifully over time.

 

[djfmn]

I purchased a Massaccesi Aphrodite in pearl gray with black handles as a work bag. It has met all my expectations. The leather is gorgeous and the workmanship is really good. It is fairly lightweight even when I have it pretty filled with stuff. It is not too structured but has enough structure to maintain its shape. Has straps that fit over my shoulder but also has a detachable messenger type strap.

I am so satisfied with this bag that I just ordered a second Massaccesi Aphrodite. The thing I like is that the bag is made especially for you and you are able to request custom changes to even the standard line of bags.

I love the prices which I feel are extremely reasonable knowing that it is handmade by an Italian leather craftsman in an Italian leather Atelier.

 

[cwxx]

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone! And sorry for the delay in replying - work has been crazy. Hopefully it'll be calmer soon so I can resume with my closet clean out, which will get me closer to being able to rebuild my bag wardrobe and simplifying.

Love Etsy - got a bunch of stuff for my wedding from there (wedding bands, invitations)...so much great stuff but it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes, so it's nice to get suggestions/direction. Great suggestions - I especially like the waxed look that the shop with the men's bags has.

Np, I hear you, there's lots of so-so/bad stuff on Etsy unfortunately, good luck with your closet rebuild and would love to see pics/hear about how your new bags are holding up when you get them!

 

[KristyDarling]

Check out Everlane: http://www.everlane.com for bags. Sleek, classic, minimal, lightweight, high quality, very affordable, has a subtle It Bag aura to it -- while not a household name, the Petra bag line is popular among stylists/celebs/models...and it's not as hard to find as Mansur Gavriel!

That said, Mansur Gavriel. I'm a new convert to the brand! So lightweight and perfect for people who appreciate quality and like the tailored, clean, non-branded look. I love how stiff and structured the leather is.

And Celine! I love my horizontal cabas tote in black -- it's super super lightweight yet strong as an ox. You will never find such supple, rich leather. I use mine for work and for toting around my Macbook Air. Also, consider the Trio, which is exceedingly versatile and can be worn as a shoulder or clutch or crossbody bag, and is equally suited for dressy events or casual weekends.

I would consider all of the above to be classic and timeless and can serve as your central bag rotation for years to come!

 

[thedseer]

For leather that wears well, may I suggest roots - http://canada.roots.com/leather/han...Gn6JwvouXvVXwGLCoscNFIl6KN2GzActPdxoCP9Xw_wcB

Their leather are lightweight and wear very well and price points are very reasonable, my husband has a messenger from them that I jealously look at and it gets more beautiful everyday. After more than a year of everyday use (and abuse) it still smells wonderful. I would suggest it as a travel, and small messenger option.

Another brand is m0851 - super lightweight and patinas beautifully over time.

Thanks! Not very familiar with Roots and never heard of m0851, so I appreciate the suggestions. The Roots Daily Double Prince and Pongo caught my eye as a good contenders for a work bag. The leather looks really nice, and i love the simplicity of the designs. i like the m0851 bags a lot too.

I purchased a Massaccesi Aphrodite in pearl gray with black handles as a work bag. It has met all my expectations. The leather is gorgeous and the workmanship is really good. It is fairly lightweight even when I have it pretty filled with stuff. It is not too structured but has enough structure to maintain its shape. Has straps that fit over my shoulder but also has a detachable messenger type strap.

I am so satisfied with this bag that I just ordered a second Massaccesi Aphrodite. The thing I like is that the bag is made especially for you and you are able to request custom changes to even the standard line of bags.

I love the prices which I feel are extremely reasonable knowing that it is handmade by an Italian leather craftsman in an Italian leather Atelier.

thanks for your suggestion! the massaccesi bags are beautiful - i love seeing pictures of the bags being made on facebook, and i love seeing everyone's reveals. the aphrodite and athena are my favorite styles. they are definitely in contention for work bags for me. i like that you can have them customized too.

Check out Everlane: http://www.everlane.com for bags. Sleek, classic, minimal, lightweight, high quality, very affordable, has a subtle It Bag aura to it -- while not a household name, the Petra bag line is popular among stylists/celebs/models...and it's not as hard to find as Mansur Gavriel!

That said, Mansur Gavriel. I'm a new convert to the brand! So lightweight and perfect for people who appreciate quality and like the tailored, clean, non-branded look. I love how stiff and structured the leather is.

And Celine! I love my horizontal cabas tote in black -- it's super super lightweight yet strong as an ox. You will never find such supple, rich leather. I use mine for work and for toting around my Macbook Air. Also, consider the Trio, which is exceedingly versatile and can be worn as a shoulder or clutch or crossbody bag, and is equally suited for dressy events or casual weekends.

I would consider all of the above to be classic and timeless and can serve as your central bag rotation for years to come!

thanks for the suggestions! i love the look of the mansur gavriel bags. i'm planning to keep my preorder for a large camello bucket unless i am lucky enough to find one that ships sooner. i love celine. i like the simplicity of the cabas and the trio is a really cool style. i'm so glad you mentioned everlane. i feel like i've been living under a rock as i've never heard of everlane. but i love all of their stuff. i'm planning to redo my wardrobe soon and think that their clothing would suit me well. i'm really liking the petra totes too (and the price point). i'm also planning to buy my DH a new duffle for christmas and the everlane one is now my top contender.

 

[Mabob]

My purse is dying and I'm looking for a replacement... I'm looking at:
http://www.coach.com/online/handbag...1-33547-en?cs=liblk&catId=5000000000000015034
http://www.katespade.com/charles-street-brantley/098689788357,en_US,pd.html
http://www.michaelkors.com/ashbury-leather-large-shoulder-bag/_/R-US_30F4GABT3L?No=22&color=0001#

Maybe one of these would work for you?

 

[KristyDarling]

thanks for the suggestions! i love the look of the mansur gavriel bags. i'm planning to keep my preorder for a large camello bucket unless i am lucky enough to find one that ships sooner. i love celine. i like the simplicity of the cabas and the trio is a really cool style. i'm so glad you mentioned everlane. i feel like i've been living under a rock as i've never heard of everlane. but i love all of their stuff. i'm planning to redo my wardrobe soon and think that their clothing would suit me well. i'm really liking the petra totes too (and the price point). i'm also planning to buy my DH a new duffle for christmas and the everlane one is now my top contender.

Oooo, cammello bucket -- that's going to be amazing! i'm craving a mini cammello/orange bucket myself! Let us know what you think about Everlane, and no - you haven't been living under a rock! They're fairly stealth/low-key in their approach, which I really like. They're sure to become a cult fave brand!