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berryblondeboys · Oct 23rd, 2009, 06:44 PM

I just found this fantastic isabella Fiore Tote in Floral embroidery. However, the handles are too short for me to wear it over my shoulder. I can in a T-shirt, just barely. Now, i'm fluffy which is part of the reason, but the drop length is 8.5 inches, but the width from where it connects to the bag is only 4.5 inches. Here's a picture to give you the idea (not mine, but the same).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ISABELLA-FIORE-P...item3a53a1ae07

Would it be awful to take it into a cobbler to have him put on a new black strap? It's nothing super fancy, though I probably wouldn't be able to get the same shape of strap, right? I've never taken ANYTHING to a cobbler/leather worker before.

Kills resale, right? (why do i always think about that??!?)

xIcyBluex · Oct 23rd, 2009, 08:26 PM

If you have your heart set on this bag and won't sell it until you get some good use out of it, I would say go for the alteration. There have been girls who have done alterations to their bags. I have read a thread on a girl who changed the inside of the bag so that is has sections. Others have changed the handles just like you are considering.

I have a suggestion that might be a little easier than changing the whole leather handle. It looks like the handles are attached with a metal ring that goes through the bag. I'm sure it would be easy to add another ring or two to that. It would give the bag a little bit of a chain strap but at the same time not too much. Your cobbler should be able to match the color closely or find a set of matching rings to switch out. Having the additional ring or two would give you more drop length.

As for resale, I would tell you not to worry about it. If you have a high turnover rate then you might want to reconsider. But I think if you do the alteration, you will love this bag and it will be more special to you. Hopefully you will keep it longer if you do choose to do it. If you take my suggestion and add the metal rings, it would be easy to take them off when you want to resell.

berryblondeboys · Oct 23rd, 2009, 10:04 PM

xlcyBluex, you are a genius! OMGosh yes!!! Adding another ring to each side would totally do the trick and then I could "redo" if I ever sell. I love how OPEN the tote can be, which is why I like it better than the hobo, but that drop length is for skinny people. Thank you SO MUCH.

berryblondeboys · Oct 23rd, 2009, 10:25 PM

would it be outrageous to contact the company directly to see if they would extend it for me? I've asked more mom and pop people to do such things for strollers and diaper bags, but never a major designer.

I wouldn't even know where to start to get customer service and STILL get the bag back this century even if they did take it to extend the handle. Heck... they might be offended I didn't find their creation perfect. What do I know?

xIcyBluex · Oct 24th, 2009, 12:49 AM

I think you can contact them directly since that should technically have extra rings to add onto it. Then you know they will be matching and everything too. I don't think that they will be offended in any sense. In fact, there are probably other girls having the same problem as you and so by you giving them some feedback on it, they might be able to make better bags for you in the future. I don't know what their customer service is like, but I would def contact them first and see what they are willing to do. The turnaround time is probably not as likely to be as fast as if you took it to a local store.

azureartist · Oct 24th, 2009, 01:41 AM

I would add a longer detachable strap like they do in Lockhearts cross body bags (that's where Isabella Fiore's designers went and started up their own company). Check it out here for inspiration: http://www.lockheart.com/

If you can't find one ready made, perhaps your cobbler can fashion one out of an old belt and add brass rings and lobster claw clasps.

That way you don't destroy the originality of the handbag and can wear it any length you like.

berryblondeboys · Oct 24th, 2009, 11:30 AM

Funny how things work out.

OK, so I found this tote at TJMaxx on Wednesday. I truly fell in love with the feel of the bag and the embroidery. I just NEEDED a fun bag, just for me. (Been a crappy spring/summer/fall).

But, that darn handle. So, yesterday I tried two other TJMaxx stores in my area to see if I could find it in the hobo - nope. but... I saw the harriet tote in smitten knittin in black. I LOVE the hang of the bag, the layout of the bad and everything. But, a fairly plain black bag... I already have a fairly plain black bag (Rafe Kate in pebbled goat skin).

Then I went home and searched all over the net and saw that there is a smitten knittin in copper... so tempting and then I realized. I don't even have a brown bag and my main shoes I wear are brown. My coat is brown. Why don't I have a brown bag?

So, then I thought to myself. Man if I could combine the harriet tote with the embroidery on that penelope tote and have it in brown, that would be perfect. I can't afford to have all three.

