Do you have a bag like this? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you have a bag like this?

Maya

Veteran

Yes, more bag questions *sigh*

So the bag president has spoken and this was the hands down winner:

http://www.endless.com/Melie-B.....B002EENRNM

The straps are posing a conundrum for me though. I don't get the tote handles. I don't usually "tote" around my bag and I don't really see most other people doing that.

It comes with an optional shoulder strap, so yay, but I am sill not sure. I just don't like the look of all those straps. I wish the tote handles were just longer, over-the-shoulder handles. Or that they could be removed when I use the shoulder strap.

The strap also looks awfully long, and I'm not sure if it can be adjusted to be short enough for my short self. I don't want to wear it as a crossbody.

Would this be a dealbreaker for anyone else or am I just insane?

This is harder than I thought. I am very picky.

Shopping

19 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara

Ele

(website)

Wow, that is a nice bag. But I totally get your frustration- straps like that drive me crazy too. They're cute for about 10 minutes in a lady-who-lunches kind of way, and then just annoying.

It does look like the shoulder strap could be shortened quite a bit, though. Worse comes to worst, you can always have it shortened by a cobbler where it wouldn't show (like, on the part that's "inside" the shortened bit, if that makes any sense.

Maya

Veteran

Oh, I am never doing that again Ele. I did it before with bad results

Ladies who lunch calls to mind a recently aufed Project Runaway contestant, and I'm 100% certain her aesthetic has nothing to do with mine.

Maya

Veteran

p.s. I actually like this one a lot more, but it's not available in red. I do like the yellow though. Fuchsia is fun too. I would probably go with fuchsia just because I wear so much yellow as is. I don't want to look like a banana...

http://www.endless.com/Melie-B.....ef=dp_cs_1

However, I am reluctant to go against bag president's wishes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ahem....the Bag President *actually* suggested a tie.

Maya

Veteran

Tie?

April

Veteran

I'm actually a fan of short handles in looks, though I can see the impracticalities during a complicated commute. My work tote bag, overnight tote bag, and most of my handbags have short handles rather than shoulder straps. I have found that it saves me the pain of a heavy bag yanking on my shoulder.

Lisa

Veteran

Both bags are really nice, I like the second bag more though, it looks like it can hold more stuff. The first bag looked a little slim in the width.

Sparky

Veteran

By tie, Angie means there were two bags she equally liked for you. At least, that's what I recall.

tarzy

Veteran

Personally, I don't like to "carry" a bag. I vastly prefer a crossbody bag so my hands are totally free, or at least something I can sling over my shoulder.

Steph

Veteran

Maya, I do have bags that just have short tote straps, and I do just tote them, either in my hand or at the crook of my elbow. These bags are not huge carryalls, however. Personally, I really dislike the look of short tote handles with an additional shoulder strap, so I never go that route. If you want to be able to carry the bag on your shoulder (which I totally understand, and I have bags for that purpose), then I would go with a different bag. It would definitely be a dealbreaker for me, especially because you are looking to make this your go-to, expensive purse.

Frances

I have no constructive input to offer, but had to note that I'm cackling about this. I've been trying to train myself over the past year to carry my bag as a tote and to stop slinging it over my shoulder. Part of the reason is because I'm guilty of frequently overstuffing my bag and my orthopedist actually cautioned me about this last year. After evaluating my gait on a treadmill to see why I might be tripping and falling so much, she said I tend to hunch forward to my right when I walk, and she sees this in a lot of women who frequently carry a heavy bag slung over their shoulder.

But I've found it so difficult to re-train myself, and at some point the bag gets slung back over the shoulder when I need my hands for the Blackberry or a cup of coffee or transit pass. And sometimes it just feels safer in a crowd or on a particularly seedy block of the city to keep the bag clutched closer to my body than to swing it down by my feet when carrying it tote-style. But the one handbag carrying style I absolutely cannot pull off is the crook-of-the-arm celebrity style. That's the one that makes me feel like a lady who lunches!

Beth

Veteran

I'm with April. Most of my bags these days have short tote handles. I tend to just hang them in the crook of my arm. At first I was really hesitant to switch from shoulder-strap bags, but it was an easy change and one I like now very much.

It's a lovely bag, Maya. I especially like the lining:)

Jonesy

Veteran

I hear you. I am not keen on those particular tote handles. They almost look decorative, they are so small. In general, I also have a hard time with bags that have that fold-over top piece (as this one does). Seems like it would be bothersome to have to buckle and un-buckle it when you are on the go. But maybe I'm just a cranky, persnickety type when it comes to handbags!

Maya

Veteran

Oh I remember now. Well the tying bag was a miss for other reasons. I'm less than enthused about having another Valentino-inspired bag. Aside from the original, real deal, which will always be stunning, I am beyond sick of seeing countless knockoffs crooked in the elbow of every woman in NYC. I think I'm more in the market for a bag without a lot of gewgaws and froufrouery.

So why did I post it? I do not know. It's still a pretty bag but I just can't see myself getting excited for it.

Nordstrom once had a lovely flat synthetic tote that came in a variety of brilliant sour colors. I am kicking myself for not getting it.

I guess since I don't really *love* any of these, I'm finding faults in them so I have a reason not to buy them. That should be a clear indicator that I should bypass all of them and hold out.

You know what the real problem is? I want a simple but beautiful bag, which tends to fall flat when it isn't made of sumptuous materials. Yes, brands like Stella McCartney and Matt and Nat do amazing things with synthetics, but a) I can't afford them and b) red is not on the color radar. Yes, this is going to be an uphill battle, I can tell....

taylor

Veteran

LOVE handle bags. this looks very similar to a black one I have:) VERY NICE Maya.

Steph

Veteran

Maya, I know you mentioned Matt and Nat and a desire for a red bag. Does this appeal to you at all?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NWT-Matt-a.....4cf03895e6

Maya

Veteran

It's too big, Steph. Matt and Nat tends to make very large bags. I really liked this bag and almost put a bid on it, even though it isn't red. I love the texture, shape, and hardware.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Matt-Nat-M.....255d286654

until I saw how huge it was:

http://www.revolveclothing.com.....%3DCatalog

Matt and Nat's Japanese Paper collection was so amazing. I wish they didn't kill it off. It didn't look like real leather but IMO it looked a lot cooler. Pretty and expensive looking without trying to look like something it isn't. I thought that was the perfect answer to a successful line of vegan accessories.

Crystal

That's exactly why I didn't choose that bag in your other thread. I can't stand handles like that. Now it may have something to do with the fact that I have four young girls and therefore, never a hand to hold a purse.

Barbara

Veteran

Maya, you are not picky, you are particular! That red satchel IS beautiful, but honestly, those handles would drive me bonkers. I prefer hobo shaped, one handle bags that fit nicely under the arm, close to the body with generously sized internal pockets for organization. For work and classes, I carry all of my extraneous stuff in a large, leather tote with rolled handles that fit comfortably over my shoulder. Are you familiar with Tignanello bags? Their bags come in fab colors and are excellent quality. Macy's usually has a great selection, and I've found several on Ebay, including a red hobo.

http://www.tignanello.com