For a color other than black I would choose red. I always feel red can go with any color more or less.
2018 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?
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No dressing up my bag today due to rain . I did use two different bags today. I wore my Mz metro tote in the morning and my Jerome Dreyfuss in the afternoon.
Wow, eight bags, that’s impressive!
Re. the Garden Party, I can definitely chime in. I used to have a whopping three of these, and now have just one. I have a love/hate relationship with this bag. I guess I feel like it should be the perfect tote, and in many ways, it is: understated, durable, super high quality, not too heavy for a leather bag of this size. But I’ve struggled with it, mainly because I need a shoulder bag and the GP was not really intended to be one. The handle drop is 6 inches, so it can fit over the shoulder, but it’s a tight fit, especially with a coat on (in the interest of full disclosure, my handles have stretched about 1/2 an inch to an inch). And the handles aren’t really comfortable over the shoulder either — they are rolled, not flat, and not the slightly-flattened rolled handles like on a Longchamp bag.
When I carry a bag of that size, it’s because I have a lot to carry that day, so my load is often heavy, which means I don’t want to carry the bag by hand. If I elbow-carry a loaded GP, the handles leave welts on my arm, and as I said, shoulder-carry isn’t great either. If I spent more time in a car and less on public transportation, I would probably love and use this bag a lot more!
So, I’ve gone from three of these, to two, and now to one as I just sent one off to consignment. The color I kept, funnily enough, is Rouge H. We’ll see if it stays. I love the color but if I find something that works better for me, I will have to decide whether to keep it or let it go.
I’ll be curious to see yours when you get it! The last time I saw a Rouge H GP on the Hermes website, it didn’t have the contrast stitching mine has, so I wonder if the photo was wrong or if they’ve changed it.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
And my 2 other bags just sold!! Though on installment terms (that is normally how it is when selling in my office). Good enough for me! I just said bye bye to my red small Longchamp Cuir and blue medium Longchamp Cuir. I think these 2 bags have identity crisis in my collection. They are super nice leather bags, but the style is casual. They didn't normally get worn during office days (except maybe during casual wear Fridays). When I travel, I use the nylon Longchamps. So maybe they are better off with their new owners.
Funny enough I was just considering the red small cuir! Good to know it’s seen as casual, I wanted a somewhat more formal looking but comfy to carry red bag.
Except for ebay (and mostly Japanese sellers), I have stopped looking at preloved sites. I am now mostly about getting good deals for brand new bags. Of course these are not "it" bags usually. Those would be too costly for me especially with the duties and taxes.
Do you talk bags with them? Maybe you can start a conversation and that would give you a better idea if they are open to preloved bags? Sometimes the ladies here prod me to sell them my bags.
8 bags out since January is great!! I just upped my tally by 3 today (1 from yesterday).
Hi @catsinthebag, thank you for your kind words and for your detailed review. You are speaking to my main concern, which is, can I wear it on my shoulder? I know some people can wear it on their shoulder, however, I know it is meant to be carried by hand or in the crook of the elbow - non shoulder carry is the reason why I haven’t purchased this bag yet. I recall my SA showed me a Rouge H Garden Party with Quadrige Lining three years ago and I turned it down back then. I like the contrast stitching on Rouge H, I feel it gives the bag a fresh look. What a brilliant assessment of the Garden Party, thank you.
To compare and contrast, I wore my Louis Vuitton Batignolles Horizontal today. It is lightweight (canvas), has flat straps and fits comfortably on the shoulder. The dimensions are similar to the GP. My BH is an easy, wonderful tote.
I will continue to do my research as I wait for the call - I’ll report back my decision either way.
Thanks catsinthebag!
To compare and contrast, I wore my Louis Vuitton Batignolles Horizontal today. It is lightweight (canvas), has flat straps and fits comfortably on the shoulder. The dimensions are similar to the GP. My BH is an easy, wonderful tote.
I will continue to do my research as I wait for the call - I’ll report back my decision either way.
Thanks catsinthebag!
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To me it looks casual (even if beautiful leather), but to some maybe not? I just want to share this - I have observed that some people here (my office and maybe even generally around here) equate price to aptness for an occasion, i.e., if a bag is at a certain higher price point, then it is appropriate for more formal events, regardless of the style. Just an observation.