Then last night on feedbay I saw the harriet in brown with the same embroidery as the penelope tote! HELLO!!! It's mine! So, this tote will be going back to TJMaxx for someone else with skinny arms to buy! LOL

This is the one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

photomj · Oct 24th, 2009, 01:09 PM

I just took a Zac Posen bag into my local leather shop because the handle was made of some hard "bone" material and it actually hurt when sitting on your shoulder. They pulled that part out, restitched the handle and sealed it, all for $20! If you find a good luggage repair store in your area, they should be able to handle any repairs or changes to your bags.

I actually found a Michael Kors bag on sale at TJ that was missing one of its strap rings. There was no Kors store or Kors outlet that would sell me an "extra" ring, so I don't think going to the designer will help as they have no one place that they do production out of. Even the repair place didn't have a "matching" ring so I would have had to replace all of them and that just wasn't worth it.

I am ALWAYS looking into how to make current bag designs better!

Glad you found a bag you loved.

flashy.stems · Oct 24th, 2009, 05:54 PM

what a fascinating idea.. i'd probably try it with this bag.. just nothing too expensive. good luck, OP!

faline · Nov 15th, 2009, 09:48 PM

berryblondeboys - I have the same Harriet bag in black with awesome turquoise/multi embroidery. I also have the Harriet in Zen Garden (brown) and Baroque a Go Go (black/white). The Harriet is an awesome style and perfect size I think. Great choice!!!!

P.S. I wish I could find the one you found at my local TJ Maxx!

Oct 23rd, 2009, 06:44 PM	#1
berryblondeboys OP Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: VA (DC Burbs) Posts: 2,822	altering a bag's handles? I just found this fantastic isabella Fiore Tote in Floral embroidery. However, the handles are too short for me to wear it over my shoulder. I can in a T-shirt, just barely. Now, i'm fluffy which is part of the reason, but the drop length is 8.5 inches, but the width from where it connects to the bag is only 4.5 inches. Here's a picture to give you the idea (not mine, but the same). http://cgi.ebay.com/ISABELLA-FIORE-P...item3a53a1ae07 Would it be awful to take it into a cobbler to have him put on a new black strap? It's nothing super fancy, though I probably wouldn't be able to get the same shape of strap, right? I've never taken ANYTHING to a cobbler/leather worker before. Kills resale, right? (why do i always think about that??!?)
	__________________ When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

Oct 23rd, 2009, 08:26 PM	#2
xIcyBluex I want it. Joined: Jul 2007 Location: In my closet of bags! Posts: 1,941	If you have your heart set on this bag and won't sell it until you get some good use out of it, I would say go for the alteration. There have been girls who have done alterations to their bags. I have read a thread on a girl who changed the inside of the bag so that is has sections. Others have changed the handles just like you are considering. I have a suggestion that might be a little easier than changing the whole leather handle. It looks like the handles are attached with a metal ring that goes through the bag. I'm sure it would be easy to add another ring or two to that. It would give the bag a little bit of a chain strap but at the same time not too much. Your cobbler should be able to match the color closely or find a set of matching rings to switch out. Having the additional ring or two would give you more drop length. As for resale, I would tell you not to worry about it. If you have a high turnover rate then you might want to reconsider. But I think if you do the alteration, you will love this bag and it will be more special to you. Hopefully you will keep it longer if you do choose to do it. If you take my suggestion and add the metal rings, it would be easy to take them off when you want to resell.
	__________________ ~~~~ not lusting over anything just loving what i have ^__^ ~~~~

Oct 23rd, 2009, 10:04 PM	#3
berryblondeboys OP Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: VA (DC Burbs) Posts: 2,822	xlcyBluex, you are a genius! OMGosh yes!!! Adding another ring to each side would totally do the trick and then I could "redo" if I ever sell. I love how OPEN the tote can be, which is why I like it better than the hobo, but that drop length is for skinny people. Thank you SO MUCH.
	__________________ When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

Oct 23rd, 2009, 10:25 PM	#4
berryblondeboys OP Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: VA (DC Burbs) Posts: 2,822	would it be outrageous to contact the company directly to see if they would extend it for me? I've asked more mom and pop people to do such things for strollers and diaper bags, but never a major designer. I wouldn't even know where to start to get customer service and STILL get the bag back this century even if they did take it to extend the handle. Heck... they might be offended I didn't find their creation perfect. What do I know?
	__________________ When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

