Need help! Small puffer color decision...

[CoachCruiser]

Hi ladies and gents,
Torn between the color for my first puffer bag (both in small)...unfortunately, I CANNOT keep both - as much as I want to!

Facts: I own a black medium/large Niki bag with gunmetal chains and the YSL logo in monochrome black. I love it, use it constantly, and it's definitely one of my favorites in my collection.
I also own the YSL 80's vanity bag in black (with slightly puffy quilting in black "caviar" grain), antique gold hardware. I don't wear it as often, as it's smaller, but I love it as well for its unique shape and the ability to see all my stuff at once when I open the bag.

I'm lucky to say that I have a lot of bags (too many) from various designers, so while I will "stay" in a bag for weeks if I adore it, I change in and out of bags pretty often.

I want a Saint Laurent that is NOT black. The puffer bag caught my attention for all the reasons mentioned in the puffer thread - gorgeous craftsmanship, roominess, aesthetic vibe, puffy and touchable quilting - so luxurious!

The pale jaune was my first immediate love (it looks like buttercream frosting in real life - these pics do not do it justice) -- it's a rarer color for YSL, which I love, and it's elegant and delicious looking. Perfect for late winter (hello climate change! Feb/March -->September, at least). Worries? I'm going to LOVE this bag because of this style, and I'm going to want to wear it often. Concerned about constantly using my fingers to open this (very) light-colored bag, which could lead to added dirt. I wear mostly shorts, skirts, and dresses in the spring and summer, so I'm not concerned about color transfer from blue denim in the warmer months.

The dark miele is STUNNING. GORGEOUS, year-round neutral...I LOVE this neutral shade, and that it's a different spin on the normal "tan" - to me, it looks like cognac. I'd wear this constantly without worry about handprints, etc. I could squeeze it constantly (seriously - that is one of the benefits of this comfort bag) - and not worry about dirt. If I didn't own any other Saint Laurents, I would be obsessed over this color. It's such a rich, saturated shade of honey!!!

Usually, I try to live by Erma Bombeck's quote on my signature below, and I try to avoid being scared by a bag because of its practicality (or lack of). But if I'm going to use this bag a lot (which I will), then...??? Honestly, I am torn.

Thank you for reading this novella. First world problems, I know. But I love this forum and I trust y'all. THANK YOU!!!

 

[AnnaLou]

I voted for the pale yellow. You love it (and so do I, not that that matters really, just throwing it in there lol), and you are right about the color being different from the more usual color variant for YSL.

Especially if you already have a brown bag. If you don't already have a brown bag, you probably don't need one or you would have already had one by now. Or you can easily get another one in a different style down the road. The yellow is, as you say, less common.

So, I say go for the butter-yellow because your heart is telling you to and because you only live once. Your hands are going to be mostly clean when you use it (while shopping, etc.) and if it does get a little soiled every now and then, you can always hit it with some leather cleaner or take it to a professional cleaner and make it look brand new again.

We can't always be practical, right? And you should ABSOLUTELY live up to your signature!!

 

[Moxisox]

My vote is Jaune. You love it, and I don’t think it’ll get dirty like you think. If you’re super worried I would spray it with carbon pro (2 thin coats), and it’ll provide a bit of dirt protection, and if it did get a little dirty it would more than likely just wipe off.

 

[CoachCruiser]

Thank you both so much for such thoughtful replies! I DO love the butter yellow, and I keep imagining warmer weather and being happy that I have this in a rarer color...(and I have tons to go with it!)...
That said, I've always been a "fall bag" girl, so maybe the practical side of me is what's telling me to go for the dark honey (even though I could technically wear it year round, no problem)...but AnnaLou, you make a great point about buying that dark honey in another style down the road (those grained calfskin oval camera bags are gorgeous)...
Moxisox, what brand/type of carbon pro do you recommend? Is it a spray? (I've seen that word thrown around here a lot, along with Apple Guard...just concerned it will darken/ruin the pale yellow...)
I took them both out again today to look at them in natural light by the window. It's a hard choice...They're each beautiful in their own right.
Thank you again for helping out!

