I got that same bag today at Nordstroms!! I went there intending on getting it in the Elephant color, but once I got to the store and compared the bags, I liked the leather on the black bag much better. I wasn't really looking for another black bag, but the blue suede really makes the bag "pop" and the leather is heavenly!! While I loved the color of Elephant much better (and I don't own another bag like it), the leather was just too stiff and hard, and I didn't care for all the natural scuffing (it gave the bag a "used" appearance).
As far as the sample sale is concerned, I'd be surprised if they were marked down that much more - I think Nordstroms' markdown was somewhere around 35-40%. I did tell the Salesgirl that if they got marked down any further (which she said they probably would, but she didn't know when) to let me know. If they still have the Elephant, I might reconsider getting it. Either that one, or the MAB in Saddle, which was even softer than the black bag (it reminded me a lot of Gustto's Setela bag in caramel - the color and leather are very similar).
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