You’re so welcome, I hope my rather brutal assessment was helpful!
LV really does know how to make comfortable, useful bags. I have a Totally PM that is just so easy to wear. When you do try on the GP, load it up and put it on your shouder — pay attention to the straps and also where the base of the bag hits you. It will soften over time but I find the edge of the base hits me about an inch below my rib cage, which can also be a little uncomfortable.
That said, I really struggled with the decision to let GP#2 go last week! I’ll be really interested to see what you decide.
I see the Longchamp Cuir bags as casual too — I think the duffle style plus the super-soft leather makes it hard for me to see them as dressy.
I appreciate your assessment and didn’t find it brutal, just authentic!You’re so welcome, I hope my rather brutal assessment was helpful!
LV really does know how to make comfortable, useful bags. I have a Totally PM that is just so easy to wear. When you do try on the GP, load it up and put it on your shouder — pay attention to the straps and also where the base of the bag hits you. It will soften over time but I find the edge of the base hits me about an inch below my rib cage, which can also be a little uncomfortable.
That said, I really struggled with the decision to let GP#2 go last week! I’ll be really interested to see what you decide.
CONGRATS on your sales. I know how hard it is for you sell in your market. So yay!!!I am now mostly about getting good deals for brand new bags. Of course these are not "it" bags usually. Those would be too costly for me especially with the duties and taxes.
Do you talk bags with them? Maybe you can start a conversation and that would give you a better idea if they are open to preloved bags? Sometimes the ladies here prod me to sell them my bags.
8 bags out since January is great!! I just upped my tally by 3 today (1 from yesterday).
It’s interesting that you’ve made this switch (in bold) as I’ve been shifting a little bit from my adamant preference for preowned.
I’ve gotten some amazing preloved deals but slowly switched to buying new. I’m a little wearying of the hunting / authentication / refurb hassle. But, mostly it’s impatience. My collection is finally in a great place. So, when I add, it’s to fill a specific gap. If I want a purple feathered XYZ, I want the purple feathered XYZ now...not when someone else has decided to sell theirs.
Also, when I was still figuring out my collection, I bought preloved to minimize losses on the highly likely chance I may flip the bag. Now, however, I am clear on what I want. 4 of my last 7 adds were brand new and (gasp!) full price. But they’re some of my best ever buys - I’ve worn them a LOT and still love them to pieces! Knowing what I want - and more importantly what I will keep - let’s me buy new because I’m not going to lose money from selling.
So, ideally, I’d buy everything new on sale. The problem is, most of the brands I’m most interested now in don’t have sales.
And, to add to the confusion, the only bags I really want from two of my favorite brands - Chanel and Dior - were made in previous seasons. So I still have to buy them preloved.
Anyone else changing their bag buying approach? Preloved to new? New to preloved? Big to small? Colorful to neutrals? Expensive to reasonably priced? Leather to vegan? Domestic brands to other sources? Change in preferred style? If so, what is the change and why?
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Thinking about my change in perspective on preloved / new made me go back to my list of “to buys” to see how I plan to source them. 
<Side note - I was surprised how outdated my list is.
Guess it’s good I waited. I’m not particularly excited about most of what I had on there.>
Going forward, I want mostly new bags. The problem is - nothing out right now is grabbing my attention.
I was in the mall last week and didn’t see even one bag that made my heart go pitty pat. The few bags I do like - Loewe puzzle, Celine belt, LV City Steamer, etc, I don’t like enough to buy full price b/c I’d be prone to flipping them. They aren’t “forever” bags for me.
The only new bag that I know I would dearly love and not flip is the Bal City Edge with the longer strap. I want this in black so I need to review my black bags to make sure it would have a good home with me.
<Side note - I was surprised how outdated my list is.
Guess it’s good I waited. I’m not particularly excited about most of what I had on there.>Going forward, I want mostly new bags. The problem is - nothing out right now is grabbing my attention.
I was in the mall last week and didn’t see even one bag that made my heart go pitty pat. The few bags I do like - Loewe puzzle, Celine belt, LV City Steamer, etc, I don’t like enough to buy full price b/c I’d be prone to flipping them. They aren’t “forever” bags for me.The only new bag that I know I would dearly love and not flip is the Bal City Edge with the longer strap. I want this in black so I need to review my black bags to make sure it would have a good home with me.