Handbag Help: Please cast your vote - YouLookFab Forum

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Handbag Help: Please cast your vote

Jewell

Veteran

One of the items I find myself in need of is a navy handbag. I want one that isn't too dressy or too casual and that will last a good long time. Despite my urge to snap up the Fossil crossbody I found a few weeks ago, I recited Angie's Triple "P" Purchasing Principle and kept looking. Well today I found these- both apparently newer arrivals. Which do you like more of the two? Other suggestions?

Bag One: Kate Spade Mansfield Rosemary
I have no experience with Kate Spade, so I don't know what to expect. The bag is an online exclusive, so it's unlikely that I'll be able to view it in person. I have a 15% off promo code, too. One hesitation I have is the gold hardware. Do you think it would clash with my silver jewelry?
http://www.katespade.com/desig.....term=29302

Bag Two: Coach Poppy Leather New Willis
This bag is smaller, but the upside to that is it can be worn as a crossbody.
http://www.coach.com/online/ha.....d%3D100625

Thanks for voting!

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Jewell

taylor

Veteran

I love the look of the Kate Spade, and I think the gold hardware is so minimal that it won't clash at all:)

The coach link just takes me to there website and isn't showing me the exact bag...but I am not a huge Coach fan anyway

My vote is Kate Spade!!!! 100%

Debbie

Veteran

I vote Kate Spade too! Very nice bag!

Anonymous

Kate Spade for me too!

danza.armonia

Kate Spade!!

Anonymous

The Kate Spade bag seems simple, beautiful and practical. The gold hardware is very minimal. I can see how this would take anything your wore up a notch or two! Nice!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Kate Spade, all the way!!! I just got a KS for Christmas and I LOVE it. The lines of your purse choice are beautiful and I wouldn't worry about the metal hardware color.

shipskitty

Veteran

I'm the contrary voice. I live the coach poppy bag - but then I love being able to wear a bag crossbody. I also wear pretty much exclusively silver and prefer the hardware to match on my bags.

They are both nice bags though and the gold hardware on the Kate Spade is fairly subtle.

I've never owned either brand myself though.

(edited for typos)

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

I vote for Kate Spade! While I've never owned a Kate Spade bag, I did go shopping for one, and their quality is good. I also have a navy bag very similar to the KS one and it goes with absolutely everything and I always get compliments on it!

Jjsloane

Veteran

Kate Spade all the way. I barely see the hardware (and I'm not hung up on matching it anyway but if it's your thing please consider it)

Lisa

Veteran

I wouldn't worry about matching metals, it's quite common to mix them up right now anyway.

I am a big fan of Kate Spade bags, the leather wears really nice overtime and they are just really nice well made bags. I was a bigger fan of Coach a few years back. I feel like their leather has changed and it just isn't the same to me. So my personal bias is Kate Spade!

Anna

I've never owned either brand, but the Kate Spade bag seems geared to an older woman, while the Coach seems a little more fun and youthful. Depends on the image you want to project. If you are older, or want to seem older, or have a need-to-be-taken-seriously profession, then the Spade bag seems to fit the bill.

diane

I thought the Spade was rather boring. I think a bag should be rather an accent. I liked most all of the coach bags, and would be happy to have any of them. I love Fossil bags too!

rae

(website)

Veteran

I vote for the Coach! The KS doesn't seem practical to me, and I think the Coach design is also more elegant.

Deborah

Veteran

Jewell I am sorry i don"t know your style well enough yet to say which I think suits your better but I like the Coach bag. I like the versatility and the style. The KS bag is lovely too but I find it a little uninteresting:(

Erica

Coach for me, because most of my bags are crossbody or shoulder bags. Also, that tassel has stolen my heart!

Kari

Veteran

I think the unusual shape and color of the Coach bag are really intriguing, but I still think that it will still be versatile enough to pair with many outfits. It's a bit more of a statement bag.

Marley

Veteran

I like both bags - but it seems to me that the Coach bag would be more versatile for you - also it is just a little bit more "fun" looking!

MNsara

Veteran

Sorry, but I don't know your style well (just a couple fab outfits I found you in the other day), so this is my preferences: I prefer the shape of the Coach, but I am a true kate spade fan.

Both should be well constructed bags, but somehow my kate spade bags have held up better, looking better longer, than any of my other brands!

You've picked two great bags and I doubt you could go wrong with either one. Is there any little nagging doubt about one in your gut, or a leaning toward one but you're making yourself reconsider. (Those are the moments I wish I'd learn to pay attention to.)

Ginkgo

Veteran

The Kate Spade bag is so elegant, it's the one that definitely spoke to me! Like the others, I don't think the gold hardware is significant enough to be a problem for you, but how much do you want/need a cross-body bag?

ManidipaM

Veteran

I'm voting Coach, in this case, and not because of the hardware.

Being on Team Silver, I'm usually adamant about the matching --- but the particular shape, size and placement on the Kate Spade, together with the subtler, not too shiny tone of the metal makes the hardware practically disappear...

BUT I think the Coach is (a) more versatile to carry, especially if like me, you prefer to go hands-free mostly, and (b) easier to dress up or down than the Kate Spade.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I love Kate Spade so I'd probably go for that one between the two. But as Angie dubbed me Queen Fossil I have to put in a plug for Fossil bags--they are great and more affordable and still very stylish! Which one was it that you were considering? Did you see this one--Maddox satchel in navy? (since you said you wanted silver hardware)
http://www.zappos.com/fossil-maddox-satchel-navy
I feel like it strikes a great balance between not too old and not too young looking, can be dressed up or dressed down, hand carried or worn over the shoulder, etc. I really like the "doctor's bag" style. I might even consider getting one myself in a fun color one of these days.

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Jewell

Veteran

I am so appreciative of all of you who weighed in with your thoughts and/or suggestions! A lot of good questions were asked- many of which I hadn't thought of. I should get feedback from you all more often. That might just cure me of my impulsivity : )

Just when I thought the KS bag had won by a landslide, team Coach showed up to the polls- lol

I especially appreciate those of you who pointed out that the Kate Spade bag is rather plain while the Coach bag has more visual interest. That got me to thinking: would I rather have a plain bag that can be jazzed up with a pretty scarf tied to the handle or an interesting bag that I may grow tired of once the novelty wears off? Definitely something to consider.

Practicality is another issue. I like the idea of crossbody bags, but truthfully I never like wearing them. The straps interfere with the seamless look of my outfits and I feel like I'm wearing a seatbelt. I generally prefer bags that can be carried either on my shoulder or in the crook of my elbow. One more thing for me to ponder.

You can see from these photos that I carry a wide assortment of bags. Here are the 5 that are currently in rotation:
1. Dooney & Bourke toggle sac (usually worn on my shoulder)
2. Nine West shopper
3. skirt purse in Herringbone Spot pattern (usually worn on my shoulder)
4. Kenneth Cole mini satchel
5. Michael Kors croco satchel

goldenpig, I've looked at that Fossil bag a few times. I love everything about it except the giant lock on the front. I like both the Fossil bag you have and the one lyn* recently bought. I had a Fossil crossbody in olive green saved to my favorites list on Zappos, but it sold out : (

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