Oct 24th, 2009, 12:49 AM	#5
xIcyBluex I want it. Joined: Jul 2007 Location: In my closet of bags! Posts: 1,941	I think you can contact them directly since that should technically have extra rings to add onto it. Then you know they will be matching and everything too. I don't think that they will be offended in any sense. In fact, there are probably other girls having the same problem as you and so by you giving them some feedback on it, they might be able to make better bags for you in the future. I don't know what their customer service is like, but I would def contact them first and see what they are willing to do. The turnaround time is probably not as likely to be as fast as if you took it to a local store.
	__________________ ~~~~ not lusting over anything just loving what i have ^__^ ~~~~

Oct 24th, 2009, 01:41 AM	#6
azureartist Member Joined: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 818	I would add a longer detachable strap like they do in Lockhearts cross body bags (that's where Isabella Fiore's designers went and started up their own company). Check it out here for inspiration: http://www.lockheart.com/ If you can't find one ready made, perhaps your cobbler can fashion one out of an old belt and add brass rings and lobster claw clasps. That way you don't destroy the originality of the handbag and can wear it any length you like.
	__________________ Come and visit my Etsy shop for fine art printmaking. Last edited by azureartist; Oct 24th, 2009 at 02:04 AM.

Oct 24th, 2009, 11:30 AM	#7
berryblondeboys OP Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: VA (DC Burbs) Posts: 2,822	Funny how things work out. OK, so I found this tote at TJMaxx on Wednesday. I truly fell in love with the feel of the bag and the embroidery. I just NEEDED a fun bag, just for me. (Been a crappy spring/summer/fall). But, that darn handle. So, yesterday I tried two other TJMaxx stores in my area to see if I could find it in the hobo - nope. but... I saw the harriet tote in smitten knittin in black. I LOVE the hang of the bag, the layout of the bad and everything. But, a fairly plain black bag... I already have a fairly plain black bag (Rafe Kate in pebbled goat skin). Then I went home and searched all over the net and saw that there is a smitten knittin in copper... so tempting and then I realized. I don't even have a brown bag and my main shoes I wear are brown. My coat is brown. Why don't I have a brown bag? So, then I thought to myself. Man if I could combine the harriet tote with the embroidery on that penelope tote and have it in brown, that would be perfect. I can't afford to have all three. Then last night on feedbay I saw the harriet in brown with the same embroidery as the penelope tote! HELLO!!! It's mine! So, this tote will be going back to TJMaxx for someone else with skinny arms to buy! LOL This is the one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
	__________________ When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud Last edited by berryblondeboys; Oct 24th, 2009 at 11:56 AM. Reason: added link

Oct 24th, 2009, 01:09 PM	#8
photomj In the Thick of it Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Valrico, FL Posts: 1,599	I just took a Zac Posen bag into my local leather shop because the handle was made of some hard "bone" material and it actually hurt when sitting on your shoulder. They pulled that part out, restitched the handle and sealed it, all for $20! If you find a good luggage repair store in your area, they should be able to handle any repairs or changes to your bags. I actually found a Michael Kors bag on sale at TJ that was missing one of its strap rings. There was no Kors store or Kors outlet that would sell me an "extra" ring, so I don't think going to the designer will help as they have no one place that they do production out of. Even the repair place didn't have a "matching" ring so I would have had to replace all of them and that just wasn't worth it. I am ALWAYS looking into how to make current bag designs better! Glad you found a bag you loved.
	__________________ • Luxury Handbag Sales • Layaway & Consignment • International Shipping Shop Luxe Purses • Luxe Purses Blog Follow me on Twitter • Find me on Facebook

Oct 24th, 2009, 05:54 PM	#9
flashy.stems Hermès Hottie Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 2,148	what a fascinating idea.. i'd probably try it with this bag.. just nothing too expensive. good luck, OP!
	__________________ “I’m the worst wife in the cooking department. I always thought you can’t be good at food and sex, but you can always order the food in. I’d rather he didn’t order in the sex.” "You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many handbags." UHG!!! CL Black Mad Mary 37

Nov 15th, 2009, 09:48 PM	#10
faline Member Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 17	berryblondeboys - I have the same Harriet bag in black with awesome turquoise/multi embroidery. I also have the Harriet in Zen Garden (brown) and Baroque a Go Go (black/white). The Harriet is an awesome style and perfect size I think. Great choice!!!! P.S. I wish I could find the one you found at my local TJ Maxx!

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