I don’t know how to highlight a name in response. 
Just google “purse blog”. “Purse forum” is part of the site.
https://www.racked.com/2015/6/15/8771879/purseblog-meaghan-mahoney-dusil
There is also bagsnob. https://www.racked.com/2014/7/8/7588019/bag-snob-blog-tina-craig-kelly-cook-prada-hermes-birkin-chanel-cartier
I am a huge designer bag fan and use them for both everyday and special occasions. I like the YSL more than than Gucci. I feel like I see the Gucci Marmont bag everywhere. As far as color goes, do you wear a lot of black? If so, I think the wine YSL would be great. It goes with most colors, other than red, so could be a nice little pop of color against a black wardrobe. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either of them. And I agree that the YSL is a tiny bit dressier with the chain strap.
Thank you alh for those links, I can see myself going down the rabbit hole and really trying to contain myself!
Hi again! Wow, thank you all for responding, I’ve had a lot of fun reading your responses. Thankfully there is a Saks in my city, so I plan on going tomorrow. @scorekeeper1 , I don’t wear a lot of black at all. In fall and winter, I’ll wear black jeans, but always a color on top, unless it’s a black shell. Burgundy is one of my favorite colors, so I have aloe of that, and other jeweled tone colors. Right now I have a lot of mustard yellow too. But I do have several black coats.
I think the black with the gold is just classy looking in the YSL. But I have my fun black Michael Kors, too. Argh…I think I’ll just have to see them all in person, and check how much room there is.
I’m going to check out those purse forums for sure. Like traveling, I have fun in the research!
I have always liked Gucci. It used to be considered a bit of old fuddie duddie, but they updated themselves a while back. I love the quality of their leather. I still have bags from 30+ years ago. I like Prada for some newer designs. If I were to buy a smaller bag, I would consider a Chanel. I would check out therealreal for some bargains.
I would re-think about tassel on a bag unless you will always keep the bag off the floor. The tassel serves no purpose.
At the beginning of the year I treated myself to a Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote for work and travel. I got about 2 1/2 months use before the pandemic brought things to a halt. It didn’t leave the house for several months. I love that bag, but it was totally overkill for the few trips I was making out of the house. I switched to a LV Speedy but still tended to take a very small bag with just my wallet and phone. Now that things are a little more opened up around here (well, a lot more opened up) I’m back to the Speedy but still have the Neverfull in the closet. I used to love LV, then spent a couple decades not liking it, and then once again appreciated the classic look and the quality. In those intervening decades I tended towards Coach and then Dooney.
I still like LV, just the ones without a lot LV all over it. I’ve used the same style of clutch for 15+ years. Now my kids watch out when it gets old and they replace it for me.
We can’t have a fashion discussion without @BunsenBurner!
Buy the one that makes your heart sing. I understand the versatility and durability of black, especially when you’re not going to have a closet full of high end handbags. But if you love something more unusual, go with that.
I say this with no sarcasm and full support…
You’re spending $1000 on a bag/purse!!! Buy the one you’ll be thrilled to own! Practicality goes out the window when you’re spending that much money! As @yauponredux says, buy the one that makes your heart sing!
My approach was that since I was going to spend all that money, I wanted one that would accompany me almost everywhere. It was my partner- well, until COVID hit.
@conmama it seems to me that you really like the white color. It’s a dream bag, buy it in the color you love!
The white is spectacular, i think a white bag really pops.
Buy it, use it!
I have a white coach bag, I don’t know if it’s more durable than the bags you are looking at but it still looks good 10 years later. It’s white with gold studs and the white really does pop.
My favorite bag is a light beige Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack. I haven’t carried it much this year because a crossbody is easier. I want to keep my purse on my body when I go out now, so my other bags are sadly being unused. But I haven’t had any transfer on this bag either. I’m sure it’s a concern, maybe it happens with very expensive bags more.
@deb922 , I know, I love the white! But I actually really love the design of the YSL much more. I’m a sucker for tassels and I like the chain strap. I just think it’s a classier purse, and I watched a YouTube of these 2 gals doing a review of the 2 purses I’m considering. They gave the Gucci a 6.5/7 and the YSL a 10. The inside of the YSL is leather, vs. suede. They loved it more for the reasons I mentioned (but it’s a bit smaller).
But I love that white. I’m trying to think where and when I’ll wear the purse I choose. I have my other new purses from last year I want to use, too. I love my MK Ginny, and it’s beige and got a lot of use this summer. No color transfer, but I mainly used it this summer, no jeans.
This purse is really just a status symbol. I find when we travel, I’d love to carry this purse…esp in CA. That’s always in summer. But I would like to use it in cooler weather too, and just wouldn’t feel comfy carrying white…don’t care what the bloggers say. Haha.
I’ve narrowed it to the white Gucci, or this more cranberry red YSL. I’m thinking not the burgundy, as the brighter red I’d use all seasons. What do you think of that reasoning? Of course the most beautiful in the YSL is the black…the hardware just shines. Do people carry black in the summer?
I like the YSL better also. I even love the tassel. The black with the gold hardware is my favorite but I wear a lot of black. I’ve never had a red bag but that red bag is a really good red.
I think that black is season less. But I wear a lot of black.
Buy the bag that YOU love, take everything else out of the equation
For those concerned about placing handbag on floor, etc. I always have one of these with me and use it all the time in restaurants. It keeps it off floor and right next to me but out of the way. Of course who knows when we’ll be in a restaurant again. https://smile.amazon.com/FOME-Handbag-Foldable-Butterfly-1-77x3-54in/dp/B076HHLB41
@Singersmom07 , where do you place that if, for instance, you’re sitting at a bar? Between you and whoever your with, between your knees?
Hoo boy, some of you would be appalled, APPALLED I tell you, at my handbag. Well, mine is actually a purse.
It’s a black leather one, probably not more than $150. I have a couple of other ones in other colors, but I hate going to the hassle of changing out.
Anyway, one day I went over to the house we are remodeling and set my purse down. When I was leaving, I picked it up, only to discover I had set it down on something that had wet white paint on it. I tried to get it off, to no avail.
That’s been a few weeks ago, and I keep forgetting to get a new one. I’ll arrive at the grocery store and set it on the counter to pay and see the paint and get mildly ashamed, but it doesn’t last long enough to get me to go buy a new one.
I’d do it today, but Merry Maids are coming, then I promised to be a the new house for a few hours as the last cabinet is delivered and set, and then I have to race back home to meet our computer guy, who is coming over to fix some problems. Maybe tomorrow!
I like to see purses in person before I buy. Usually. But maybe I should just surrender and find one online.
D2 is a handbag person and would surely be scandalized by her mother’s behavior.
@conmama my favorite bars have hooks under them but I have used it in some, placing it next to me. I carry small bags though. That particular type folds up small but doesn’t fit large bar tops. They make some that have larger openings. https://smile.amazon.com/Wine-Lovers-Purse-Hook-Rhinestone/dp/B07MG8HF9D
110% agree with the utility of a purse hook! If I’m in crowded place, it goes between my knees. If at a regular restaurant, I put it right next to me. The hook is designed so that it really hangs under the table so it’s much harder to pick pocket than if it was hanging on the back of a chair. I don’t go anywhere without mine!
Well, I’m sold. When I can start going back to restaurants I’m getting both!