Dooney FLORENTINE Clubhouse!!

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Ok, so the teal micro Florentine satchel was too small for me. I’m considering the mini salmon but would love feedback from anyone who has any bag in this pretty color. Does it look as bright irl as it does in this photo..sometimes their photos aren’t so great at representing the color.
Thanks in advance!

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The Dooney Florentine Salmon color varies.... over the years, it's been quite different. In any given year, I don't know how much variation there is. So it is best to look at current bags, if you are buying new. And even then, between
photo quality and variations between bags, you probably won't know for sure until you get the bag home and look at it in person.

Early salmon was very red/orange. Then it was a softer coral shade. The last time I bought Flo salmon it was a very neon creamsicle color. I haven't seen a new Flo salmon in person in the last few years.
 
The Dooney Florentine Salmon color varies.... over the years, it's been quite different. In any given year, I don't know how much variation there is. So it is best to look at current bags, if you are buying new. And even then, between
photo quality and variations between bags, you probably won't know for sure until you get the bag home and look at it in person.

Early salmon was very red/orange. Then it was a softer coral shade. The last time I bought Flo salmon it was a very neon creamsicle color. I haven't seen a new Flo salmon in person in the last few years.
Thank you for that, I guess I won’t know until/if I order it to see it in person. Still on the fence but I do appreciate your reply.
 
Hello All!


I am watching the ILD natural florentine drawstring with the whip stitching. I want to pull the trigger but admit that I don’t use my natural flo bags due to fear of ruining them. They just sit in my closet. Not sure how to get over the fear and enjoy my Natutal bags. I had one that got a terrible water stain on it. So bad I sold it. Think it traumatized me. How do people feel about Dooney’s drawstring bags???
 
Hello All!


I am watching the ILD natural florentine drawstring with the whip stitching. I want to pull the trigger but admit that I don’t use my natural flo bags due to fear of ruining them. They just sit in my closet. Not sure how to get over the fear and enjoy my Natutal bags. I had one that got a terrible water stain on it. So bad I sold it. Think it traumatized me. How do people feel about Dooney’s drawstring bags???
I feel your pain. I also have many Florentine handbags -all colors and styles- but was afraid to use them. They sat quietly in my Dooney museum for 20 years or so. Until I found I had two of the large natural satchels. One I had purchased many years ago and is pebbled. I bought a smooth one that is absolutely flawless two years ago and call it “my perfect Dooney”. So this winter (in honor of my mom who died a year ago) I decided to use a Florentine, selecting the pebbled version for the test drive. I figured if it did not go well, I paid much less for it (probably less than $300 back in the day) than my new perfect one so I would feel OK if it became damaged due to scratches and snow. I felt so sophisticated and happy wearing it. I knew my mom would be yelling at me to “use those beautiful bags”. It got wet, it sat on bleacher floors at basketball games, it was banged around because while I somewhat baby my bags I am a little clumsy. In the end it looked as good as the day I bought it. I cannot wait to wear the next one. My advice is you only live once. Try it out for a day or two and slowly work yourself up to carrying the Florentine more and more. They are tougher than you think. And the dust bag is awesome for buffing out scratches, just do not use the blue dust bag on an ecru or light colored bag. Side note: I do not spray or treat my bags with anything.

I love the drawstrings! One of my top three favorite bag styles. It is just a fun bag to carry. The drawstring still has the pockets on the inside and so easy to get in and out AND with style! I have one caveat though - it must have the wide strap. I cannot use the thin strap/handle because once I load it up it becomes too heavy and the thin strap digs in if you know what I mean. Because all the contents are concentrated into a “small” area and not spread out as they would be in a satchel or tote, it can get heavy quickly. I say small but it is quite spacious. Dooney is usually generous with their sizing. I am currently eyeing the new Florentine drawstring with the braided pull and the pebbled drawstring in glacier. Both are pre-order and I rather order when in stock.

