Madison Cafe Carryall vs. Madison Small Phoebe?

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morewineplease

morewineplease

Member
Dec 29, 2013
478
69
#1
Hi, I'm newish here, finally able to start a post, but I'm a little scared I'm going to post in the wrong spot. So many rules and forums, it's a little confusing. :sweatdrop:

I'm quickly becoming a Coach lover now that they have bags with compartments. I need them in my attempt to be organized. DH bought me my first coach years ago, a small black clutch-type bag with a turnlock. A few years ago I got an op art sateen Maggie. For Christmas I got a small Phoebe in black violet. Now I am considering what to get next. While I love the small Phoebe, the Cafe Carryall also caught my eye. Seems similar to the small Phoebe, but east-west.

My main questions are, which of these styles do you prefer and why? Also, do you know if the Cafe Carryall will hold an iPad2?

Thanks,
Melissa
 
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#2
Hi, I'm a newbie too. I don't have either (I'm petite so I don't like to carry larger bags) but just on looks alone, I prefer the carryall because it's more structured and I like that. Just my preference but you already have a Phoebe so you may wish to stick with a good thing.

As far as what a bag can fit, try the what's in your coach bag thread. I know I've seen lots of pictures with Ipads. You'll probably find it there or via the search which I have found invaluable when deciding on my most recent Coach purchases. Everyone here has been more helpful then they know. The Clubhouse board may also have an answer as to what fits in what if you haven't gone exploring there already.

Good Luck and I'd love to see whatever you decide on!
 
#3
LauraTracy said:
Hi, I'm a newbie too. I don't have either (I'm petite so I don't like to carry larger bags) but just on looks alone, I prefer the carryall because it's more structured and I like that. Just my preference but you already have a Phoebe so you may wish to stick with a good thing.

As far as what a bag can fit, try the what's in your coach bag thread. I know I've seen lots of pictures with Ipads. You'll probably find it there or via the search which I have found invaluable when deciding on my most recent Coach purchases. Everyone here has been more helpful then they know. The Clubhouse board may also have an answer as to what fits in what if you haven't gone exploring there already.

Good Luck and I'd love to see whatever you decide on!
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Thanks so much for the reply and ideas of where to look! I will definitely check the what's in your coach bag thread. Regarding which style to get, it's hard to know if it's good to try something different or to stick with what works. I will let you know what I decide!
 
#4
Great! I find I have to see it in person too. Sometimes I think this will work and then in person it's no it definitely won't. Just this weekend, I saw a Kelsey which I have never looked twice at as I really didn't like that bag but now I can't forget it. It was actually really cute!
 
#6
LauraTracy said:
Great! I find I have to see it in person too. Sometimes I think this will work and then in person it's no it definitely won't. Just this weekend, I saw a Kelsey which I have never looked twice at as I really didn't like that bag but now I can't forget it. It was actually really cute!
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Now I'm going to have to look at a Kelsey! lol


E. Sarah said:
1. Love your username 2. I would try out the cafe carryall. Have a little variety!
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Thanks! I hate coming up with usernames. I must've had one glass of wine too many when I came up with it.

Variety is good! Hopefully the store will actually have one so I can test it out in person. Thanks for your input!
 
#7
I visited the Cafe Carryall today and I had originally thought that it would be very similar to the small Phoebe too. After seeing it in person, I would say it's more like my Kimberly Carryall. It's not slouchy like the Phoebe and the compartments weren't as similar as I thought that they would be.

The front compartment is like the Phoebe in that it closes with a button, but seemed a bit more narrow. The middle compartment is wider and more structured. The back compartment was nothing like I expected. It actually closes with a zipper and was narrow-ish. It kind of reminded me of the zipper compartment in the Borough or the middle zipper compartment of the Kimberley Carryall.

In the end I didn't buy it because it was a bit too structured for me and the compartments didn't seem as functional as the Phoebe since they weren't as roomy. I use my Phoebes all the time and rarely use my Kimberley. :sad: I'm planning on taking another look at it tomorrow when they have the peach rose out because it looks gorgeous on the site (they only had the black version out tonight). Hopefully, I'll fall in love with the peach rose one because I've been looking forward to this purse for a while. :smile1:

(On a side note, I ended up getting another Phoebe while passing by Dillards after seeing it at 50% off)
 
#9
cgj said:
I visited the Cafe Carryall today and I had originally thought that it would be very similar to the small Phoebe too. After seeing it in person, I would say it's more like my Kimberly Carryall. It's not slouchy like the Phoebe and the compartments weren't as similar as I thought that they would be.

