Suzie Monaghan: ‘My dad built this business on trust and craftsmanship, and that still stands today’
Suzie Monaghan: ‘My dad built this business on trust and craftsmanship, and that still stands...

Suzie Monaghan

Luxe sleepwear and pyjama sets to cosy up in this winter
Luxe sleepwear and pyjama sets to cosy up in this winter

Sarah Gill

Inside this period home in Drogheda with its own tennis court and glasshouse
Inside this period home in Drogheda with its own tennis court and glasshouse

IMAGE

Mark Grehan: ‘There is a lot more to The Garden than a flower shop in The Powerscourt Centre’
Mark Grehan: ‘There is a lot more to The Garden than a flower shop in...

Ruth O'Connor

November 2025: The best of streaming, TV and cinema this month
November 2025: The best of streaming, TV and cinema this month

Edaein OConnell

Together Academy: ‘Our vision is clear – an Ireland where young adults with Down syndrome are accepted, respected, and included in the workforce’
Together Academy: ‘Our vision is clear – an Ireland where young adults with Down syndrome...

Lizzie Gore-Grimes

IMAGE Smurfit Scholar Heather Cronin on how an MBA is setting her up for success in medicine and beyond
IMAGE Smurfit Scholar Heather Cronin on how an MBA is setting her up for success...

Megan Burns

Chloe Michelle Howarth talks perspective, nuance and the power of queer stories
Chloe Michelle Howarth talks perspective, nuance and the power of queer stories

Sarah Gill

Leah Daria Ward: ‘Art has the ability to cut to the heart of things that words can’t always reach’
Leah Daria Ward: ‘Art has the ability to cut to the heart of things that...

Sarah Gill

Take a tour of this rare architectural jewel in Monkstown
Take a tour of this rare architectural jewel in Monkstown

IMAGE

Image / Fashion

5 high street handbags that look too expensive to be these prices


By Marie Kelly
12th Aug 2019
5 high street handbags that look too expensive to be these prices

There’s nothing like owning handbags other women are goggle-eyed over, especially when they’re from the high street. Here are five fabulous bags that look much more expensive than they are.


If you’re not on your summer holidays in August, then you’re probably doing the exact opposite; ie, buying those key autumn/winter pieces that you’ll want to pull straight out of the wardrobe come September. For most women, one of these items is, of course, a new handbag.

Throwing a brand new handbag over your arm in September is as close to taking a shiny new pencil case out of your schoolbag as it gets when you’re an adult. This year, I’m in the market for  plain, old-fashioned black shopper. I haven’t owned a black bag for years; navy, yes; burgundy, yes; animal print, yes; but never black.

If the high street excels in any one area, I think it’s accessories, and bags in particular. These five picks, especially, look way more expensive than they are. They make paying circa €1,000 for a handbag look a little ridiculous.

Contrast strap leather shoulder bag, €87 at Cos

 

Beaded minaudiere crossbody bag, €39.95 at Zara

 

Snake leather pattern clutch, €130 at Reiss

 

Dark red vinyl shopper, €37 at River Island

 

Leather mini city bag, €49.95 at Zara

Images: Zara


Read more: Whatever the catwalks say, dark denim is a great investment

Read more: 5 pieces from Uterque every trend-aware woman will be wearing come September

Read more: Broadcaster and fashion muse Angela Scanlon reveals her style commandments