New bag with STIFF leather? Let's discuss!

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#16
^^Yeah, I guess I'm a middle of the road type of girl! haha! of course I am discussing this having still never owned an MA, but that will change soon. I have seen several RMs in person though. I have to admit I was blown away by the leather in person. The feel of it is like no other brand I've ever felt! I tried one on my shoulder and I agree that it helps for them to be soft so it fits under your arm. I think that's one reason I like the MAM size more than the MAB.
 
#20
amy84023 said:
Hmmm, my speedy never got smooshy. It broke in a bit, but never puddled down the way my MAM has.

I agree with xlana...puddly clutches are not good at all!
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You're very lucky then. I see girls ALL THE TIME with the big drop in the speedys. It sort of makes me not want to get one.

My MAM actually holds up very well (light grey). It doesn't have that drop on the bottom. But again, I think it's all determined by which leather you have.
 
#21
I love buying pre-loved broken-in bags! I mean, the bag comes to me puddly, plus you get it at a good price! I don't know about you girls but that's great in my book! LOL
 
#22
For people who love reinforced bottoms you will LOVE the devote tote!! It is a perfect specimen.

If you want a Speedy and don't want to have a saggy bottom then just get the Speedy base shaper.. it works miracles!
 
#23
CourtneyMc22 said:
I know this is a minority opinion to say the LEAST, but I would like to just explain my deal with the "puddling." I realize the difference between high and low quality leather, and expense v. cheap leather. But to me, nice leather doesn't have to equal puddling to nothing. I think the puddling looks fine on a Nikki b/c its a hobo. The strap is short and it's meant to kind of fall into itself. But for me, the Morning Afters are different. It's a structured bag. It's shaped like a box. I remember one time I called a local boutique to see what they had and they said, "We've got one that looks like a doctor bag." And I knew immediately it was a Morning After b/c that's what they look like. I fell in love with RMs from pics on websites--with the bags stuffed. Call me crazy but I think the shape of an MA makes it to where it's more flattering when it at least resembles it's intended or designed shape. I realize they only puddle when you sit them down so I'm getting over it b/c the bags are just too beautiful, but I just wanted to give a different perspective...Please don't banish me!! :s
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ITA! Although it depends on style and some can sort of fall in between, I like a structured bag to look structured, etc.


That said, as for stiff leather on a bag that looks like it SHOULD be smooshy and puddle, I'm still trying to deal with my scarlet Nikki! The only reason I've kept it is because I love the color and the effect of the texture.

Otherwise, I have sworn off more Nikkis till I saw the mint!! I just ordered that bag. The problem I have with the Nikkis is that it dumps my cell and Touch out of the side pockets when I put it down. I hate that too.

I've been contemplating the Devote, but I've seen some photos that make me realize I'm worried about the way it will slouch. Not sure I like the little belts. Also, with some deep bags like this with reinforced bottoms, I find that is sometimes annoying to the arm when I carry them.

As for the speedy shaper, maybe I'm the only person with this issue, but I find they can sometimes shift. :p

Finding the perfect bag is always a challenge for me, but I will usually put up with a lot if I love the bag. It's nice to be able to rotate some of the annoying ones frequently. I would probably not keep some of my bags otherwise.
 
#24
baglady39 said:
The problem I have with the Nikkis is that it dumps my cell and Touch out of the side pockets when I put it down. I hate that too.
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This shouldn't be a problem with the mint nikki...where the 3 pockets are, the one on the far right is much smaller than the other two. I know on my other nikkis they are all the same size. But, with the mint, the one on the right is clearly for a cellphone.
 
#25
Just an aside on puddly bags - what do you use to hold the bag's shape when its in storage?

I have a broken in Elephant MAB and a new Midnight Pewter MAM that haven't yet gone completely smooshy. I hope I can help to retain some of its shape and prevent it from looking like a collapsed heap of leather. Any suggestions?
 
#26
I completely agree with courtney. I do love smooshy leathers, and while i love breaking in my own bags, i do like for them to have a teeny tiny bit of structure to them.

Hi baglady! Glad to see you over here in RM *waves*
 
#27
I also like my MAMs to at least mostly hold their shape. But with Nikkis I like them mooshy gooshy and puddly, just because I think it makes the bag more manageable and more attractive (you get a nice slouch in the middle as opposed to it poking into your armpit.) My mint Nikki is WAY smooshy from the start, but I really had to work at my wine to get it to slouch. It's fine now though. Just took a little love and patience haha.
 
#29
baglady39 said:
ITA! Although it depends on style and some can sort of fall in between, I like a structured bag to look structured, etc.


That said, as for stiff leather on a bag that looks like it SHOULD be smooshy and puddle, I'm still trying to deal with my scarlet Nikki! The only reason I've kept it is because I love the color and the effect of the texture.

Otherwise, I have sworn off more Nikkis till I saw the mint!! I just ordered that bag. The problem I have with the Nikkis is that it dumps my cell and Touch out of the side pockets when I put it down. I hate that too.

I've been contemplating the Devote, but I've seen some photos that make me realize I'm worried about the way it will slouch. Not sure I like the little belts. Also, with some deep bags like this with reinforced bottoms, I find that is sometimes annoying to the arm when I carry them.

As for the speedy shaper, maybe I'm the only person with this issue, but I find they can sometimes shift. :p

Finding the perfect bag is always a challenge for me, but I will usually put up with a lot if I love the bag. It's nice to be able to rotate some of the annoying ones frequently. I would probably not keep some of my bags otherwise.
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Hey girl!

I know what you mean about the Scarlet.. it is definitely a more structured leather but it is so beautiful it is worth the time and effore breaking it in! That leather is unlike any other.. well except the distressed Sunshine.

The devote slouches beautifully!! Well, maybe not the woven trim ones.. I think they are a bit stiffer.. But if you are looking at the solid devotes they are perfect! Not quite sure what it is you don't like about the belts but I was looking at line the other day and I thought it would be pretty to get a thin silk scarf or piece of fabric and belt it through the loops (after removing the be;ts of course).. I think this would be fun to play around with and will add some umphf to your bag during the spring/ summer! I am going to try it out soon and I'll post pics!
 
#30
I'm cool with having to break a bag in, I think it's fun to feel it happen. With something like the nikki though, now having had my really broken in and smooshy dyed one compared to a really stiff new one I'd rather it start off just a little bit less rigid. It's the nature of the nikki to really puddle and the stiffness of my new mint made it feel so cumbersome compared to my other.

I like some stiffness in my MAMs though because they are a more structured bag. I've seen ones that seem to pull too much at the bottom, which I really don't care for.
 
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