Good luck with your decision on the drawstring and enjoy those Florentines!
 
Hello All!


I am watching the ILD natural florentine drawstring with the whip stitching. I want to pull the trigger but admit that I don’t use my natural flo bags due to fear of ruining them. They just sit in my closet. Not sure how to get over the fear and enjoy my Natutal bags. I had one that got a terrible water stain on it. So bad I sold it. Think it traumatized me. How do people feel about Dooney’s drawstring bags???
I share the same concerns. I use my darker and brighter color Flo bags (carefully), but the natural, ecru, and bone are 'saved'. It's foolish, but I can't seem to change my handbag usage fears. I won't part with those treasures. But I don't fully enjoy them either. There is some joy in owning them, but I know it's a foolish way to
spend money and handbags take up a lot of space.

In general, I find that thicker and more pebbled Florentine leather is much heartier,
and stands up to regular use without a problem. The more 'perfect' florentine leather shows scratches easily. I don't use conditioners or water repellant sprays on my handbags. And I use light color dust bags (washed pillow cases) on any bags that are lighter than the Dooney dust bag color.

I have one of the original Dooney Florentine drawstring handbags in natural. It's stunning. I stalked that bag in the Dooney boutique for months and couldn't resist it, even though natural was not a color I was drawn to at the time. In that bag, with the contrast whip stitching, the natural looked amazing. It still does, since
it hasn't gotten much use. The original bag was large, and it does sag a bit
at the bottom, just above the border. I think the combination of the weight of the
bag/strap and the softness of the leather contributes to the slight puddling.
It doesn't bother me, but I do notice it, even when the bag is stuffed or filled.
But I love the look so much that I have been stalking the style and might add
another one to my collection. I don't need anymore handbags, so the price has
to be good enough to make me weaken. So far this year, I've bought only one
new handbag..... a record 'low buy' for me.
 
Considering purchasing a bag in color Ecru and one in Navy. I have a couple of bags in light taupe and love the color...it's one of my favorites and know it's probably a shade darker than Ecru. Anyone have any bags in Ecru or Navy? Any issues with color transfer/stains, scratches, etc in the Ecru? Any issues with the Navy showing obvious scratches, etc? How about issues with the bag patina over time? TIA y'all!
 
Considering purchasing a bag in color Ecru and one in Navy. I have a couple of bags in light taupe and love the color...it's one of my favorites and know it's probably a shade darker than Ecru. Anyone have any bags in Ecru or Navy? Any issues with color transfer/stains, scratches, etc in the Ecru? Any issues with the Navy showing obvious scratches, etc? How about issues with the bag patina over time? TIA y'all!
In my experience, Navy and Black Florentine are the most usable and relatively carefree colors. (I'm guessing the Tmoro brown falls in the same category). The navy and the black don't show scratches and water marks, in my experience. I've
never had color transfer from or onto a navy or black Dooney Florentine handbag.
And a soft cloth brings out the glow and masks any surface signs of wear.

Light color Florentine leather is fragile.... it can easily pick up dirt and color transfer and since the surface of the florentine leather is not treated (it's porous), the dirt is easily absorbed into the fibers of the leather, making it very hard to clean.
If you wear light color florentine leather, it's best to check it for surface dirt or
color transfer every day and attempt to deal with it before it can become permanent.
It's not a foolproof system, and it requires time/energy, but I think it's the only way to keep light color florentine looking pristine.

Think of it this way, some very high end handbag lines feature small scarfs wound around the handles of their bags..... to keep the handles clean! Yes, those little silk scarfs add color, and are a money maker for the brand..... but aside from buying into the marketing hype, women wrap their leather handbag handles to keep them clean and preserve an expensive handbag 'investment'.
 
In my experience, Navy and Black Florentine are the most usable and relatively carefree colors. (I'm guessing the Tmoro brown falls in the same category). The navy and the black don't show scratches and water marks, in my experience. I've
never had color transfer from or onto a navy or black Dooney Florentine handbag.
And a soft cloth brings out the glow and masks any surface signs of wear.

