KDC, that VDE is beautiful! I know it was quite a search, so I'm glad you love it.
I have the oldie perspective on the leather issue, in that I think it was more consistently good, though never without variation, up through 2005. You could find bags that were smoother, with little distressing, if that was your taste, and the occasional super distressed one, too. By fall of 2005, a few thinner, much shinier, and even slightly veiny bags had shown up. I wasn't a fan overall of 2006, because of the veininess and dryness issues, though I've seen some great bags and have one. I just gave up and didn't search. 2007 was a major improvement, but the nice leather is a new kind of nice. I sometimes don't like the bags that are so thick they almost seem puffy, but that's a matter of personal taste. The best thing about 2007 was the return of a measure of consistency. There have been a lot of variations in the leather, from RH to GH, pre-season to season, but I felt pretty comfortable ordering and not fearing I'd get an awful bag. I don't mind having different kinds of leather. I think 2008 may take some effort and selection. I have 2 new bags, and both are really gorgeous, but totally different. My BG is sort of like a 2005 bag, but with a little more gloss. VT is more like a great 2007 bag, but again with a little different finish.
I've only seen my 2 and about 25 or so others IRL, but one 2008 difference seems to be in finish, and it seems to show more on the lighter colors. (?) They have a sort of glazey look that can make the distressing look crackly and dry, or almost veiny, when it isn't always. The Pale Magenta bags are the most extreme. So far, the ones I've seen IRL are too veiny for me, and not nearly as nice as ones I've seen posted. Oddly, when I actually handled a couple of them, including ones with GGH, they felt soft and smooshy and not at all how they appeared. I saw some white bags with GGH, and they looked pretty glossy and smooth, while the few black bags were pretty crackly looking, and not deep dark black because of that. I saw one beautiful Sahara city with SGH, and another just like it with dryer and veiny leather. So far, just based on the relatively few I've seen in person, I'd say mixed, but definitely not all bad!
I have the oldie perspective on the leather issue, in that I think it was more consistently good, though never without variation, up through 2005. You could find bags that were smoother, with little distressing, if that was your taste, and the occasional super distressed one, too. By fall of 2005, a few thinner, much shinier, and even slightly veiny bags had shown up. I wasn't a fan overall of 2006, because of the veininess and dryness issues, though I've seen some great bags and have one. I just gave up and didn't search. 2007 was a major improvement, but the nice leather is a new kind of nice. I sometimes don't like the bags that are so thick they almost seem puffy, but that's a matter of personal taste. The best thing about 2007 was the return of a measure of consistency. There have been a lot of variations in the leather, from RH to GH, pre-season to season, but I felt pretty comfortable ordering and not fearing I'd get an awful bag. I don't mind having different kinds of leather. I think 2008 may take some effort and selection. I have 2 new bags, and both are really gorgeous, but totally different. My BG is sort of like a 2005 bag, but with a little more gloss. VT is more like a great 2007 bag, but again with a little different finish.
I've only seen my 2 and about 25 or so others IRL, but one 2008 difference seems to be in finish, and it seems to show more on the lighter colors. (?) They have a sort of glazey look that can make the distressing look crackly and dry, or almost veiny, when it isn't always. The Pale Magenta bags are the most extreme. So far, the ones I've seen IRL are too veiny for me, and not nearly as nice as ones I've seen posted. Oddly, when I actually handled a couple of them, including ones with GGH, they felt soft and smooshy and not at all how they appeared. I saw some white bags with GGH, and they looked pretty glossy and smooth, while the few black bags were pretty crackly looking, and not deep dark black because of that. I saw one beautiful Sahara city with SGH, and another just like it with dryer and veiny leather. So far, just based on the relatively few I've seen in person, I'd say mixed, but definitely not all bad!
What does this mean? What's different about 05 leather? Is it much better than the leather of subsequent seasons??? I've seen pictures in the Clubhouse, but can someone describe it in more detail? Thanks!!
took the words right out of my mouth, sunny07 
