11 August 2023 , 14:15
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When the Celine classic medium handbag took the internet by storm, it was only a matter of time before the high street would be rife with affordable designer-inspired alternatives. Marks and Spencer were the first to lead the way with their almost immediate sell-out faux leather cross body, which has been so popular, it now comes in a whopping seven colours.
But in recent weeks, two more retailers have launched some strikingly similar-looking purses. New Look revealed their ‘bag of the season’ on TikTok last week with their black leather-look cross body bag, while TU Clothing at Sainsbury’s also has their own black satchel cross body bag.
But what is a fashion enthusiast to do when there are three near-identical bags on the market? How do you possibly pick which one to buy? Some may consider brand loyalty and shop where the majority of their wardrobe is from, while for others it will be the budget that dictates which one gets added to their virtual basket.
So, I ordered all three to compare each one on price, size and overall quality - and one was undeniably more premium than the rest. Here’s what I found when I shopped the M&S, New Look, and TU faux leather cross body bags.
Price difference
The medium Celine classic leather bag comes in at a cool £3,100. I’ve never spent more than one per cent of that on a bag, and I wasn’t about to start splashing the cash now. Thankfully, all of the high street alternatives I found all cost under £35, which was a much more modest price tag that’s relatively accessible for all budgets.
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The most expensive of the three was the Marks and Spencer accessory, coming in at £35, followed by New Look with their £21.99 offering, with TU Clothing coming in cheapest at £16. But when it comes to high street fashion, do you ‘get what you pay for’ or could one of the cheaper purses come out on top?
Size of the bag
From left to right: New Look, Marks and Spencer, TUAs you can see from the photos, the Marks and Spencer bag is notably smaller than the New Look and TU’s, both of which boast a similar size. The measurements of the Celine bag are 18cm by 24cm, compared to the New Look and TU bags which are slightly smaller at 15cm tall and 23cm wide. The M&S accessory is smaller still at 14cm by 20cm, meaning that the former two are the most similar to the size of the original Celine.
The hardware and straps
The hardware is one of the most recognisable features of the Celine bag. A gold push lock clasp with beautiful ribbed detail. Marks and Spencer’s purse has mirrored this beautifully, with a well-proportioned clasp with sturdy push lock clasp and a gold finish that makes it look far more expensive than its price tag would suggest.
Meanwhile, the TU bag also has a similar push lock clasp, but the metal doesn’t feel quite as premium and looks like it would tarnish a little faster, but it was New Look’s that I was least impressed with. Their hardware was one solid piece, swapping out the push lock mechanism for a cheaper magnetic button closure, which made the bag feel cheaper overall.
Turning the bags side on, the M&S and Sainsbury’s bags both have fixed straps, and a ribbed gold detail here too. However, TU’s has a detachable strap with a gold clasp, which gives the bag some extra versatility. One shopper on the TU website praised this feature, commenting: “I bought this for my hols as a cross body bag but it was also great as a bum bag. Take the strap off at night time and it’s a clutch, fabulous.”
What I do like about the M&S bag though is that because the strap is a continuous loop all the way around, you can convert it into a top handle if you tuck the long strap into the bag, but this isn't something you can do with the New Look bag.
Inside the bag
Opening the bags, TU and New Look’s have a very similar feel in terms of the flexibility and softness of the fabric. They don’t feel cheap by any means, but there’s a clear quality difference between them and the M&S bag, which feels undeniably more premium, sturdy and expensive.
Inside, all three bags offer two compartments, with M&S and New Look having a central zipped pocket, too. TU’s purse has a small zip pocket at the rear of the bag, while New Look’s also benefits from a small pocket at the back of the bag in addition to the central section.
The verdict
The M&S Faux Leather Cross Body BagIf you’re looking for the best high street alternative to the Celine bag, for me, Marks and Spencer’s offering was the top pick. Despite being smaller in size, it offered a premium feel and overall finish, with sturdy hardware and a compact design. Although smaller than the other two bags, it still fits in a generous amount of essentials, like phones, purse, keys, lipstick and more. And at £35, it feels like a reasonable price for the timeless accessory that goes with every outfit for any occasion. I also adore the versatility of the bag and how you can convert it into a top-handle.
Next up, I’d say the TU Clothing’s was a close second, with a more spacious design. Despite being the most affordable accessory of the bunch, it felt far superior than its £16 price tag, and for me, felt like it boasted more luxury features compared to New Look’s, whose magnetic clasp seemed to downgrade the purse in some ways. That said, all three are beautiful options, and a great budget-friendly alternative to the Celine. These are the kind of bags that will slot effortlessly into your wardrobe and will never go out of style, so be sure to snap at least one of them up before they sell out.
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