Light color Florentine leather is fragile.... it can easily pick up dirt and color transfer and since the surface of the florentine leather is not treated (it's porous), the dirt is easily absorbed into the fibers of the leather, making it very hard to clean.
If you wear light color florentine leather, it's best to check it for surface dirt or
color transfer every day and attempt to deal with it before it can become permanent.
It's not a foolproof system, and it requires time/energy, but I think it's the only way to keep light color florentine looking pristine.

Think of it this way, some very high end handbag lines feature small scarfs wound around the handles of their bags..... to keep the handles clean! Yes, those little silk scarfs add color, and are a money maker for the brand..... but aside from buying into the marketing hype, women wrap their leather handbag handles to keep them clean and preserve an expensive handbag 'investment'.
Thank you so much! This has been super helpful. I adore the navy, especially with the red glazing/trim....very classy. I own one black florentine bag but haven't used it yet. Actually, I haven't gotten around to using a lot of my bags, tbh. I will definitely consider my color choice wisely. Thanks so much again!
 
I feel your pain. I also have many Florentine handbags -all colors and styles- but was afraid to use them. They sat quietly in my Dooney museum for 20 years or so. Until I found I had two of the large natural satchels. One I had purchased many years ago and is pebbled. I bought a smooth one that is absolutely flawless two years ago and call it “my perfect Dooney”. So this winter (in honor of my mom who died a year ago) I decided to use a Florentine, selecting the pebbled version for the test drive. I figured if it did not go well, I paid much less for it (probably less than $300 back in the day) than my new perfect one so I would feel OK if it became damaged due to scratches and snow. I felt so sophisticated and happy wearing it. I knew my mom would be yelling at me to “use those beautiful bags”. It got wet, it sat on bleacher floors at basketball games, it was banged around because while I somewhat baby my bags I am a little clumsy. In the end it looked as good as the day I bought it. I cannot wait to wear the next one. My advice is you only live once. Try it out for a day or two and slowly work yourself up to carrying the Florentine more and more. They are tougher than you think. And the dust bag is awesome for buffing out scratches, just do not use the blue dust bag on an ecru or light colored bag. Side note: I do not spray or treat my bags with anything.

I love the drawstrings! One of my top three favorite bag styles. It is just a fun bag to carry. The drawstring still has the pockets on the inside and so easy to get in and out AND with style! I have one caveat though - it must have the wide strap. I cannot use the thin strap/handle because once I load it up it becomes too heavy and the thin strap digs in if you know what I mean. Because all the contents are concentrated into a “small” area and not spread out as they would be in a satchel or tote, it can get heavy quickly. I say small but it is quite spacious. Dooney is usually generous with their sizing. I am currently eyeing the new Florentine drawstring with the braided pull and the pebbled drawstring in glacier. Both are pre-order and I rather order when in stock.

Good luck with your decision on the drawstring and enjoy those Florentines!
Thanks for the encouragement! I will rock my natural this week! Hopefully it will be okay.
 
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I share the same concerns. I use my darker and brighter color Flo bags (carefully), but the natural, ecru, and bone are 'saved'. It's foolish, but I can't seem to change my handbag usage fears. I won't part with those treasures. But I don't fully enjoy them either. There is some joy in owning them, but I know it's a foolish way to
spend money and handbags take up a lot of space.

In general, I find that thicker and more pebbled Florentine leather is much heartier,
and stands up to regular use without a problem. The more 'perfect' florentine leather shows scratches easily. I don't use conditioners or water repellant sprays on my handbags. And I use light color dust bags (washed pillow cases) on any bags that are lighter than the Dooney dust bag color.

