Favorite and Least Favorite Dooney and Bourke Handbag

[G.Allyn]

I'm being nosy! I'll go first.

Favorite Alto Fina in Oyster. I love the color and the simplicity of the bag. It was love at first site.

Least Favorite Alto Viola in T-Moro. The wonky handle has bugged me for years. I'm not sure if it has been carried. I think I paid $399.00. Not my best Dooney buy, but it seem iconic and I don't want to part with it. I purchased when it was being discontinued and made the purchase in the only color I could get my hands on from the L.V. store.

 

[DBLover318]

How fun! Let's see....

My favorite D&B would have to be my Black-on-Black Pebbled Leather Drawstring Bucket Bag. It's so easy to carry and to get in and out of. I also recently purchased this bag in Oyster and Teal (for the spring/summer months).

My least favorite would probably be the Florentine Large (formerly medium size) Satchel in Chestnut. It was my holy grail bag back in the day and now I only use it on Thanksgiving to go with my outfit. It's a super heavy bag and awkward to carry and I almost hate picking that particular bag as my least as it was initially my favorite and now is mainly a collection piece. As I continue to age, I'm realizing more and more the weight of these bags, and I have quite a few D&B that are on the heavier side. I have a few of the Florentine Satchels now in the regular size and one in a small and find while a bit weighty, they work for me. I will not part with any of them, including the large, as I consider them collection pieces.

 

[lavenderjunkie]

Really hard question. I'll have to give the question some thought.
Meanwhile, I always wanted the Alto Viola. It's such a beautiful handbag.
But I never found the large at a good price and I knew the other sizes would
be too small for me.

I love Alto leather, but to be honest, I don't find any of my Alto bags
particularly easy to get in and out of.

I love my Florentine and Pebbled Leather bags. But any Florentine that
is large enough (from back in the day) is too heavy now. And any style
with a fold over top zipper, like the satchel, no matter what the size is
a challenge for me to get in and out of while on the move. The small is
now my best size for function, but it's heavy. The mini satchel used to
be my go to, but now I'm finding it too small. Love the look of the Clayton
and the Buckley, but I can't lift them now.

I guess my favorite style Dooney is a domed satchel. Whether Florentine
or Pebble leather, of even maybe an Alto from back in the day. Haven't seen
that domed Alto satchel in a few years, don't remember if it's big enough for
for my current needs or if it was a smaller size. It's buried somewhere in
the closet.

I love the look of drawstring bags, but since I hand carry, they are not
the most comfortable carry for me. And most totes have handles that
are a tiny bit too long for hand carry. They work, but the extra handle
length makes the bag swing and it's a more awkward carry and feels heavier.

I love the look of the ostrich and some of the croco.... but I'm a leather
snob, and I prefer the feel of Alto, Florentine, or Pebble leather.
The Dillen line is a really nice pebbled leather, but it tends to be heavy.
None of this has stopped me from buying any of these bags, often more than 1.

Is there a perfect bag for me? Or are they many great bags,
but none of them perfect?

 

[G.Allyn]

How fun! Let's see....

My favorite D&B would have to be my Black-on-Black Pebbled Leather Drawstring Bucket Bag. It's so easy to carry and to get in and out of. I also recently purchased this bag in Oyster and Teal (for the spring/summer months).

My least favorite would probably be the Florentine Large (formerly medium size) Satchel in Chestnut. It was my holy grail bag back in the day and now I only use it on Thanksgiving to go with my outfit. It's a super heavy bag and awkward to carry and I almost hate picking that particular bag as my least as it was initially my favorite and now is mainly a collection piece. As I continue to age, I'm realizing more and more the weight of these bags, and I have quite a few D&B that are on the heavier side. I have a few of the Florentine Satchels now in the regular size and one in a small and find while a bit weighty, they work for me. I will not part with any of them, including the large, as I consider them collection pieces.

It's funny how our handbag taste in bags changes and the function is ever changing to meet our needs.

Oh, the teal color you mentioned has me obsessed lately.

This morning I was carrying my Stanwich satchel in natural with t-moro trim. I picked my dog up from the dog groomer and he was extra wiggly. Not wanting my bag to get scratched, I was distracted when I paid for the service. It's $60 and I give $15 tip, but in my distraction I paid $95. Oh, well.
At least I saved the bag.

 

[G.Allyn]

Really hard question. I'll have to give the question some thought.
Meanwhile, I always wanted the Alto Viola. It's such a beautiful handbag.
But I never found the large at a good price and I knew the other sizes would
be too small for me.

