Honest Opinions on Handbags/Suggestions?

I bought these two bags during Christmas. (Sorry for the awful photos, they were taken at the hotel room/bathroom!)

The blue bag is from Coach and I paid $340 at the outlet, retail $380+tax. The pink bag is Juicy Couture and retailed for $350 but I got 25% off at Saks so it was something like $280 after tax.

I liked the shape of the Coach bag and how well it held stuff and the leather was nice and looked like it would hold up awhile/not scratch, but the color wasn't that great and it didn't look like a bag I'd use everyday. I returned this but I'm sure I could find it again.

Now I really liked the Juicy bag, it's REALLY soft and light and feels really good, but it's on the small side and I had to buy the floor model since it was the last one. There were already nicks/scratches on it to begin with. I used it maybe 3 times (with tag still inside attached, and inside pull-tags still wrapped, for only a few hours each time) and now it seems like the leather isn't holding up well—maybe it was like this before, but the leather seems like it's flaking in certain places.

Should I return this too?




I'm still on the search for the perfect handbag I hate anything with huge buckles, or too many tassles, or logo prints of any sort. I do like quilted bags alot. Lindsay Lohan was carrying this gorgeous Balenciaga but I could never afford it, maybe I'll post a pic if I can find it. At the most, maybe $500 but I'd wanna keep it under $350-400. Suggestions?

TIA!

Thanks for all your opinions and help, everyone!

I already returned the Coach bag, I returned it two days after I bought it because I got the Juicy later that same day and I knew I could only keep one. (But I can always find it again, I'm sure.)

Of the two, I know I kept the right one, but I'm just having my doubts about keeping the Juicy bag since it already has damage, but I think most of the damage was already there from it being out as a display for a few months (you guys know how bags on display get abused!). However, I am also really scared about using it, especially if it rains or something. Plus I am very clumsy and always spill things. It has been quite awhile since I've been so excited about a bag though, and it's just so cute.

Thatrachel: That was a GREAT price and if I had gotten this bag (or the black version, I wouldn't mind it in black!) for what you paid, I wouldn't have this conversation right now and I'd keep it anyway, damage or not

Heartfelt: I really like the way MJ bags feel and the detail/workmanship is really impressive (like the zippers, for example) but I have yet to find a bag from them that I really liked. The accents are too big for me, or something... Or there are too many buckles?

Girl78: yeah my sister said the same thing, the shape of the bag was too 'old' for me even though the color is a very bold and 'young' color!

Liz: Yeahhh that's the one! I found it on eBay searching "quilted" but now it's over 2k... And Jessica Simpson has one too. To be honest though, it looks way better in someone's hands than in stock pics. In the stock photos it looks way too square and I wouldn't look twice at it. But it bunches up when carried and looks so cute.


In the meantime, I am ashamed to admit I'm still using a freebie black hobo bag from Victoria's Secret and also a khaki Roxy bag that looks very middle-school I need a bag that's age-appropriate and doesn't look cheapy. My only other Coach bag is too summery for the middle of winter.

I LOVE this bag but it's from some past season and I think it retailed for $700 anyway (found it on the Purse Fourm).