 

[Moxisox]

Thank you both so much for such thoughtful replies! I DO love the butter yellow, and I keep imagining warmer weather and being happy that I have this in a rarer color...(and I have tons to go with it!)...
That said, I've always been a "fall bag" girl, so maybe the practical side of me is what's telling me to go for the dark honey (even though I could technically wear it year round, no problem)...but AnnaLou, you make a great point about buying that dark honey in another style down the road (those grained calfskin oval camera bags are gorgeous)...
Moxisox, what brand/type of carbon pro do you recommend? Is it a spray? (I've seen that word thrown around here a lot, along with Apple Guard...just concerned it will darken/ruin the pale yellow...)
I took them both out again today to look at them in natural light by the window. It's a hard choice...They're each beautiful in their own right.
Thank you again for helping out!

If you do decide to keep the yellow one, I use Collonil Carbon Pro. It won’t change the color or feel of the bag. I use it on most of leather bags and leather shoes; including a white YSL puffer (blanc vintage). Just make sure let it dry between coats.

 

[cathavenicethings]

If the Dark Miel is softer to the touch I say go with that one. If they feel the same or you're not the kind of person who cares which is softer then I say go with the Pale Juana.

I have a few puffers and the black is softest so I reach for my black ones most--I do so love to poke the plushy pillows! Next most used is my Vintage Blanc because it's a light colored bag. So I think a light colored puffer like Juana Pale is super useful. I would just Carbon Pro the bag before using.

The Pillow Madison reminds me a bit of the Loulou Puffer. If you like fall colors and mini bags like the Mini Lou Camera Bag then you may want to take a look at the Pullow Madison 18 in Canyon. It's a small, small bag but that color is amazing--very fall, very pumpkin spice, very caramel, not as orange as in the online pics. I saw the bag online but didn't think much of it until I saw it in person.

 

[AnnaLou]

(chanting) yel-low...yel-low...yel-low...

Practical schmactical. Besides, the yellow is plenty practical because you have lots of pretty warm weather clothes to match! You'll be able to put it away during the winter and then feel happy when you say hello to it again each spring!

There really are no wrong answers though. They are both beautiful. (yel-low...yel-low...)

 

[CoachCruiser]

I returned the dark honey today and kept the pale BUTTERCREAM YELLOW! I know everyone loves the dark miel, and so do I, but every time I peeked into the dust bags, the pale yellow one made my heart flutter more. So I took a deep breath and decided to stick with that one.
I plan to order some Carbon Pro (it says it's for shoes, but it also mentions handbags?-- thank you for the rec, Moxisox!) and give it a couple of coats.
I kept thinking about how I'd feel if I left the pale yellow back at the department store and came home with the dark honey. I'd be happy but also kind of disappointed that I went the safer route, which is a huge sign. Once I use the pale yellow, I know I'll love it (and I'll try to post pics when I do). (By the way, the attached image shows its true color in daylight.) Once again, thank you for your insightful, thoughtful comments!!!

 

[RandomNESS]

I think you made a good choice! Go with what brings you joy. I use carbon pro for my shoes and handbags.

 

[CoachCruiser]

I think you made a good choice! Go with what brings you joy. I use carbon pro for my shoes and handbags.

Thank you so much!
You're right...I love the color. I looked at it again tonight and was so happy . Now I'm just trying to figure out the earliest time I can break her out up here in New England...I'm thinking March...

 

[RandomNESS]

That's great! I love that feeling!

 

[AnnaLou]

OMG, I'm super happy that you went with that one!!! So weird how we can care about people's purchases when they are literally strangers over the internet, but there you have it. We do. I think it's because we do share with each other here and feel like a community of sorts and we humans do care about our communities.

Psychological/sociological ponderings aside, I'm thrilled that you went with the one that makes your heart happy!!

 

[J9Fell4Tiffanys]

Thank you so much!
You're right...I love the color. I looked at it again tonight and was so happy . Now I'm just trying to figure out the earliest time I can break her out up here in New England...I'm thinking March...

Congratulations!! What a beautiful bag!