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<p>Have not read much of this thread, but saw the news about this last night, and thought I’d come to this thread to see if anyone had posted a link. </p>
<p>And to think I had my doubts!</p>
<p>For those who like tapestry bags, this is a wonderful shop:</p>
<p>[Portmanteau</a> - Tapestry Bags and Tapestry Luggage](<a href=“http://www.portmanteauonline.com/Tapestry.htm]Portmanteau”>http://www.portmanteauonline.com/Tapestry.htm)</p>
<p>Re Coach: the “new” classic line is certainly an improvement over what they have been selling recently, but they look cheesy in comparison to the originals, at least in the photos.</p>
<p>I don’t get the Coach thing either, but from slightly different perspective. Back in the day when Coach only made leather bags, several friends talked about how they liked Coach because they lasted forever. That was long before I found my perfect bag, and I knew that I would become tired of the Coach bag long before it wore out. Plus I found their leather styling to be boring in appearance.</p>
<p>Then Coach changed, and the exterior of the bags appealed to me. But, and many people will disagree with me, their made for outlet bags look and feel cheap to me. I can tell the difference between the outlet bags and the full price store bags from a distance. Because I live close to an outlet, almost everyone in town buys the outlet bags. I get so tired of seeing them. No matter what they paid for them at the outlet, they paid too much for the quality, or lack thereof.</p>
<p>No one has mentioned Kate Spade that I remember. I just saw a bunch of cute bags of hers in her outlet store. With their 40% off, they are in my price range, but I just can’t narrow it down to one. I realize the outlets carry a different set of merchandise, but they are still nice bags.</p>
<p>I have such bag issues. Right now, I’m carrying a navy Dooney tote that is pretty perfect for me: big enough for all I need to carry, structured not slouchy, no weird chains or zippers. Just a nice classic style.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, shoulder problems are creeping up on me, and I can see the day when I will need to move to a crossbody style. I just can’t find what I want, though
They’re either too small or too much like a messenger bag or they’re convertible style with little handles on top. I hate those superfluous little handles.</p>
<p>I may never find what I want, which makes me cranky.</p>
<p>I also hate those superfluous little handles. Reminds me of vestigial limbs.</p>
<p>^^^Haha! I actually use the little handles, not the shoulder strap. Slip them over my arm, and it’s comfortable to me.</p>
<p>There was a cute, small designer tote I was tempted to get a few years ago that had a long strap, but, yeah, I couldn’t get past the extra little handles either, lol. </p>
<p>Dooney and Bourke has so many nice purses (I’ve never gotten one of theirs), but I’m thinking the crossbody bags of theirs I’ve seen are usually on the small side?</p>
<p>I think the “wearing” of the bag is interesting. I don’t care for the strapped in feeling of a cross body, but I like the feeling of security and hands free capability, especially while traveling. Shoulder bags are likewise practical, but I hate the way a big bag looks slung over the shoulder. Lots of paparazzi shots of celebrities with bags on the shoulder trudging down the street reinforce this view - awkward! Esthetically, I think a short handled bag carried either in the hand or in the crook of the arm looks most elegant. I also try to match the size of the bag with my size - petite woman with petite bag, tall woman with larger bag. All about proportion.</p>
<p>I have a MJ Natasha in a taupe and have been using it since early spring. Great size, I love the zippered flap. </p>
<p>There are lots of handbags in my closet and I try to rotate through them, but there are some I always forget about until the season is over. I have several Longchamps and Lancaster bought in Paris and the always take precedence. At least they did until this dratted MJ. </p>
<p>When i went back to work after my first daughter was born, I bought a medium-size Coach bag with the brass turn lock and a long strap. I used it forever (& still have it). The family bought me a coach bag for my birthday this year, but it just isn’t the same. All leather, and the color (a fuschia-y plum) is pretty, but it just isn’t me. I have to figure out how to exchange it w/o hurting anyone’s feelings.</p>
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<p>That was my point. I agree with what I think is PizzaGirl’s point…having excessive logos doesn’t mean it’s a true designer item and certainly, only some designers use that sort of branding. And the label ‘designer’ is open to interpretation for certain brands.</p>
<p>I just don’t care for the initials or over the top branding look on anything. Obviously, not eveyone feels that way, hence the popularity of big logo brands. It’s just not my personal style. </p>
