So a little back story. Not long ago I identified I wanted a bag to fill the niche of a Chanel Flap bag. I wanted a dressy but dress down-able bag that had multiple carrying options, and a chain strap. The one certainty was that it wasn’t going to be a Chanel bag. The myriad of reasons are off topic for this thread.
I have a list of things considered. I ended up getting the bag I hoped would do it: Mulberry Cheyne. But just like Goldilocks, it turns out it isn’t quite right.
So heading jnto the new year, it was time for me to find a new holy grail for this purpose and make my 2019 aspiration list.
I udpated my requirements to chain strap (leather mix optional), big enough for my regular wallet, lotion, eye drops, lip product, work badge, reusable bag, notebook, pen, keys. Sunglasses are optional, but not a must have for me. of course crossbody and multiple carrying options. And leather or suede lining. Gold or gunmeta hardware. And black leather - not suede. This bag needs to look and feel premum. Also something less common than Chanel.
And I thought about revisiting my old choice - the Diorama. I hadn’t seen it in person but it has promise. As did the Fendi Kan I.
So I started looking. I visited all the premier brands. The lesser known threads. The department stores. And I found a contender on pre-order at Neiman Marcus: Akris Anouk. I decided to check out the Akris site abd found that most of that line met my requirements, but the size was a little iffy. The biggest one was only python (I’d love python but it is banned in my state). And a shade that didn’t look black.
So as I looked for other sources and reviews, I came across an unknown version for under $600 on a sketchy looking site. The one in the size I was looking at was $2300. So it seemed to good to be true. The pictures looked legit. I couldn’t find any info on the exact model number, but I found some similar model numbers. The bag I got was an all leather version of this one.
It arrived today. And it is almost perfect, save 3 things.
1. the bag was labeled new, with tags. And this is true, save a few tiny scratches on the hardware from a little bit of use. Most of the protective covering was still there.
2.The care card is in Japanese
3. The site labeled it the “day bag” but it is the smaller “city” bag
And here in lies the dilemma. The day bag size seemed like a good size but maybe a bit of a squeeze, I thought the other sizes were two small. The newer size lineup is a little diffferent and a bit wider than what I got.
So my essentials almost fit. There are some compromises. If I use my mid-sized wallet, I don’t quite have room for my reusable bag. If I use a small wallet, everything fits with ease. But for me small wallet = ocassion bag. And I might have enoigh of those, but this one is bigger than the ones I have and has a different hardware color. So it could fill a gap, my other plain black bags have gold hardware, and this one has the dark gunmetal shade. The crossbody length is great and I love the top handle. Tbe leather is beautiful and Iike tbe structure.
My medium wallet is a recent addition and it has been one of my favorite wallets ever. Albeit kinda big. From a functionality stand point it is great. But bur it does take up a lot of room for a wallet of its size and capacity. But it is pretty.
So now here is what I need to decide.
1. Return the bag, hope Akris releases a Day-sized bag in black (there isn’t one on the website now) and hope the size works. It would be about 3 cm longer and 3 cm wider than the one I have. And more expensive.
2. Make it a special ocassion only bag, and keep looking
3. Find a holy grail wallet that is a little smaller, use my small wallet in the meanwhile. Know that the new holy grail wallet would open up more bags in my collection for regular duty.
4. Find another bag to fill this niche.
5. Lose the reusable bag on my essentials list and play bag tetris with the wallet
I’m leaning towards #3, I have spent $1100 give or take on the wallet and bag, and the hylothetical bigger bag would cost $2400 plus tax. So it is cheaper to get a new wallet. And $1300 gets a serious wallet!
**Ok making this thread has pushed me over. I have decided to keep the bag, it is too pretty and the price is to great to give up. Even if it is only a weekend party bag, I could still make it work. I feel like this wallet has actually made me artificially limit my bag choices. So maybe it is actually the issue.
I have a list of things considered. I ended up getting the bag I hoped would do it: Mulberry Cheyne. But just like Goldilocks, it turns out it isn’t quite right.
So heading jnto the new year, it was time for me to find a new holy grail for this purpose and make my 2019 aspiration list.
I udpated my requirements to chain strap (leather mix optional), big enough for my regular wallet, lotion, eye drops, lip product, work badge, reusable bag, notebook, pen, keys. Sunglasses are optional, but not a must have for me. of course crossbody and multiple carrying options. And leather or suede lining. Gold or gunmeta hardware. And black leather - not suede. This bag needs to look and feel premum. Also something less common than Chanel.
And I thought about revisiting my old choice - the Diorama. I hadn’t seen it in person but it has promise. As did the Fendi Kan I.
So I started looking. I visited all the premier brands. The lesser known threads. The department stores. And I found a contender on pre-order at Neiman Marcus: Akris Anouk. I decided to check out the Akris site abd found that most of that line met my requirements, but the size was a little iffy. The biggest one was only python (I’d love python but it is banned in my state). And a shade that didn’t look black.
So as I looked for other sources and reviews, I came across an unknown version for under $600 on a sketchy looking site. The one in the size I was looking at was $2300. So it seemed to good to be true. The pictures looked legit. I couldn’t find any info on the exact model number, but I found some similar model numbers. The bag I got was an all leather version of this one.
It arrived today. And it is almost perfect, save 3 things.
1. the bag was labeled new, with tags. And this is true, save a few tiny scratches on the hardware from a little bit of use. Most of the protective covering was still there.
2.The care card is in Japanese
3. The site labeled it the “day bag” but it is the smaller “city” bag
And here in lies the dilemma. The day bag size seemed like a good size but maybe a bit of a squeeze, I thought the other sizes were two small. The newer size lineup is a little diffferent and a bit wider than what I got.
So my essentials almost fit. There are some compromises. If I use my mid-sized wallet, I don’t quite have room for my reusable bag. If I use a small wallet, everything fits with ease. But for me small wallet = ocassion bag. And I might have enoigh of those, but this one is bigger than the ones I have and has a different hardware color. So it could fill a gap, my other plain black bags have gold hardware, and this one has the dark gunmetal shade. The crossbody length is great and I love the top handle. Tbe leather is beautiful and Iike tbe structure.
My medium wallet is a recent addition and it has been one of my favorite wallets ever. Albeit kinda big. From a functionality stand point it is great. But bur it does take up a lot of room for a wallet of its size and capacity. But it is pretty.
So now here is what I need to decide.
1. Return the bag, hope Akris releases a Day-sized bag in black (there isn’t one on the website now) and hope the size works. It would be about 3 cm longer and 3 cm wider than the one I have. And more expensive.
2. Make it a special ocassion only bag, and keep looking
3. Find a holy grail wallet that is a little smaller, use my small wallet in the meanwhile. Know that the new holy grail wallet would open up more bags in my collection for regular duty.
4. Find another bag to fill this niche.
5. Lose the reusable bag on my essentials list and play bag tetris with the wallet
I’m leaning towards #3, I have spent $1100 give or take on the wallet and bag, and the hylothetical bigger bag would cost $2400 plus tax. So it is cheaper to get a new wallet. And $1300 gets a serious wallet!
**Ok making this thread has pushed me over. I have decided to keep the bag, it is too pretty and the price is to great to give up. Even if it is only a weekend party bag, I could still make it work. I feel like this wallet has actually made me artificially limit my bag choices. So maybe it is actually the issue.
