New bag with STIFF leather? Let's discuss!

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#62
charb618 said:
I find Nikkis to be annoying when I first get them. The strap is mad short and I always feel like it is strangling my arm. So to remedy this situation I put like 4 or 5 cans of soup in the bag and let it hang from my bed post for about 4 days. It works like a charm to soften up a stiff strap. This coupled with folding the top down during the process has solved the "Arm Choking Nikki Dilemma"
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Oh wow, I thought it was just me that was worried about the Nikki's stiffness and the way the strap is.. Actually, I blamed the Mini Nikki for it at first but I realize now that all Nikki straps need to be softened up.
 
#63
You can condition it with apple care conditioner, and it will help a tad bit. Hanging will help too. I usually would only recommend that for bags that are ridiculously stiff. If your devote isn't that stiff, i'd let it break in naturally.
 
#64
Has anyone been able to soften up their Mint mini Nikkis somehow? I used it for a couple weeks and she's still stiff :P I'm hoping she'll soften up, but maybe she's just one of those that will be more structured or something.
 
#65
annaversary said:
Okay, this may sound silly but I usually sit on them or hug them constantly :p
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HAHAH! that's so cute!!

i'm one that LOVES the "droopy-ness" of RM bags -- the droopier, the better! :D for both my nikki and MAMs, i rolled & smooshed the leather around with my hands. it didn't mess up/wrinkle the leather at all -- and then i hung them up on my doorknob for a few days w/ the normal things i put in a bag. every now and then, i'll still hang them up on my doorknob in between uses.
 
#66
As someone who likes control, having a bag that kind of deflates when you put it down took a little getting used to. I am new to RM bags but I fell in love so hard that I purchased 6 (5 MAM, 1 MAB and 1 Matinee) within the month of June alone! I am used to Coach and LV, where the shape stays put. I wanted a great bag to take on our vacation to London, so I ordered the MAM in Tangerine and she was an amazing companion (my husband tagged along as well). I soon got over the issue of puddling when I saw her "in action." Now I know it's just a part of the RM personality and I can appreciate these amazing bags all the more for what they can hold and take. I have gotten tons of compliments on my MAM Tangerine (with people wanting to know where they can get them). :tup:
 
#67
Both of my RMs I believe are made out of stiffer leather. My persimmon MAM was pretty stiff when it first arrived but has broken in beautifully. There is a bit of wearing out of the colour around the edges but I don't mind. I admit to having some second thoughts when it arrived, it was a bit akward to carry over the shoulder while it was being broken in. I just kept squishing it with my armpit like a bag pipe. Now it droops a bit more when it is not so full.

My black patent mini nikki I think will take a while to break in as well. One side is showing a bit more crinkle and I'm pretty excited about that. I'm not into the slouchy hobos as much so it's nice how the patent nikkis are a bit more structured.
 
#68
8]This thread is such a good idea, LR. To be honest, I didn't understand what the "breaking in" process was until I got an RM. Can you believe I actually used to LIKE structured, stiff leather? I thought it made the bag look refined. But RM changed all that. I can distinctly recall the moment my Wine Nikki completely puddled and I thought "Hey! It DOES get squishy."[/QUOTE]



I totally agree. I had no idea until I got my black/blue stamp MAB. As it settled into a puddle, I was worried there was something seriously wrong with it. Of course, this is in the days before we had aforum and Rm was just an emerging designer.
 
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#69
Boomie: My daughter has been using her Mint Nikkii now about 3 weeks straight. She told me last night that it was finally beginning to get softer for her.

The only other Nikki she has is Cobalt that she bought preloved - that one is just a puddle of mush to begin with so the Mint was a big difference for her.
The color is beautiful though.
 
#70
I am new to Rebecca Minkoff but after reading so good reviews for her bags I ordered Nikki one in black from Bluefly. As I am located in UK it took long time to arrive. I have opened the package now and was bit surprised from the leather.It is a black Nikki in slightly shiny leather but very hard. It is not soft at all. It stays up on its own. As it is a hobo I thought it should be much softer. Could please someone advise? I'm getting really worried as all my other bags were soft from the very beginning (Marc Jacobs Hillier, Balenciaga ect).
 
#72
Yes, as you read the subforum here, you'll discover that some of the Nikkis start out very firm, but as you use them, they soften up very very nicely. Hunt for photos of Nikkis here and you'll see ... do not worry, it will turn in to the best bag ever!
 
#74
I just pop over to Bluefly & the Black Nikki there is the Haze leather. That is one of the stiffest leather by RM but it does soften with use. I had a Purple Haze leather in a 3Zip MAC & it breaks in all smooshy & soft & totally has no stiffness to it.
 
#75
^Agreed- most likely you got teh black haze which is a very stiff leather.

Here is a thread that helps show how the haze leathers break in: http://forum.purseblog.com/rebecca-...haze-leathers-506468.html?highlight=evolution

The leather will always be "sturdy", but it will get smooshier with use.

ETA- Found another similar thread to merge yours with. This thread has a lot of helpful tips on breaking your bag in "quicker".
 
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