<p>My own personal handbag criteria (regardless of brand) is a soft, smooth leather with a slightly vintage look. A medium size bag with an exterior pocket. I like classic styling. Two of my favorite brands are Brahmin and Hobo though I can usually find something I like in most lines. I have a couple of Fossil bags that I love and get compliments on regularly. My upper limit is around $300, so obviously that rules out a lot of the ‘true’ designer brands.</p>
<p>I often fall in love with bags but don’t buy them simply because if they are too big or too small I end up very frustrated. I only switch out bags 2-3 times per year except when we go out for an evening function. Then I just grab one of my smaller purses.</p>
<p>Because of my shoulder/neck issues my next bag is going to be smaller with the small handles. I’ve never liked the small handles but my shoulders just can’t take it anymore!</p>
<p>I had a fantastic Kooba WOC-type bag that I used to carry in the what I refer to “bag-in-bag” manner. I carried all of my crap in the Longchamp tote, parked it in the office, and took out the Kooba to go out to lunch with coworkers or to run errands. Real shoulder saver!</p>
<p>" I also try to match the size of the bag with my size - petite woman with petite bag, tall woman with larger bag. All about proportion."</p>
<p>Agree 100%. A petite woman with a large bag looks odd, IMO. At 5’6", I’m technically an inch taller than “petite” height, but when I once tried on a large Sukey, I almost died from laughter - I looked like Mary Poppins with her carpet bag! :)</p>
<p>OK Here is the Watercolor print (no longer available) of my Dooney. [Dooney</a> Bourke Watercolor Wristlet | eBay](<a href=“http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dooney-Bourke-Watercolor-Wristlet-/261257076453?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3cd4229ee5&nma=true&si=pr%252F1u8p2VYSZ0I%252Fk%252BWewCuUDm6o%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557]Dooney”>http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dooney-Bourke-Watercolor-Wristlet-/261257076453?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3cd4229ee5&nma=true&si=pr%252F1u8p2VYSZ0I%252Fk%252BWewCuUDm6o%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557)</p>
<p>The style is the satchel. [Dooney</a> & Bourke: Hydrangea Satchel](<a href=“http://www.dooney.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=64391]Dooney”>http://www.dooney.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=64391)</p>
<p>I like a purse with outside zipper pocket for my keys and badge and an inner zip compartment. An open slot on the side for papers, coupons, etc is a bonus. </p>
<p>Regardless of which purse, I use a wallet with a “snap” close change compartment. I keep my main Visa credit card in with the coins. That way I can just reach in for the Visa without even removing the wallet. Very handy!</p>
<p>I resisted crossbody bags for a long time. I am not sure why, I think I associated them with older shoppers. In one of my jobs (school psychologist), I am often lugging a small rolling suitcase (small black hardcase) with me to bring my test kits. I realized that in order to look somewhat pulled together, I needed a crossbody bag. I have become very fond of my crossbody bag, especially with a coat - not so much summer clothing - but a coat. This is my working bag - nothing spectacular - but with the combination of brown and black it works with any of my coats and the style doesn’t add any bulk. </p>
<p>[Eve</a> Delight Mason Messenger Cross Bodies](<a href=“http://www.brighton.com/product/cross-bodies/36956-60000/eve-delight-mason-messenger.html]Eve”>http://www.brighton.com/product/cross-bodies/36956-60000/eve-delight-mason-messenger.html)</p>
<p>^^^Very nice!</p>
<p>I’ve met the couple who started this line of purses, and they’re two of the sweetest people. They started the company when they were young and poor- sort of hippie types- and now they’re very prosperous with stores all over the country. A real American Dream success story.
They’re big supporters of music and the arts.</p>
<p>I bought a Kate Spade handbag recently and it just struck me that I should get an advertising fee back from the purse company for sporting their mini-billboard gold-colored metal tag logo ‘Kate Spade-New York’ attached conspicuously on the bag.</p>
<p>^ I pried one of those logo tags off a Spade bag. It was not an unqualified success and I don’t recommend trying it at home.
:)</p>
<p>I agree with Gourmetmom (no big surprise) on how to carry a bag.</p>
<p>I had a green and yellow hobo bag once that someone thought was a designer bag. I laughed because it was a $15.00 purse from a Target store. It lasted for a couple of years so I certainly got a lot of use out of it.</p>
<p>“Pizzagirl—several of us just prefer designs that do not incorporate excessive branding. That’s all. You can buy a good designer without the branding. My favorite bag is a YSL bag that just came with a leather YSL tag that I removed. It is still a “designer” bag. Why should I carry something with someone else’s initials?”</p>
<p>Sorry! That’s not what I was saying! I was talking about people who hear “designer” and think “oh, it must have logos all over it.” I agree with you!</p>