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Original poster

Storksak Emily or Elisabeth?

25 replies

duende · 31/12/2012 10:00

Are they worth the money? I like the look of both, but I haven't seen them in flesh, not sure if the Elisabeth would be massive and heavy? They are also very expensive and I could only just justify the purchase if I thought I could wear ones as a normal handbag too.
Does anyone have either? Or both? Any experiences?

OP posts:

DonaAna · 31/12/2012 10:17

I have the Emily. I think it was inspired by some Marc Jacobs bags that aren't that fashionable any more (Stella?). It is a good bag, and I've used it as a baby travel bag and work bag after I didn't need a nappy bag. But, frankly, after you are done with diaper bags, you are done with diaper bags. When my babies became toddlers, I started loving small and light cross-body bags, and I carry the big bulky ones only when I absolutely have to. Fashions change, you fancy a smaller bag for everyday use, and so I only wear mine a couple of times per year (mainly when travelling for work in the winter - it's a good inflight bag.)

In general, the huge hobo shape feels dated. And the Elizabeth would be too big and heavy for daily use - it reminds me of old laptop bags, perhaps good for an IT person but really too bulky for anyone else. (If I need to take a computer along, I pop the iPad in a small satchel - done.)

woopsidaisy · 01/01/2013 16:01

I have the Elizabeth. I love it. I had seen it twice in the flesh before I bought it. Once on holidays and once on flight. Both ladies loved it and advised me to get it. I did. Order it, you can always send it back!

DolomitesDonkey · 01/01/2013 16:08

The Elizabeth is the only nappy bag I have ever lusted over and if I'd not just bought a rather nice handbag and travel light I'd have indulged.

Cheesemonkey · 01/01/2013 16:08

I've got the Emily, it's been a great bag and 2 years on i'm still using it.

Original poster

duende · 01/01/2013 16:50

Thanks everyone. I suppose I will spend a few more weeks lusting and eventually give in.
(I'm only 10 weeks pregnant so should really not be buying anything yet.... It will be DC2 though so we have most things already and will not spend a fortune if I can stop myself from looking at pushchairs...)

OP posts:

chocolateteabag · 01/01/2013 19:16

I have the Elisabeth in red and 2 years on it has faded really badly.
I would recommend getting it in the camel leather only as that would still look good when a bit more beaten up.

Having said that - loved the bag, v useful pockets inside for stuff. I got the pram clips too.

chocolateteabag · 01/01/2013 19:17

Also MHoula used to do a discount on Storksak - def shop around before you do cave and get it!

fraktion · 01/01/2013 19:18

I have an Emily in chocolate leather and I love it.

blue2711 · 01/01/2013 19:21

I have the Elizabeth in tan and have really liked it. I used it for 1.5 years day in, day out with my son and now for another year with my daughter. It still looks great and gets lots of compliments. Doesn't really look like a baby bag, I don't think, although I certainly wouldn't use it when I'm not with my baby! I got mine with 20% off a specialist baby site (forget which now) so have a go at tracking it down with a discount if possible.

Original poster

duende · 01/01/2013 19:53

Those of you with Elisabeth, did you not find it too big and heavy for everyday use?

OP posts:

NorthernNumpty · 01/01/2013 20:04

I have the Elizabeth and it was great until I had to carry about more stuff such as pots of snacks (I did BLW), bigger nappies, bigger clothes, I then found it a bit small. Gorgeous bag though I searched high and low for a 'grey' one and it is more brown than grey but looks great after a bit of use, sort of vintage

chocolateteabag · 01/01/2013 20:05

I don't tbh. But depends how much stuff you put in it. I do have pram clips which I use a lot. It's not the easiest to carry for a long time so if not on the back of the pram, would no recommend

DonaAna · 01/01/2013 20:23

I found the Emily too heavy and cumbersome with two children - it was like a third cild. It almost made my Bugaboo Bee tip over and couldn't be used with a lightweight Maclaren stroller. You don't want to hear this but I actually preferred to keep a Ziploc bag with a feeding kit (bib, spoon, jar of baby food) and a couple of diapers and a bag of wipes in the basket of a stroller. And my personal stuff in a regular small cross-body bag.

DonaAna · 01/01/2013 20:27

Sorry, meant third child. Getting used to moving around with two very small children (newborn and 2-y-o) was quite difficult, and I found I had to really pare down what I was carrying with me.

