To keep or not to keep?

Yesterday was a full day of errands, including trying to find a new purse.  I totally meant to participate in Ten on Tuesday but I never got around to it.  I'll definitely be checking out all the food suggestions soon!

So I need your advice on this purse.  My current purse is about the same size as this (small tote bag) and I just can't seem to use one smaller these days.  (Wallet, Kindle, cosmetics, papers, sometimes knitting... that takes up a lot of room!)  I'm not sure that I am 100% in love this purse but it is the one I like the best after looking around.  This will be the purse I use all the time.  I only change out purses in the summer but sometimes I don't even do that.

I saw several cute purses but they didn't zip and I really like a purse that zips or a messenger style purse with the flap that comes over.  This one has a large center section that zips with two narrow sections on either side that would accommodate a note pad, receipts, etc.  Another criteria is that I don't want to spend a ton ($75 or less for leather).  

Leather...now this is another thing to make me unsure  - the description online says "Croco Leather Tote."  Do you think that means it's really made from crocodile?  I figured it was embossed cow leather.  I'm not sure how I feel about a crocodile bag...  How can I tell?  Wouldn't a real crocodile leather bag have a different look to it?  This one seems too symmetrical to be real crocodile.  The QVC web site says "croco-embossed tote" so that makes it seem like cow leather.  (Sorry for the rambling!)

So I guess my questions are:

1.  Do you think this bag is nice or ugly?  Be honest, please!

2.  I'd love to carry a smaller purse.  If you carry a smaller bag, how do you do it?

Thanks for your opinion!

Comments

[Linda M]

I completely empathize with you because I hate shopping for purses but I like the bag! I'm sure it is embossed cowhide at that price. I especially like the green/brown combination. My must have requirement is that it have a pocket that fits my iPhone. Does this one have a good phone pocket for you? If you really aren't sure, don't keep it. You'll find something you do like elsewhere.

[Gwyndolyn O'Shaughnessy]

I don't carry a purse; I cheat. I carry my cards and ID on my keychain (license & credit card in plastic convention-nametag sleeves). Keys, watch, flashdrive and tiny flashlight weigh a bit but it works. In winter, right mitten and keys go in the right pocket. Left pocket holds the left mitten, alpaca-wool hat, inhaler and chapstick (sometimes a napkin or two). Upper right pocket is $20, a pen and reading glasses. Upper left pocket is ipod and cell phone.

Spring and fall swap out the hat and mitts for knitting. I do carry a small purse in Summer, holding only the keys, lip stuff, phone &c.

I sometimes carry water, knitting and small snack in a random tote.

Like I said: I cheat. I don't have children or wear cosmetics very often. i also live in Seattle, where Gore-tex is the fashion of choice.

(PS: If the leather's smooth, it might be gator. If rough, then cow.)

[lynne]

I love it! Croco or Cow? NO idea, as long as it's cute!

[Robin]

Is it okay to say I don't care for it? (The color or the texture.) But I'm not really one to offer advice because I don't carry a large bag.

I have a small leather coach bag for essentials. Paid a ridiculous amount of $ for it, but it's gotta be 15+ years old and you'd never ever know it. And I have several handmade totes for non-essentials. The coach bag fits nicely inside when both essentials and non-essentials are carried.

[Mary]

so...I'm with Robin on this one. I definitely think it's embossed crocodile (nature isn't nearly that symmetrical :-) and the color looks a bit forced. sadly, I don't have anything else to suggest. I'm experimenting with a smaller bag (a few cards, a lipstick, phone and camera) for non-knitting outings (very rare) and a wallet + cosmetic bag in my knitting bag for knitting outings (very common). I think it's working OK, but I still find myself looking for "stuff" every now and then. good luck!

[Estella]

Beth, I know how hard it is shopping for a purse - I hate doing it. I too am not overly crazy about this one and agree the croco look is "forced". I have a dear friend who gave me great advice once - at this point in our lives don't buy something cause you like it or it is on sale, buy it because you LOVE it. You don't LOVE this or you would have taken off the tags and used it right away.

[pooch]

Like you, I switch purses in the Summer and Fall so I have to LOVE the purse I'm carrying. I can't suggest a choice for you, Beth. I'll tell you how I would decide. I would keep it if I absolutely love it. Otherwise, I'd keep searching for the one that calls to me.

Have you checked Zappos.com ?

;)

[Donna]

I really like it. I like the color. I have to carry a rather large bag myself. I actually blogged about it today. Must be bag day. LOL.

[Mary]

I'm a Tom Bihn girl. They are "plain" canvas bags, pricy, but they last and last...and as Estella mentioned, I LOVE them.

I used the same medium sized cafe bag daily from circa 1997 through mid 2011-ish; which included fours years teaching (and shoving in paperwork/grading), and a couple years in Mexico where it was my "daypack" and carried my water bottle, knitting, and anything my then husband needed me to carry.

I only downsized to a small cafe bag when I visited my folks in East LA in 2010 and my father asked that I not carry around such a huge "temptation" in the 'hood (it was really bad for a while, better now, but still not where I grew up...) I had to get used to it before my visit, and realized I could get away with small as long as I only carried one paperback and a sock or hat knitting project.

Purses are like glasses...for me at any rate. It took me a very long time to realize what my "style" was and since I use it EVERY DAY, I really have to love it or I'm not happy/comfortable with it.