After recently posting about the fashion disaster known as fanny packs, comments by Fanny Pack Woman prompted Ella and me to do some searching for a possible solution to rid FPW from her five-year battle with the dreaded fanny pack. Now, I don’t know what Ella has found yet, but I stumbled upon this beautiful, soft leather Tag-Along Bag, measuring 13″ l x 9.5″ h x .75″ d.
The strap has slightly rolled edges, which when viewing the zoomed image, looks like they will provide a “gripping” action, which will help the strap stay on the shoulder, where it belongs. The strap drop measures 10.5″. By the way, I think the photo is making the strap look slightly longer than it actually is; remember, we don’t want long straps, either. Another plus to this bag is the outside pocket with a magnetic snap closure; this is perfect for keeping items that you need easy access to. Of course, this bag is $140, but if it’s taken care of, it will last for years and if it works for you, you don’t have to worry about going out and searching for another one. That alone is worth the price if shopping for a suitable handbag is frustrating.
But, don’t worry, I did find another bag that might work that is much more affordable. The Modern Classics Leather Small Hobo by The Sak is only $59! It is also a single-strap bag with a strap drop of 10″. Plus, the strap is adjustable which will help you get the fit you desire. It doesn’t have an outside pocket, but it does feature several compartments inside. Measuring 11″ l x 6.5″ h x 4″ d, it’s available in four solid colors.
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January 19th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
Wow! Those bags look lovely! Thanks!
(By the way, after seeing that those were both hobos, I did a search on “Hobo” at Zappos.com and saw a blue Donna Karan hobo that is likewise tempting, being on sale and all. What’s your take on it?
January 20th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
You’ll have to forgive my barrage of questions–as a fanny pack person I really never learned these things (I never even knew there were names for the different kind of bags (other than fanny pack, backpack, or plain ol’ purse)—no lie! Do you realize the way you are changing my life? :-> )
The glossary on Zappos.com does not explain Shoulder/strap Drop. Is it measured from the armpit, the top of the shoulder, or somewhere else?
Thanks!
January 20th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
I think that Donna Karan handbag would be a great one to try; the strap’s a nice width with a good drop length and I really like the blue color!
As for strap drop, it is the distance between the center of the strap to the center top of the body of the bag. So, it would be the measurement from where the strap lays on your shoulder to the center top of the bag. Hope that helps!
January 21st, 2006 at 2:22 am
I think it’s nice, and I know Mal likes the blue.
It looks a bit trendy, is it basic and classic enough to last you?
January 21st, 2006 at 9:46 pm
Well, I’m kinda wondering that, but I figure
a) it’s from Zappos; if it’s awful and trendy-looking when I get it then I can return it for free.
b) hey, I’m wearing a Fanny Pack right now; anything’s got to be better…
c) I happily wore a *fanny pack* for five years. If this purse went out of style tomorrow, would I notice?
The one I really want most is the Tag-Along bag, but it’s on back-order until Feb 22 so there’s no rush. I’m going to order one as soon as I get paid.
February 1st, 2006 at 12:05 pm
So the blue DK hobo arrived last week, and looked very smart. I liked it a lot…until as I was leaving the store last night, I put my wallet back in the little zipper side pouch, and zipped it shut…and the zipper closer thingy came off altogether. I had to pry the two halves of the zipper apart by hand to get my wallet back.
When this sort of thing happens to your good bags, do you get them professionally repaired? (Someone will probably have to replace the zipper.) I’m debating whether to get the zipper replaced or just send it back to Zappos.
And in the meantime, I may have to go back to the *shudder* fanny pack, or else use a Hobo that my well-meaning mother got for me at a clearance sale recently just before the DK bag arrived (and she didn’t even know I was looking to reform, so what a coincidence). It’s not very nice-looking, though.
February 1st, 2006 at 2:09 pm
How disappointing! Since you’ve only had the purse a week, I would try sending it back and seeing if you can get a refund or another purse. There’s no reason the zipper should have already broke; maybe it was defective. Let us know how it goes.
February 1st, 2006 at 2:59 pm
It’s Zappos, baby! Send it back for a new one or just a refund. It couldn’t be easier. Put it back in the same box, go to the website, fill out a form, print out a couple things, tape the return shipping label on the box and hand it to your carrier!
If you are replacing it, you might not even have a chance to go out anywhere with that ugly bag (or a fanny pack), because you will get the new bag in days!
I’m sorry this happened. You will have to decide whether you think it’s poor manufacturing or an unlucky incident with just one bag.
Another bad thing is that blue is no longer available, but there is green. Since yours was defective, maybe Zappos will do something special for you.
February 1st, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Well, it looks like the zipper was too short on that side so they didn’t secure it properly when they sewed it. Hmmmm.
But I got smart and googled “replacing zipper slider” and found a good site that gave me a clue, and now the zipper is fixed (and better sewn now, albeit with non-matching thread). Turned out to be a trivial fix. Yay!
But before I found out how to fix it, I had a phone chat with a nice customer service rep at Zappos, and now I have a $20 Zappos coupon. (which is convenient, because I need new running shoes. But I’m sure that’s a subject for a whole ‘nother blog.)
How did we ever survive before the web?
February 5th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Ha ha. Glad for you. Zappos is great, huh? That covers the cost of the fix, then?
For running, I kind of like Puma
. They give me this jump-start feel.