Is the bag wearing me?

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#31
I think the bag is way too big, but I'm not a fan of big bags anyway.
Here's a pic of me with my K28 retourne. Note: I think that color makes a big difference, i.e., a bright color will naturally draw the eye whereas a neutral/dark will not (against neutral/dark clothing). I like to wear my K crossbody, on the shoulder and handheld and really feel that this size works great for me. (BTW, I'm 5'4" (163 cm) and Fr size 38/40 (US sizes change too much for me to ever know what my standard size actually is)).
crossbody-jpg.3342186

Sorry, don't know why it rotated.
casual-kelly-jpg.3764342
 
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#32
I am not so petite at 5 ft 4 and 1/2, 47.5kg and UK size 6/8 and I find K32 big on me. When I had a K32, I used to never use the shoulder strap and always hand carry. To me, capacity should also be taken into account. No point using a big bag if you don't have much to carry and vice versa. I no longer have K32 and don't have plan to get another. K28 and K25 are all I have now.
 
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#36
seasounds said:
I think the bag is way too big, but I'm not a fan of big bags anyway.
Here's a pic of me with my K28 retourne. Note: I think that color makes a big difference, i.e., a bright color will naturally draw the eye whereas a neutral/dark will not (against neutral/dark clothing). I like to wear my K crossbody, on the shoulder and handheld and really feel that this size works great for me. (BTW, I'm 5'4" (163 cm) and Fr size 38/40 (US sizes change too much for me to ever know what my standard size actually is)).
crossbody-jpg.3342186

Sorry, don't know why it rotated.
casual-kelly-jpg.3764342
Click to expand...

Just right. :tup::tup:
 
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#40
sparks1007 said:
Hi all! I've scoured the forums and read all the 28 vs 32 vs 35 threads I could find. I went out and tried on a Kelly 35. Sadly I cannot try a 28 or 32 where I am based. Could you please do me a huge favour and take a look at the below and see if you think the bag is wearing me? I won't be purchasing this beauty. I'm actually looking at a vert olive or black in barenia - retourne. I would also purchase a thicker/wider strap to be able to wear it more casually as well as cross body. All feedback gratefully received. Please excuse the durr face.







Click to expand...

The size looks fine on you but probably a wider and shorter strap will look better. Before I bought my K35 I had some doubts that it could wear me but now it's my most used bag. I mostly use the strap from my oxer with it and occasionally the Evelyne GM strap. I sometimes wear it cross-body too with the oxer strap (I believe it's 85cm). It's not the standard length what one would think of but it is actually quite chic with the right outfit. I recently purchased a 70cm strap for it to carry on the shoulder. I tried the bag with straps of different lengths at H and much to my surprise this bag looks much better with a shorter strap than a long one. It looks gigantic with a long strap, especially if it's a thin strap. So maybe put some thoughts into the strap and you'll be fine. Sometimes a specific size might fit your frame the best, but then it could also mean that it doesn't bring you something extra, some unique character. A black barenia K35, I can only imagine what a great look you'll have!
 
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#41
I agree with those who said the 35 looks fine as a shoulder bag but a bit big cross-body.

I’m 5’6 and have two K35s. When I got the first, a vintage fauve Barenia, I also bought a Valentino strap, planning to use on the K for cross-body wear. I soon realized that the 35 is not easy to wear cross-body, at least for me. Even at my non-petite height, the 35 is a large bag, and it looks boxy and feels heavy when worn this way. (In the interest of full disclosure, I have trouble wearing any large or heavy bag crossbody — it always feels like it’s pulling me out of alignment.) Wearing it by the thin strap over the shoulder is entirely different — the bag doesn’t feel heavy to me and it sits more sleekly (if that’s a word!) against my hip.

I think the 35 can work in a number of situations — bucked up for business, with the sides batwinged out for a more casual look — but not for evening. So there’s also the question of what you’d use it for and how much you need to carry. No point going down in size if the bag won’t fit what you need it to.

OP, I think the 35 will look very different on you in a dark color and Retourne style (I can’t tell from your photos if the red Kelly is retourne or sellier). But I still wouldn’t wear it cross-body. For that, I’d go with a 32.

Here are my two 35s for reference. As you can see, I’m almost always casual!

0BBA7C2A-D918-4535-87A1-362358B528D8.jpeg 287B6399-DF24-451A-97ED-286ECCD4D868.jpeg
 
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#42
catsinthebag said:
I agree with those who said the 35 looks fine as a shoulder bag but a bit big cross-body.

I’m 5’6 and have two K35s. When I got the first, a vintage fauve Barenia, I also bought a Valentino strap, planning to use on the K for cross-body wear. I soon realized that the 35 is not easy to wear cross-body, at least for me. Even at my non-petite height, the 35 is a large bag, and it looks boxy and feels heavy when worn this way. (In the interest of full disclosure, I have trouble wearing any large or heavy bag crossbody — it always feels like it’s pulling me out of alignment.) Wearing it by the thin strap over the shoulder is entirely different — the bag doesn’t feel heavy to me and it sits more sleekly (if that’s a word!) against my hip.

I think the 35 can work in a number of situations — bucked up for business, with the sides batwinged out for a more casual look — but not for evening. So there’s also the question of what you’d use it for and how much you need to carry. No point going down in size if the bag won’t fit what you need it to.

OP, I think the 35 will look very different on you in a dark color and Retourne style (I can’t tell from your photos if the red Kelly is retourne or sellier). But I still wouldn’t wear it cross-body. For that, I’d go with a 32.

Here are my two 35s for reference. As you can see, I’m almost always casual!

View attachment 4040639 View attachment 4040640
Click to expand...

Pretty Kellys!! :love:
 
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#45
seasounds said:
I think the bag is way too big, but I'm not a fan of big bags anyway.
Here's a pic of me with my K28 retourne. Note: I think that color makes a big difference, i.e., a bright color will naturally draw the eye whereas a neutral/dark will not (against neutral/dark clothing). I like to wear my K crossbody, on the shoulder and handheld and really feel that this size works great for me. (BTW, I'm 5'4" (163 cm) and Fr size 38/40 (US sizes change too much for me to ever know what my standard size actually is)).
crossbody-jpg.3342186

Sorry, don't know why it rotated.
casual-kelly-jpg.3764342
Click to expand...

This looks amazing on you! Can you please ID the strap in the second pic?
 
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