Update on crispy Legacy Slim Tote! This bag will never be perfect which I knew, but wow the oil made a huge difference. Here's what I looked like after three coats of leather CPR.
Crackly leather on sides from being stored flat:
So the leather CPR was just not intense enough. I got some Obenauf's oil. The first treatment made a huge difference!
The straps would actually bend without me fearing a resounding "crack!"
I've never used oil before so I'm not sure if this is a bad idea, but I decided to do a second treatment for good measure. So that coat is soaking in now.
Hopefully that doesn't make it a greasy mess forever.
Letting it sit on the side to take the strain off the cracks:
Bendy straps!
Close up of the crackled leather:
Crackly leather on sides from being stored flat:
So the leather CPR was just not intense enough. I got some Obenauf's oil. The first treatment made a huge difference!
The straps would actually bend without me fearing a resounding "crack!"
I've never used oil before so I'm not sure if this is a bad idea, but I decided to do a second treatment for good measure. So that coat is soaking in now.
Hopefully that doesn't make it a greasy mess forever.
Letting it sit on the side to take the strain off the cracks:
Bendy straps!
Close up of the crackled leather:
) so I am taking notes. And by the way I have been eyeing this style/line and see it in my future. I too have used Obenauf's Oil and the bags I have used it on exude a (nice) leather smell after use, as opposed to one's I only used Leather Therapy R/C. Side note if you are lurking: Obenaf's can be a total runny mess so make sure you spread out lots of newspaper, aren't rushed and keep paper towels/old cloths handy. And it could takes weeks for the color (after using Obenauf's) to even out, as it did on tabac/putty bag I overdid it with!
I agree about the nice leather smell! It was kind of surprising. Also, yes, I have this bag sitting on a towel on my bathroom counter and I do one section at a time with the oil so that I don't get it everywhere. Good luck with your Vachetta future! 
I'm getting ready to go on travel, so I'm going to let the bag rest for a week and then see if it's time for a coat of Blackrocks, or another oil treatment! Also, now that I know the bag is salvage-able, I need to start thinking about all the edgepaint issues. 
I was dropping off another bag at the cobbler and he said it couldn't be done. Wonder if he means it's too much of a hassle. Waiting to go on my desktop to look through dying pics.