I love Alto leather, but to be honest, I don't find any of my Alto bags
particularly easy to get in and out of.

I love my Florentine and Pebbled Leather bags. But any Florentine that
is large enough (from back in the day) is too heavy now. And any style
with a fold over top zipper, like the satchel, no matter what the size is
a challenge for me to get in and out of while on the move. The small is
now my best size for function, but it's heavy. The mini satchel used to
be my go to, but now I'm finding it too small. Love the look of the Clayton
and the Buckley, but I can't lift them now.

I guess my favorite style Dooney is a domed satchel. Whether Florentine
or Pebble leather, of even maybe an Alto from back in the day. Haven't seen
that domed Alto satchel in a few years, don't remember if it's big enough for
for my current needs or if it was a smaller size. It's buried somewhere in
the closet.

I love the look of drawstring bags, but since I hand carry, they are not
the most comfortable carry for me. And most totes have handles that
are a tiny bit too long for hand carry. They work, but the extra handle
length makes the bag swing and it's a more awkward carry and feels heavier.

I love the look of the ostrich and some of the croco.... but I'm a leather
snob, and I prefer the feel of Alto, Florentine, or Pebble leather.
The Dillen line is a really nice pebbled leather, but it tends to be heavy.
None of this has stopped me from buying any of these bags, often more than 1.

Is there a perfect bag for me? Or are they many great bags,
but none of them perfect?

The domed satchel, zip-zip is probably the most functional Dooney bag. A favorite carry for about ten years.

I think my Viola is the big version. I still don't like it.

Was the Alto Sabrina the one you were talking about? A great bag I missed out on.

 

[lavenderjunkie]

The domed satchel, zip-zip is probably the most functional Dooney bag. A favorite carry for about ten years.

I think my Viola is the big version. I still don't like it.

Was the Alto Sabrina the one you were talking about? A great bag I missed out on.

Yes, I have the Alto Sabrina. Thanks for providing the name for us.
I really do like that bag, I'll have to go hunting for it.

 

[mushroomNgrass]

im in my mini Florentine satchel in the color chestnut. I love it and im glad I was able to pick it up during one of my last trips to the outlet.got that cute leather shroomie charm off of Etsy. I love that it's leather and. doesn't scratch my Florentine.

 

[mushroomNgrass]

my favorite Dooney is this small Captiva in navy cabriolet. I love it so much and use it daily as it holds my skincare.

 

[G.Allyn]

im in my mini Florentine satchel in the color chestnut. I love it and im glad I was able to pick it up during one of my last trips to the outlet.got that cute leather shroomie charm off of Etsy. I love that it's leather and. doesn't scratch my Florentine.View attachment 6135222

Good choice! I love the chestnut florentine. Such an amazing rich brown, the depth of color, but it still goes with so much.

 

[G.Allyn]

my favorite DooneyView attachment 6135235View attachment 6135236 is this small Captiva in navy cabriolet. I love it so much and use it daily as it holds my skincare.

I have never seen this bag. Thanks for sharing. The navy with the contrasting leather is perfect. And as many of you know, I love a structured bag and this is a good one.

 

[RuedeNesle]

My favorite, and this probably isn't fair because it's my newest bag, is my Pebble Grain domed satchel. This has been a great every day bag for me. I've been carrying it for only a month (delivered January 28th). It has enough space for my calendar book, notebook, wallet, and my other day to day items. It's casual enough to carry to Walmart but classy enough to carry out to dinner.



Brace yourself for my least favorite.
If I have to rate my Dooney bags favorite to least favorite one has to be last. And it is my Avatar picture bag, my Florentine Toscana satchel. It's too heavy to carry daily, and I thought I would be okay with the fixed handles, but I'm not. At one point I said they didn't bother me, but they do now. When I used it as my carry on bag one time I couldn't fit it under the seat standing up because of the handles. I had to lay it sideways which meant the front or back of the bag was on the floor. Plus it was very heavy with my carry on items.


The Toscana satchel and domed satchel are almost identical in style. Both have an outside back zipper pocket. The domed satchel is not lightweight but it is lighter and easier to carry than the Toscana satchel.

 

[lavenderjunkie]

My favorite, and this probably isn't fair because it's my newest bag, is my Pebble Grain domed satchel. This has been a great every day bag for me. I've been carrying it for only a month (delivered January 28th). It has enough space for my calendar book, notebook, wallet, and my other day to day items. It's casual enough to carry to Walmart but classy enough to carry out to dinner.