The front compartment is like the Phoebe in that it closes with a button, but seemed a bit more narrow. The middle compartment is wider and more structured. The back compartment was nothing like I expected. It actually closes with a zipper and was narrow-ish. It kind of reminded me of the zipper compartment in the Borough or the middle zipper compartment of the Kimberley Carryall.

In the end I didn't buy it because it was a bit too structured for me and the compartments didn't seem as functional as the Phoebe since they weren't as roomy. I use my Phoebes all the time and rarely use my Kimberley. :sad: I'm planning on taking another look at it tomorrow when they have the peach rose out because it looks gorgeous on the site (they only had the black version out tonight). Hopefully, I'll fall in love with the peach rose one because I've been looking forward to this purse for a while. :smile1:

(On a side note, I ended up getting another Phoebe while passing by Dillards after seeing it at 50% off)
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Thank you so much for the info!! It's good to know that it'll fit an iPad 2, but your description of the compartments and how it's more structured makes me think it won't work as well for me. There are so many styles that I think look neat, but the roominess and style of the small Phoebe fits my needs more, esp. when DH asks if I can fit his glasses, his phone, etc. in there.

Dillards has great sales. What color Phoebe did you get? I saw the peach rose Phoebe at Dillards last week, it is gorgeous. I have that color in a wallet and a medium skinny. It's so pretty. Here I've been considering getting another small Phoebe (or the cafe carryall) in the grey birch or possibly love red (since I love coral, just wonder if I'm brave enough to pull of such a color purse). But maybe I should consider the peach rose...

Thanks again!
 
#10
morewineplease said:
Thank you so much for the info!! It's good to know that it'll fit an iPad 2, but your description of the compartments and how it's more structured makes me think it won't work as well for me. There are so many styles that I think look neat, but the roominess and style of the small Phoebe fits my needs more, esp. when DH asks if I can fit his glasses, his phone, etc. in there.

Dillards has great sales. What color Phoebe did you get? I saw the peach rose Phoebe at Dillards last week, it is gorgeous. I have that color in a wallet and a medium skinny. It's so pretty. Here I've been considering getting another small Phoebe (or the cafe carryall) in the grey birch or possibly love red (since I love coral, just wonder if I'm brave enough to pull of such a color purse). But maybe I should consider the peach rose...

Thanks again!
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Glad I could help! :smile1: I ended up getting the BV Phoebe at Dillards. I've been debating on getting the peach rose Phoebe too! I love the new color. I visited the peach rose Cafe Carryall today but I just couldn't commit to the compartments. I did see the love red Phoebe though and it's quite pretty (very bright)!
 
#12
cgj said:
Glad I could help! :smile1: I ended up getting the BV Phoebe at Dillards. I've been debating on getting the peach rose Phoebe too! I love the new color. I visited the peach rose Cafe Carryall today but I just couldn't commit to the compartments. I did see the love red Phoebe though and it's quite pretty (very bright)!
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Oooh, glad you got the BV! Every time I look at my BV small Phoebe, I am so glad I chose it (at the time I was trying to decide b/w BV and grey quartz). I absolutely love the color. Very rich imo. The peach rose color is so pretty too. Not too pinky, not too peach, not boring beige, just a pretty neutral. As an engineer, I love the idea of compartments, but the Cafe Carryall sounds a little too limiting. Hopefully I'll get to see it in person to confirm this. Anyway, now you have me anxious to see the Love Red color. Probably out of my comfort zone, but I'm ready for , lol. Thanks! :p
 
#15
It is an almost impossible choice! I love my Phoebe's so much (I have basic black and black violet). As soon as I saw the Café Carryall I knew I would love it because it is so similar. While, yes, the compartments are different, I love the lightness of it and how comfortably it fits on the shoulder (like the Phoebe). I also love how it kind of "pouches" out at the sides near the bottom. The Peach Rose is a beautiful color, but I ended up getting it in the Parchment as I am a matchy-matchy kind of person and I will be able to use it with so many things.
 
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