BettyButterknife · 01/01/2013 20:33

I'll be putting my natural Elizabeth on eBay this week if you're interested?

Djembe · 01/01/2013 21:47

DonaAna I have gone through a similar thing this year, have ditched my Cath Kidston monstrosity of a change bag for a lovely vintage leather crossbody which fits 2 nappies, wipes, a couple of nappy bags, an oat bar or two and a zippy bit for my personal stuff (tiny Mason Pearson brush, iPhone, keys, MBMJ coin purse and lippy!) - I love travelling light. It's so easy to fall into the trap of carrying the world and its sink around, it's not necessary IMO even with a tiny baby.

Spend the money on a mid-sized crossbody bag you love OP, you don't need a change bag.

Original poster

duende · 01/01/2013 21:48

Betty, yes please, PM the link if you can.
DonaAna, this is my concern, yes. I'll have a think about it :)

OP posts:

blue2711 · 01/01/2013 22:06

The Elizabeth itself is really light, it's all the stuff I put in it that makes it heavy! I think a small cross body bag would be pretty hard with a small baby though, especially if you bottle feed. And the bag in the bottom of the buggy only works if you take it everywhere with you, which isn't always the case.

Djembe · 01/01/2013 22:23

I missed out the milk bottle in its thermos bag from my list - that fits in a midsized crossbody too! I took DS 1yo up to London for the day and on MN advice, left the buggy at home and took him in a sling. It was revelatory, haven't used my big change bag since. Haven't ditched the buggy though, need somewhere to carry my shopping

AmethystMoon · 02/01/2013 04:14

I love my tan Elisabeth. It has aged well, and IMO looks better now it is worn in. Lots of compliments and not at all heavy, as others have said it is the stuff you put in it that makes it heavy! I can get nappies, wipes, change mat, change of clothes, bottles, my purse etc. in it easily. I hang it off the pram handle so rarely actually carry it. The tan colour goes with everything too. They resell on eBay for around £80-£100 and so you could go for a second hand one or buy new and recoup some money. It has loads of pockets inside which are invaluable. John Lewis stock them if you want to have a look/ feel!

Pyjamadonkey · 02/01/2013 05:15

I have a black quilted Elizabeth, I love it, it looks slightly Chanel esq and fits loads without being too heavy. I use the clips for everyday use and perfect for travelling (which I do often with my ds). Would make a perfect bag for cabin luggage once we are over the nappy stage.

DonaAna · 02/01/2013 08:11

I second slings and light strollers. If you have a big heavy pram, you won't even notice the extra bulk of the changing bag. But if you live in a big city, have to negotiate steps, stairs, elevators, and narrow doors, every extra ounce counts. I often used a buggy board for the toddler and couldn't fit both the bag and the toddler onboard at the same time. My best purchase at the time of having a second child was a Joovy sit/stand stroller (lightweight for a double, space for 2 DC and a basket big enough for food shopping). But if I took the Emily, I had to put the bag on the toddler seat. Not ideal. And when we travelled, I had to carry the changing bag because it would have tipped over the umbrella stroller. For these reasons, I only rarely took the changing bag with me.

It really depends on your lifestyle. I lived in a big city, with daily outings. Our building had a tiny elevator and I used a lot of public transport, walked to the shops and often took my children to museums and the local library.

BrandyAlexander · 02/01/2013 08:24

Another option for you OP....I thought about getting the Elisabeth, but in the end I went for the il tutto mia bag. It's very functional (enough room for the stuff I carry with a toddler and preschooler) as well as stylish.

blue2711 · 02/01/2013 10:41

DonaAna is right, it's all about life style. I live in the countryside so drive everywhere. Then I just carry baby and bag into wherever we are visiting: friends' house, library, playgroup etc. Toddler walks. Very little use of my pram in the winter actually! Work out how your life works and what appeals most to you OP, there's no rule book that says all mums must do the same thing.

PenfoldRocks · 02/01/2013 13:57

I had an Elizabeth and didn't find it too heavy (was pretty light compared to the Mulberry Roxanne I was schlepping about pre-baby). The plan was to use it as a 'normal' bag later on, but that never happened; as DonaAna says, it will always be a 'changing bag'. So, nearly 4 years later, I stuck it on eBay and got £85 for it. Price per wear probably pretty good!
They still have the Elizabeth in John Lewis I think if you have one near you?

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