View attachment 6137661

Brace yourself for my least favorite.
If I have to rate my Dooney bags favorite to least favorite one has to be last. And it is my Avatar picture bag, my Florentine Toscana satchel. It's too heavy to carry daily, and I thought I would be okay with the fixed handles, but I'm not. At one point I said they didn't bother me, but they do now. When I used it as my carry on bag one time I couldn't fit it under the seat standing up because of the handles. I had to lay it sideways which meant the front or back of the bag was on the floor. Plus it was very heavy with my carry on items.
View attachment 6137663

The Toscana satchel and domed satchel are almost identical in style. Both have an outside back zipper pocket. The domed satchel is not lightweight but it is lighter and easier to carry than the Toscana satchel.

Details are important, in handbags, as in most other things. And what works for each of us may be different....not only from each other, but also over time.

I totally understand. The Toscana is beautiful (I have one too), but in addition to the weight and fixed handles, I find the leather, while stunning, shows scratches and water stains.

Pebble leather bags are great every day carefree bags, and it sounds like the version of the pebbled zip zip satchel you have
is a great design. I don't have that particular pebble zip satchel, I have quite a few of the original zip zip satchels, the ones with the leather trimming around the base of the bag and the contrasting handles. I think the ones I have are probably a tiny bit narrower across the base and also heavier. And they don't have a back pocket. If I ever get off of Ban Island, I might have to buy
the domed pebble satchel you have. It sounds
like a bag that would work
very well for my needs, and I love the addition of the back outside
zip pocket.

Thanks for sharing all the details. I've overlooked this design thinking
it wasn't an improvement on the ones I already owned. Details matter.

 

[RuedeNesle]

@lavenderjunkie (I forgot to reply to you! )
Thanks for mentioning how the Toscana scratches. My bag doesn't have a lot of scratches, (How could it, it's just hanging in the closet?), but now that I'm spending more time with the grandkids and driving them around more, my bags sometimes end up under someone's feet in the back row. I put my bag between the two front seats when I have a front seat passenger but most of the time it falls when I'm driving. When I ask my back seat passenger to hand me my bag I see them lifting their feet. My domed satchel can take it, but I got heart palpitations when I carried my Toscana satchel. Like @G.Allyn said about her iconic Alto bag, I don't want to part with my Toscana bag even though it's becoming a museum piece in my closet.

 

[G.Allyn]

Details are important, in handbags, as in most other things. And what works for each of us may be different....not only from each other, but also over time.

I totally understand. The Toscana is beautiful (I have one too), but in addition to the weight and fixed handles, I find the leather, while stunning, shows scratches and water stains.

Pebble leather bags are great every day carefree bags, and it sounds like the version of the pebbled zip zip satchel you have
is a great design. I don't have that particular pebble zip satchel, I have quite a few of the original zip zip satchels, the ones with the leather trimming around the base of the bag and the contrasting handles. I think the ones I have are probably a tiny bit narrower across the base and also heavier. And they don't have a back pocket. If I ever get off of Ban Island, I might have to buy
the domed pebble satchel you have. It sounds
like a bag that would work
very well for my needs, and I love the addition of the back outside
zip pocket.

Thanks for sharing all the details. I've overlooked this design thinking
it wasn't an improvement on the ones I already owned. Details matter.

I'm getting comfortable on Ban Island. It took a bit of time to adjust, but my husband is a federal contractor for a Washington, D.C. agency so it's making it easier to stay on the island.

 

[G.Allyn]

@lavenderjunkie (I forgot to reply to you! )
Thanks for mentioning how the Toscana scratches. My bag doesn't have a lot of scratches, (How could it, it's just hanging in the closet?), but now that I'm spending more time with the grandkids and driving them around more, my bags sometimes end up under someone's feet in the back row. I put my bag between the two front seats when I have a front seat passenger but most of the time it falls when I'm driving. When I ask my back seat passenger to hand me my bag I see them lifting their feet. My domed satchel can take it, but I got heart palpitations when I carried my Toscana satchel. Like @G.Allyn said about her iconic Alto bag, I don't want to part with my Toscana bag even though it's becoming a museum piece in my closet.

Oh, I get it. I actually remind my husband when we leave the house, I'm carrying an Alto bag, and I remind him that this bag scratches.

I don't feel badly about reminders about being careful about my Alto bags. He has a few rules about the cars. Besides, if he knew the price of some of them.