Leather bags shop in the UK: What started out as a war orphan’s one-man bridle and harness-making shop now produces some of the world’s most sought-after designer handbags, led by the Birkin. The high price tags and strong resale value make them the top handbag investment piece. The exclusive nature and timeless designs have helped cement Hermès bags are some of the most covetable designs available today. The Kelly: Designed as a luxury handbag and designated ‘for the princesses of the world’, and named after a real-life princess and owner, Grace of Monaco (née Grace Kelly). The Constance: The perfect everyday shoulder bag, the Hermès Constance is an ideal, compact choice. See even more information at https://www.penshop.co.uk/pens/hugo-boss-pens/hugo-boss-leathers.

Dagne Dover launched luggage for the first time in 2024 with beautiful softside suitcases featuring a glossy sheen and unique design details. This smaller carry-on suitcase was our favorite out of the collection, with a U-shaped front pocket that you can fold all the way back to give you full access to everything inside. There’s a spot for a 13-inch laptop (though we wish they had more padding) and also flaps with fabric fastener that you can use to secure other items like paperwork or a sweater. We love that you access the interior of the main cabin through a zipper inside the front pocket, which is useful if you need to grab something out of your bag at the airport without having to lay it flat. PenShop Senior Editor Jasmine Grant took this suitcase to St. Thomas during our three-month long-term testing period, noting its significant weight. “When it’s completely empty, it still feels really hefty, and I think that’s attributed to the weight of the wheels, which are larger than other carry-ons I’ve tried,” she says. However, the tradeoff is wheels that glide like butter. The thick, spacious, padded side handles help make it easier to lift the bag when you need to place it in an overhead bin.

How do I choose a designer bag? If you are thinking of splurging on a new designer bag, then it is definitely worth considering a style that will stand the test of time, rather than just a one-season wonder that will eventually end up gathering dust at the back of your wardrobe. For this, the best option is either to look to the classics – some of which may have had a modern makeover, but are still very much trend-free – or to snap up designs that have an endless elegance about them (think timeless colours, seasonless silhouettes and trusty fabrics). When it comes to affordable designer handbags, APC is a great name to know. The label’s Half Moon bag is a real classic, but we also love this Grace style, which is perfect for day-to-day use.

We were impressed by the thoughtful design features of this gorgeous Hartmann Reserve trunk both inside and out, with a curved handle that adjusts to 12 different positions, waterproof pockets, built-in compartments and dividers, two packing cubes, a shoe bag, a large garment bag, leather details, and hand-painted wheels (that didn’t get chipped or damaged even after we directly hit them with a baseball bat). This Hartmann suitcase has a 50/50 divide, which we thought helped us to evenly distribute the weight using the different compartments. This ultimately made the suitcase light and easy to maneuver, despite the fact that it weighs 14.11 pounds — the heaviest suitcase on this list. The wheels rotated seamlessly, even more smoothly than some of the smallest carry-ons we’ve tested, and you’ll be able to maneuver through a crowded airport pretty easily with this, though it would take up a lot of space in a car trunk or on any sort of public transportation.

Clocking in at under $300, the Calpak Ambeur Medium is a relatively affordable suitcase with high-quality features: It expands up to two inches for extra packing room, for example, and has easy-to-maneuver dual spinner wheels. One of our testers notes, “It’s super lightweight and so roomy, and as a chronic over-packer, I never have an issue fitting everything I need.” There are also four zippered interior compartments (although no exterior pockets), plus a cross compression strap to make sure belongings remain in place, even when transported over bumpy cobblestone streets. “It has a compact design and wheels effortlessly, so I never feel like I’m lugging an enormous bag through the airport,” she adds. Of the suitcases on this list, the Ambeur Medium features some of the most comfortable grip handles made with a rubber lining that won’t hurt your hands as you’re lugging heavy baggage around town.