Bag help pls: keep or return?

Hi lovely ladies,

For some months now I've been thinking about indulging in a new cross body bag. I bought this grey canvas cross-body bag at H&M in China last year and love it. As its a light canvas material, it is aging already, and I'm very sad to see it go! Throughout summer and winter it has been my go-to bag on nights out and on weekends.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/4687221285/

As you can see its larger than the average crossbody bag, but as I'm tall and like to carry around alot of stuff, the size works well for me! Ideally I'd like to replace it with an exact replica, but in leather, but I think the chances of finding one like this are slim to none.

What I did stumble across and buy 2 weekends ago is a similar size bag, but in black leather. To funk it up, there's a row of small silver studs across the top.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/4817693126/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/4817068001/

(sorry for dodgy iPhone photos - I've lost my digital camera )

I thought I'd buy this bag and return it if I saw something that caught my eye more in the NAS. Unforutnatly I didn't see anything remotely similar!!!

Pros of keeping:
- Love the shape of the bag (I am notoriously fussy when it comes to bag shapes, amount of hardware, shapes of straps etc)
- Don't currently have a leather cross-body bag
- Nice leather
- Can't go wrong with black
- Love studs
- Nice lining material
- Silver hardware
- Perfect size (approx 14 * 14 inches)

Cons of keeping:
- Not the grey colour I am pining for
- No outside pocket on bag (only 2 small inside pockets and no seperate bag compartments)

The only other bag I have seen similar online is the Sak Flap Crossbody Bag Brianna posted about a few weeks ago. I love it in the turquoise colour (currently on sale too!) but wonder if it might be a tad too small for me?? Or is 2 inches height not much to worry about??

What do you think? Should I keep or return the black bag?? SHould I try the Sak bag instead? Or should I hold out for the perfect grey bag? Have you seen something similar I should consider (ideally in grey). I only have 2 more days in which to change my mind and return this one though - eeep!!

xx tam

15 years ago

Sparky

Veteran

Yublocka, I really wish I could help you out with some sage advice, but you'll need to wait for someone with more expertise to weigh in. I will point out that your list of pros for the black bag are much longer than your list of cons. How do you feel about the black bag? Do you love it, or is it just okay for you? Do you see yourself getting a lot of use out of it, of it going well with your outfits? If you keep this one and later find your perfect bag in gray, would you be able to use/afford both?

There is a lot of gray for this coming season in the US market, so you might luck out and find what you're looking for in gray . . .

Katiepea

(website)

I really like the black bag Tam, it looks a great size for you and I love the stud detail. Is black really that bad, 'cause it is fabulous!

My only concern with the gorgeous(!) green bag is like you mentioned, the size of it. I just got out my measuring tape to have a look and am now wondering if it might be too big to be classified a standard handbag size, but not quite big enough to be a cross body bag, particularly given you are tall?

Probably dorky, but can you cut out a piece of paper to the dimensions of the bag, and take a photo of yourself in the mirror to see how the sizing looks against you? It might give you a more definitive answer.

I feel your pain though, as I have to say I haven't seen a lot of grey bags in the shops lately either.

Louise

The black bag has studs on so it's a yay from me! (i'm easily pleased and it's leather so will last. Black is quite a harsh colour not as soft as the lovely grey you had x

yublocka

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Sparky I think the black bag is pretty near perfect actually. If it had a few more pockets/compartments I'd be 100% sold on it, apart from the fact that its not grey (oh I do love compartments!!). I do want a black crossbody bag as well (great for going out in), but had just hoped to find a grey one first to replace the canvas one that is dying.

KP black is not bad at all, its just not grey!! I don't know whether I should get this in the meantime and keep on looking for grey though! The shop I got this bag from I actually went into with my Mum because she loved an orange bag in there. That bag came in a beautiful dove grey which I tried to convince her to get but she wouldn't have a bar of it. As an aside I fell in love with this bag and walked out the store with it after sitting outside and having a coffee to think it over. It was the last one in stock and she told me I had 14 days to think it over and return it if I change my mind. I hate being so indecisive!!

Hehe Louise I'm glad there's another studs fan here. My over-the-shoulder black leather bag has studs on it too and I've been using it solidly for nearly 10 years now. At least I know I'll never get sick of studs

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Get the bag. It's KILLER for you.

Lisa

I really like the black bag. I'm not a fan of the SAK bag, because it has a flap. Bags with flaps to open and close get on my nerves after a while. All this material flapping around.

Well, Angie has spoken. As you said, yublocka, it's perfect for you in almost every way, and you were thinking of a black bag at some point. So I recommend keep and keep looking for your dream gray bag. It's out there, you'll find it!

Ariadne

OMG Tam! MY BAG IS BACK! I just ordered it. I can't believe it. I LOVE YOU. I had given up and deleted the link!

ETA: I like the black bag but will you be really, truly happy with it? I'm not sure if Angie was referring to it, or to the SAK bag.

WOOHOO Brianna!!

Angie I'm not sure if you're referring to the black or blue bag either? I already ahve the black bag, I just need to NOT return it today or tomorrow if I plan to keep it!

Keep the black bag, Tam! Sorry I was unclear.

Thanks for clarifying Angie! So keep it is! Whilst it's not grey, it is definitely filling a hole in my wardrobe. It will replace 2 existing flimsy black fabric bags bought overseas so I'm telling myself it is helping out a closet purge Having a leather crossbody bag seems to work better over winter coats than more casual fabric bags too, for some reason.

In the meantime I'll keep an eye out for a great grey bag as well. If anyone sees one, please feel free to share pics!!!

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