Purchased My First Hobo Handbag

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G

G.Allyn

Decade Club
Dec 12, 2013
723
382
#1
I wanted an Alto bag, on the small side, on sale and in the dark grey.

The Alto Ella has been on my wish list, but I did not catch it at the best sale price. The Sandra bag was almost -51% off. I have never had a hobo bag because I buy structured handbags.

I decided to give this style a try because I like the ease of zippered bags. Can anyone tell me the positives of this style?

My best to all and happy D&B sale shopping.
 
#2
G.Allyn said:
I wanted an Alto bag, on the small side, on sale and in the dark grey.

The Alto Ella has been on my wish list, but I did not catch it at the best sale price. The Sandra bag was almost -51% off. I have never had a hobo bag because I buy structured handbags.

I decided to give this style a try because I like the ease of zippered bags. Can anyone tell me the positives of this style?

My best to all and happy D&B sale shopping.
Click to expand...
I just checked out the Sandra Alto bag. For a smaller handbag, it looks like it
will be fairly roomy, based on the dimensions and the construction. I think it will
be relatively structured, due to the leather. The 10" shoulder drop should be
fairly comfortable and also usable for arm/hand carry. Bags of this style and size
can comfortably tuck under the arm if you shoulder carry. And the absence of
pleats and interior dividers means you can utilize the smaller space better.

Enjoy your new handbag.
 
#3
lavenderjunkie said:
I just checked out the Sandra Alto bag. For a smaller handbag, it looks like it
will be fairly roomy, based on the dimensions and the construction. I think it will
be relatively structured, due to the leather. The 10" shoulder drop should be
fairly comfortable and also usable for arm/hand carry. Bags of this style and size
can comfortably tuck under the arm if you shoulder carry. And the absence of
pleats and interior dividers means you can utilize the smaller space better.

Enjoy your new handbag.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback.

I tend to stick with the same styles all the time. This is only my third shoulder bag. Satchel handbags are my favorite or a crossbody. Since I decluttered my D&B collection, I am pushing myself to add a tiny bit of variety.

Fingers crossed I like it when it arrives. I thought the dark grey in alto leather would work best in my wardrobe. Some of the D&B florentine grey shades look to have a touch of brown or grey.
 
#4
G.Allyn said:
Thanks for the feedback.

I tend to stick with the same styles all the time. This is only my third shoulder bag. Satchel handbags are my favorite or a crossbody. Since I decluttered my D&B collection, I am pushing myself to add a tiny bit of variety.

Fingers crossed I like it when it arrives. I thought the dark grey in alto leather would work best in my wardrobe. Some of the D&B florentine grey shades look to have a touch of brown or grey.
Click to expand...
Darn! When will I learn to proofread? I meant too much brown or blue in the grey to work with a few of my coats and jackets.
 
#5
G.Allyn said:
Darn! When will I learn to proofread? I meant too much brown or blue in the grey to work with a few of my coats and jackets.
Click to expand...
Grey can be a hard color to match, as can blue. I can understand how you
want the handbag to match your coats/jackets. But I have learned over time
not to try to match every handbag to my clothing exactly. That is how I ended
up with multiple shades of every color and far too many handbags. Any excuse
to buy more handbags. 😁 And everything
looks different depending upon the lighting anyway.

I hope you love your new Alto and the color 'works' for you.
 
#6
My hobo arrived today. I am still not in love with the style. Too crescent shaped for me and the strap is quite stiff on the Sandra bag. The dark grey is gorgeous and the 11 inch length is nice.

I put it next to my Ella in saddle and think the Sandra was a better deal after all. I wanted the Ella in grey but it sold out. The Ella is smaller than I remembered and I'm glad I grabbed the Sandra (weird shape and all).
 
#7
G.Allyn said:
My hobo arrived today. I am still not in love with the style. Too crescent shaped for me and the strap is quite stiff on the Sandra bag. The dark grey is gorgeous and the 11 inch length is nice.

I put it next to my Ella in saddle and think the Sandra was a better deal after all. I wanted the Ella in grey but it sold out. The Ella is smaller than I remembered and I'm glad I grabbed the Sandra (weird shape and all).
Click to expand...
For what it's worth.... crescent shaped hobos are very much back in style.
 
#9
G.Allyn said:
I read that. The style may grow on me.

I get stuck on styles and need to be more open to other looks.
Click to expand...
Styles cycle in popularity, otherwise how would we be
'encouraged' to buy another handbag, etc.

