Affordable designer bags in leather and suede, from everyday totes to statement shoulder bags.
When I think of designer bags that are beautifully made but do not cost several thousand pounds, DeMellier is one of the first names that comes to mind. Good leather, interesting shapes, thoughtful details – the bags have the things I look for, without a price tag that makes me nervous about putting one down on a café chair.
What I find particularly appealing is that the collection does not rely on one recognisable bag in twenty colours. There are structured totes, softer shoulder bags and a few pieces with enough personality to make a very simple outfit feel finished. I chose three favourites, and they each do something quite different.
My Three Favourite DeMellier Bags
The New York in mocha suede
The New York is the classic of the three. I chose it in mocha suede, a colour that looks especially good with an autumn wardrobe and feels a little softer than an ordinary leather tote. I like the shape: structured enough to look polished, but with those folded sides that make it more interesting. This is the one I would choose if I wanted a spacious bag that still looks elegant.
The Midi Brooklyn in dark chocolate croc-effect
The Midi Brooklyn has a long, horizontal shape, which is what caught my eye first. My favourite finish is dark chocolate croc-effect: the colour is easy to wear, while the texture gives the bag a little more presence. I can picture it with jeans and a knit just as easily as with tailoring, and I appreciate that it has room for the things I actually need to take with me.
The Stockholm in zebra-effect
If you ask me to pick just one from the entire collection right now, it might be The Stockholm in zebra-effect. The curved shape is elegant, but the print makes it fun – and you know I will always make room for an accessory that can do the work for the rest of my outfit. A black coat, jeans, a white T-shirt and this bag? I am dressed.
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A Little More About DeMellier
DeMellier is designed in London, with bags handcrafted in Europe from Italian leather and suede. Prices vary by size and finish, but most handbags sit roughly between £350 and £650 – an investment, certainly, but considerably less than the several thousand pounds we have come to expect from many designer bags. There is a useful range of shapes, too: spacious totes, compact crossbody bags and shoulder bags that feel a little more dressed up.
What I especially like about the current collection is its autumn palette. There are beautiful shades of chocolate, mocha, beige, grey and black, alongside deeper greens that look particularly good at this time of year. And if you already own enough neutral bags (I am not judging), the zebra print and croc-effect finishes bring something more playful without making the shapes any less elegant. It is a collection where choosing the colour might take longer than choosing the bag.