I have one of the original Dooney Florentine drawstring handbags in natural. It's stunning. I stalked that bag in the Dooney boutique for months and couldn't resist it, even though natural was not a color I was drawn to at the time. In that bag, with the contrast whip stitching, the natural looked amazing. It still does, since
it hasn't gotten much use. The original bag was large, and it does sag a bit
at the bottom, just above the border. I think the combination of the weight of the
bag/strap and the softness of the leather contributes to the slight puddling.
It doesn't bother me, but I do notice it, even when the bag is stuffed or filled.
But I love the look so much that I have been stalking the style and might add
another one to my collection. I don't need anymore handbags, so the price has
to be good enough to make me weaken. So far this year, I've bought only one
new handbag..... a record 'low buy' for me.
That sounds like the drawstring bag! I may pull the trigger if the price ends up back at 199 again! It’s very pretty! Can’t find many reviews or pictures of it. Very few reviews on YT
 
Hello All!


I am watching the ILD natural florentine drawstring with the whip stitching. I want to pull the trigger but admit that I don’t use my natural flo bags due to fear of ruining them. They just sit in my closet. Not sure how to get over the fear and enjoy my Natutal bags. I had one that got a terrible water stain on it. So bad I sold it. Think it traumatized me. How do people feel about Dooney’s drawstring bags???
I am I new Dooney girl (except for a crossbody wallet from the 80s). I have worn my natural, navy, and chestnut bags several times in the rain. Not a mark or stain on them. I am not gentle at all. I did pre treat them all with Apple Guard. I have a 20 yr old lambskin tote, in another brand. That poor thing was never treated, banged around and thrown under airplane seats many, many times. There is one water mark that doesn’t bother me. I had to decide to either admire them on a shelf, or use them up. I do both.
 
Hi. I purchased my first Dooney & Bourke Florentine domed buckle satchel, large navy. I’m wondering how heavy is this bag? I see all the videos say the florentine satchel is heavy. It’s so beautiful and I was worried I could not handle the weight. The bag I chose I’m hoping to tolerate. I have neck issues so crossbody bags are a no for me.

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Hi. I purchased my first Dooney & Bourke Florentine domed buckle satchel, large navy. I’m wondering how heavy is this bag? I see all the videos say the florentine satchel is heavy. It’s so beautiful and I was worried I could handle the weight. The bag I chose I’m hoping to tolerate. I have neck issues so crossbody bags are a no for me.

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The Florentine handbag you purchased is beautiful and one of the larger bags. Since the Florentine leather is full grain, it is thicker, and therefore heavier than lower quality leathers. Add the belting and hardware, and this bag can seem on the heavy side.
But that all depends on your personal sensitivity to handbag weight issues and also
what you carry.

I don't think Dooney lists the weights on handbags anymore, but my guess is that this
bag is over 2.5 lbs. From memory, it's lighter than the larger of the Florentine satchels.
(the one with the 15" base) called medium or large, depending upon when it was bought)
and heavier than the small Florentine satchel (the one with the 12" base).

I am also very sensitive to handbag weight and can't carry a shoulder bag or a bag
crossbody. I find that sometimes a larger handbag, where my items are distributed
across the bag, feels lighter than a smaller more compact handbag where everything
is packed together like a brick. I know that weight is weight, but a pound of feathers takes up more space than a pound of sand and the feathers seem to be much lighter because the weight is distributed over a much larger area.

Also, what you put inside the handbag makes a huge difference. I see so many videos of
'what's in my bag' where a handbag is really packed and others where ladies carry just
a few items. Then there is the added weight of pouches or handbag organizers. The leather pouches are beautiful and oh so elegant, but add weight. And concentrating the
items together in either a pouch or an organizer, makes everything seem heavier, to me.

I like my handbag organized and I also carry too much stuff, in case I need it. So my
handbags always seem heavy, even the nylon ones. But, I'm a leather snob, and I just
love to have a really good leather handbag. It's a challenge.

Try out your new bag with your stuff inside. Hopefully you can get it to work for you by
using the space and distributing your items. Good luck.
 
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