P&M Mariella in Toffee, anyone have one?

[MonaLotte]

I've been drooling over this for a while and was wondering if anyone has one? Is it quite big?
Also does it end up like a big hole where it's difficult to find things?
I've been using my Lucia for a while and like the flat base as it's easy to stack everything neatly iykwim?!
Also is the cross body strap comfy or does it dig in, it looks quite narrow.
Thanks!

[polyhymnia]

It is very big and the main reason I sent it back, apart from the toffee being a bit too 'shiny' for me - but that's just a personal thing - was that it is indeed big and it doesn't have any dividing compartment inside. I love P and M but think at the price they could / should include one.

Without this, I could see it being hard to find things. I really wanted to keep all my 'work' stuff - tablet, etc - separate from ordinary 'handbag' stuff and could imagine they would get all jumbled togethr.

Afraid I can't help on strap because I never used it.

[MonaLotte]

Thanks for the info. I don't need a divider so that's ok. When you say it was shiny, did that make the leather stiff, or is it still lovely and soft? So is it a lot bigger than the Lucia?
Sorry for all the questions!

[polyhymnia]

If you look on the site it gives the measurements so you can, with a tape measure, compare them to your Lucia. I did this - and even then it was a bit bigger than I was expecting. But it's not massive. Just too big for me to have been confident things would be easy to find.

No, the leather seemed good quality and isn't stiff - though obviously it's a bit firmer than it would be in the matte finish I personally prefer.

[polyhymnia]

PS In fairness, several other people on this site have Mariellas and rave about them so I guess they don't find them too big.

[MonaLotte]

Thanks very much. That's a good tip re the tape measure, will try later on. I think the shinyness (is that a word) will work as I'm always mega paranoid about my Lucia getting marked.
I've just looked and there's also an aubergine one that looks lovely!

[madammecholet]

Hi there, I've got Lucia and Mariella in last years pink. Not too big for me, you'd get an a4 folder in it at a push I suppose, I use it for DC days, the strap is lovely and thick so comfortable.. Love both mine.. It is slouchy tho, so no base to it.. The Aubergine is divine, I may eBay my pink one to get that one tbh... :)

[MonaLotte]

Hmm very tempting! Do you think that Aubergine would go with lots? I think it might be a more practical colour than toffee now.

[madammecholet]

I'm a chanel rouge noir fan MonaLotte so the aubergine is ticking that box for me.. Also, i'm very into jewel colours, so it would go really well with my wardrobe, I like putting teals and aubergine together, greens and oranges etc... It would go with pretty much everything I own ..

[polyhymnia]

I expect you've seen they're doing it in what looks like a very nice soft metallic colour too. Not sure how veratile that would be - but if it's really muted I guess it would do casual - eg with jeans - as well as more dressed up occasions.

[madammecholet]

polyhymnia yeah, seen it, looks divine too.. not year round tho, summer bag for sure..

[polyhymnia]

I agree definitely not winter.

Hmm they are doing that with the new Lucia - only in v light grey or camel which are spring summer colours only IMO. I like my bags to be mostly year-round.

[nowrinklesonamelon]

I like to have my bags in seasons! - then I can pack them away for a while and enjoy another colour -- feels like a new bag each time I get them out after a few months - which is why I try to buy good quality classic bags.

[MonaLotte]

Most of my wardrobe is navy/purple/burgundy/teal it black so I think aubergine would go. I like the navy but then I don't think it would go with my black coats. I saw they are doing a red one on fb as well. The metallic is nice too though and I've not had a metallic bag in ages. Arghh. I can't choose :-/

[polyhymnia]

It is indeed a hard choice!

The navy is matte and the aubergine 'shiny', if it makes a dfference. I personally just don't like that glossy finish (though I like patent leather) - but that's just me, and lots of stylish people do.

The navy would be less 'interesting'/ unusual but would be year-round, whereas I think the aubergine is more Autumn/Winter.

They're going to do it in t red, but a bright red bag that size would be just too much for me. I'm only a lover of brights in small doses - and then really only of cobalt, or berry (which probably doesn't count). if i went for any Mariella for S/S, I'd personally go for the metallic.

[MonaLotte]

Ok I've gone for aubergine! The metallic looked too shiny for me. And I have other navy bags. I'm with you on the red one poly, I think it's too big a bag to be so bright for me, plus I don't have much red in my wardrobe.
Hope I love it! At least there are free returns if I don't like it so am only out on shipping.
Very excited. Will report back :)

[polyhymnia]

Yes do!

[madammecholet]

YAY monalotte i'm very ... will you let me know if its a purple or more of a rouge noir (black with a tint) when it comes?

[shelley72]

its because of S&B that i bought the lucia (which i do love). but now with another DC on the way i am looking for a changing bag that isnt a changing bag and is cross body. this looks gorgeous. i want it.
tell me. its really not suitable for use as a change bag is it? the straps will dig in won't they once its filled with nappies, wipes, clothes, toddler snacks, toys, books etc?!

[madammecholet]

Straps never dig in with me shelley72 and i used as a DC's bag for about 2 years now... Its very light so you can stuff it with gubbins and its ok, iykwim.

[queribus]

OK, my birthday is coming up soon and I'm getting either the Lucia or the Mariella. But which one?.

I like the Lucia because it definitely is a shoulder bag which would work with a winter coat (IYSWIM). But I really like the slouchy shape of the Mariella, but I'm not sure about the strap. I don't like cross body bags either.

But I love the Mariella colours - especially the navy, and I'm considering the red when it comes out. I quite like the dove grey Lucia, but will it mark and be really dirty quickly?

Help me, please ....

[MonaLotte]

I will let you know madame :)

[MonaLotte]

I like the dove grey one queribus I don't think it looks like it would mark as much as a cream bag but you might have to be careful with transfer with dark denim. I have the old style lucia and love it!
The Mariella is coming tomorrow so will be able to compare for you :)

[queribus]

Thanks

What colour Lucia do you have? I'm not sure about the tan. How heavy is it?

I'm hopeless at making decisions

[MonaLotte]

I have the tan, it's a nice colour, not orangey at all. It looks like Thorntons toffee. The bag itself isn't heavy and I can fit quite a lot in it.
I have in it just now:
Purse
Filofax
Kindle
Makeup bag
Little pouch thing with wipes and a couple of nappies
Small umbrella
Brush
Keys
iPhone
Inhaler
Two reusable bags
Tommee tippee beaker

[MonaLotte]

You don't get tan in the new style just camel and dove grey I think.