Genie I don't have a specific recommendation on the bags under consideration. I do have questions to guide your choice. I have spent probably years of my life pondering what makes a good handbag.
First in the decision making tree, is what do you want to carry in it? Contents determine size. I find that older I get, the less I need to carry. For me, a larger bag is a specialty situation bag. And in the size assessment, to me personally, the depth is key. I find bags that are too wide to be clumsy making.
Second, handles are crucial. Many people like cross body. I don't like the strap between the girls. For a larger bag, I like shoulder carry to distribute the weight. If I am looking for hands free/over the shoulder carry, the strap has to be really comfortable. Smaller bags--hand carry. I like "in my hand" more than carrying on my fore arm.
Weight is important. Especially for bigger bags. I greatly prefer leather lining, but it is just not practical for many larger bags.
Ease of getting into the bag. Degree of openness. This is very much influenced by the circumstances in which you will be carrying the bag. If security is not an issue, open top is nice as long as stuff doesn't fall out. If security is an issue, you will want a closeable bag.
Closures. If you want a secure closure, it is important to like the closure mechanism. I think the kelly is the most beautiful bag of all time, but the clasp is a bit of a pain. I personally have a quirk that I find zippers aesthetically unappealing. But there is nothing more secure than zippers. Kiss locks are the all time best IMHO, but not something you see often these days.
Color. Do you need a particular color to go with clothes that you are not happy about how your current bags go with them. Do you already have 5 bags in the color that you are looking at?
Structure. Some people like their bags to be a puddle of leather with handles. I personally like structured bags. To each their own. I think a lot of the dislike of the picton is its lack of structure. Cookiefiend was too modest in her critique of her picotin which is vibrato and therefore structured. I got the detailed scoop her hers, and it sounds divine. Of course, unstructured bags can be made structured with bag shapers, but that adds to the weight. Structured bags seem more prone to corner wear. Really unstructured bags can turn into a dark hole making it hard to pull out the item you want.
Interior. Do you like the number of pockets and dividers. A big bag that won't hold big stuff because of the dividers is sort of a waste.
How much of a beating will you give it and how much will it take. How scratch phobic are you? How careful do you want to have to be with this bag.
When I buy bags, I try to start from the point of what do I want the bag to do and then evaluate the bag against that criteria. Of course, there are bags that are love at first sight or bags that make us feel special in some way. None of the above criteria matter with those bags. Since you are trying to choose between several bags, I assume this is not an OMG I have to have this one particular bag situation. Still, it is nice to buy a bag that is functional and makes your heart skip a beat. So the love factor should not be over looked.
on the solid bag advise!