But everyone's handbag needs are different, and can change
over time. Finding what works for you now is the key....
it can take some trial and error.

You may like aspects of one
style (like a satchel) but now want a smaller and lighter handbag.
A small satchel might now meet some of those needs. Adjusting to
a hobo or smaller shoulder bag or cross body means trade-offs too.
They may be lighter, but less organized, and the zipper access will be
smaller on smaller handbags. 😮
And a zipper on an unstructured (or one with a
curved opening) handbag often needs 2 hands to open/close
compared to a structured bag.

If most of your handbags are similar in design, it's much harder
to move into a new style. My collection is primarily Dooney,
so with a standard internal pocket arrangement I can switch bags
easily. I have specific places for my 2 sets of keys and
credit card case. I still have to adjust to having or not having an outside
pocket.

But moving into my Alto bags is always a challenge for me...
I just miss the internal organization I'm used to having,
especially the key leash and an inside zip pocket for the
credit card case and car key.

And other brands are even harder to adjust to using.

And open top bags, without a large pocket for my wallet
are also an additional challenge for me.

It's not that I'm set in my ways, I switch bags several times
a week, but it's a functional and ease.

Hope you grow to love your new Alto.
 
#10
lavenderjunkie said:
Styles cycle in popularity, otherwise how would we be
'encouraged' to buy another handbag, etc.

But everyone's handbag needs are different, and can change
over time. Finding what works for you now is the key....
it can take some trial and error.

You may like aspects of one
style (like a satchel) but now want a smaller and lighter handbag.
A small satchel might now meet some of those needs. Adjusting to
a hobo or smaller shoulder bag or cross body means trade-offs too.
They may be lighter, but less organized, and the zipper access will be
smaller on smaller handbags. 😮
And a zipper on an unstructured (or one with a
curved opening) handbag often needs 2 hands to open/close
compared to a structured bag.

If most of your handbags are similar in design, it's much harder
to move into a new style. My collection is primarily Dooney,
so with a standard internal pocket arrangement I can switch bags
easily. I have specific places for my 2 sets of keys and
credit card case. I still have to adjust to having or not having an outside
pocket.

But moving into my Alto bags is always a challenge for me...
I just miss the internal organization I'm used to having,
especially the key leash and an inside zip pocket for the
credit card case and car key.

And other brands are even harder to adjust to using.

And open top bags, without a large pocket for my wallet
are also an additional challenge for me.

It's not that I'm set in my ways, I switch bags several times
a week, but it's a functional and ease.

Hope you grow to love your new Alto.
Click to expand...
My interior designer used to always say that form follows function. This is so true.

No matter how much you love a style, if a function is missing, you will notice.

As much as I love the Alto line, I miss a key leash for the car unlock function and my house keys. Why did D&B omit it from the design?
 
#11
G.Allyn said:
My interior designer used to always say that form follows function. This is so true.

No matter how much you love a style, if a function is missing, you will notice.

As much as I love the Alto line, I miss a key leash for the car unlock function and my house keys. Why did D&B omit it from the design?
Click to expand...
I've noticed (in YT videos) that the super high end brands have minimal pockets
and organization on the interior. Do the super rich only carry 1 credit card and
a lipstick and leave all the messy details of life to assistants, etc? Or do they
always purchase bag liners/organizers to protect the interior of their handbags,
and get the pockets in the organizer?

So maybe, the ultra spare interior design is a high end thing or the way
handbags are designed in the fashion capitals of the world like France and
Italy? When a bag is unlined or leather lined (in some way) it's probably
more difficult to include pockets. And fabric linings are considered less desirable
than leather linings in handbags.

Of course Dooney managed to figure out how to use leather linings on some
Florentine handbags and include all the pockets and a key leash.
 
#14
mushroomNgrass said:
I hate It when the fabric lining is black making it difficult to see anything in the bag. I have really grown to like the red dooney lining. I don’t have anything with the cream leather lining, and I wouldn’t mind trying it out
Click to expand...
Some of the older Flo bags have a very pale cream color soft leather lining. It's beautiful
to look at and feels great when you put your hand in the bag. However, I worry that
it's delicate and can easily get soiled, pick up color transfer from dark SLGs, or even
be damaged by keys. When I use any of these handbags, I always put my keys
in a pouch to protect the leather lining. So far I haven't had any issues but I rotate
my handbags, so the leather lined ones are only gently used.

Check out the Flo Cassidy Hobo and the Amelie and the Cameron C/B on ILD to see the leather lining. And the Sadie. Probably a few more also.
 
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