The sole object of this site is to bring you top quality bags at rock bottom prices, so go & have a browse girls!

As leatherhandbags.org.uk say, “there may be a credit crunch, but you don’t need to go through a fashion crunch too!”

We know a lot of handbag manufacturers & shops in the UK & we have been hearing some real horror stories from most of them, the general trend is that this year has been the worst ever, and hopes for 2009 are not high.

This was the reason that we set up www.bagshandbags.co.uk in the first place – to try & offer consumers a different choice by bringing some of the hidden handbag gems to peoples attention so that consumers can still get a wonderful new handbag, but whilst saving themselves money at the same time.

Of course there will always be customers who want to buy the high end designer handbags, and we will cover some of those too, since thats where the latest fashions originate, but our emphasis will be on value for money, so be sure to keep your eye on these pages to see what must have handbag gems we can dig up for you as the recession begins to bite.

Fed up of not getting what you want for Christmas? It sounds ungrateful doesn’t it, however I wonder how many unwanted gifts end up in the bottom of wardrobes, charity shops or worse – the tip? A new phenomenon has been hitting the shops recently (although some have been doing it for years), that reduces the chances of this happening. Bags and Handbags spoke to Suzanne Shuttleworth, Director of Behold the Bag to explain all: 

Bags and Handbags: So what exactly is a Christmas wish list, and how does it work?

Behold the Bag: The Christmas Wish List is a fantastic idea. It enables you to choose a list of things in a shop you’d like. Cards are given to people who are buying the gifts. It gives a bit more of an element of surprise, because you can put down a list of possibilities that you can see there and then. You don’t know exactly what you’ll be getting. It’s perfect for people like my husband who need a bit of pointing in the right direction, because they can be sent to an exact shop and it’s less stressful.

BH: Wow! That sounds like a fantastic idea.

BB: It is, because it can be a relief to loved ones. They don’t have to worry whether you’ll like what they’re buying you.

BH: What sort of places do wish lists?

BB: I think it’s really the smaller independent stores that do them. Our online system is done through us emailing the customer’s friends and relatives with their lists. I do think it is something that will catch on though, because it is such a good idea.

BH: So are there any tips you can give us for BH readers?

BB: Well, there is a slowdown at the moment, but people will still be buying presents (more thoughtfully of course). The popular things will go the quickest, so don’t leave it too late.

BH: Have you done your Christmas list yet?

BB: Yes, my relatives had my lists about a month ago, and my birthday list too, because that’s on Boxing Day (laughs)!

BH: I bet they’ll be pleased about that!

BB: No, but I certainly will!

To set up your Christmas list with Behold the Bag, email them on: contact@beholdthebag.co.uk

Anyway, this could give you a great saving on any purchases that you’ve been wanting to make and is just in time for Christmas, so you can afford that
Chloe, Miu Miu, Prada – oh the list could go on and on!

This is of course especially important as we approach Christmas – if we’re going to send the men-folk out on a shopping expedition for our Christmas presents, then we want them to come back with something at least half decent. Just point them here & they’ll be good to go.

I remember my mother telling me that good quality handbags (meaning leather handbags) would always come with a dust cover to keep your bag protected when not in use, but I’ve found that this rule of thumb isn’t really practical.

We’ve found a good few excellent leather handbag manufacturers who don’t provide a dust cover with the bag (they must only cost about 20p to make, so heavens know why they don’t), and on the other hand we’ve found some quite cheap mass produced synthetic bags that do.

Clearly mother doesn’t always know best!

So, just how can you tell whether a bag is well made & worth the money or not? Here are our top 5 tips to spot a great handbag:
 

1) Does it have Feet?

All good quality handbags come with little metal feet or studs on the underside to protect the bottom of the bag when you put it down. There are usually four, one in each corner, & without them the underside of the bag will become dirty, tired, & worn – imagine putting your gorgeous new handbag down only to realise it had been on a damp or wet floor – the feet help to keep the material off the floor, keeping the handbag in tip top shape.

2) Check the material

Okay, so this is a little subjective, but you need to feel & look at the material that the handbag is made from to see whether it’s a good quality synthetic or leather, or whether it’s something you’d rather cover your kitchen floor with. Good quality fabrics & synthetic materials are pretty easy to spot, they should feel nice, look nice, & not be wafer thin, they should feel & look like they have some substance to them.

Leather is a bit more tricky, although the rules are pretty much the same, and it can take some time to train your eye & touch. However, you’ll be able to tell if your handbag is made from poor quality leather when it get wet – dark patches, a change in colour, & smears indicate that it isn’t made from the best leathers.

3) Check the Stitching

Usually the stitching to the outside of a bag will be pretty good, after all, that’s the side that the prospective customer is going to see, so it needs to at least look nice – if it isn’t, for example, if there are loose threads, uneven stitching, or even missing stitching (yes, it happens & you need to look closely – as an example, compare the 4 handle terminations where the handle joins the bag – you can sometimes find 2 or 3 stitched & the others not!), then steer clear.

The stitching that you need to pay the most attention to is inside the bag since this is what holds the bag together, & if tthe bag has been made without care then this is where you’ll see it. Check the stitching around the trims, & even how the lining is stitched into the bag too, a good handbag will look as well made on the inside as it does on the outside.

You don’t want it falling to pieces just as you’re running for the bus!

4) The Lining

Following on from checking the stitching inside the bag, & the outer materials, check the lining too for pretty much the same things. Does it feel & look like a good quality material? Is it carefully stitched together & into the bag? Does it look like it fits the bag properly? The answer to all of these things should be a resounding “yes!“

5) Look at the fittings

By the fittings we mean the metal hoops, links, rings, etc that you might find adorning your potential new handbag, and also look at the zips or other fasteners too. What you’re looking for is good quality fittings that have some substance. If they feel like they’ve been made from tin plate, don’t sit nicely onto the bag, & just have a cheap feel & look to them, then personally I’d avoid it.

Zips can be another bone of contention. We’ve had bags that look great & tick most of the boxes, but then you look at the zip & it looks like it belongs on a pair of £7.99 jeans. Remember that your handbag is going to be zipped & unzipped quite regularly, & if the zipper isn’t up to the job it’ll break in no time at all.

Other fasteners need to have a similar inspection, with care taken with bags that have magnetic fasteners – is the magnet really powerful enough to keep the flap snugly shut?

There are of course other considerations that you can make.

I like to look for little features in the handbags that just help to make life that little bit easier, for example, does it have a nice little pocket to keep your mobile phone safe?

One of my favourites is the little clasp that you find inside some bags to clip your keys onto – how many times do we stand in the rain fumbling through the essentials we keep in there to find the car or door keys?

What clever handbag designers!

Please feel free to add your own tips & tricks in the comments below, & if you enjoy Bags & Handbags then please tell your friends, family, & colleagues about us too! ]]> http://www.bagshandbags.co.uk/news-gossip/spot-a-great-handbag/feed/ 0