Vera Bradley...it's all in the bag
Written: Jul 10 '04 (Updated Jan 03 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lightweight, fashionable, washable, large variety of patterns and styles, woman-owned company.
Cons: Expensive, doesn't do well in wet conditions, cotton fabric wears out faster than most materials.
The Bottom Line: Fresh designs and styles keep the product lines from getting stale. Trendy, colorful, fun fashion for your purse wardrobe. You may never buy leather again!
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| califtonjgirl's Full Review: VERA BRADLEY HANDBAG |
Hello, I'm an Epinions user and a Vera-holic...
...or so it should go. I love Vera Bradley bags. Small ones, medium ones, short ones, tall ones. Give me all of them. In fact, I just about OWN all of them! My husband rolls his eyes whenever I spot a "Vera" on the street. I can easily identify the style and the pattern of the bag (and I do...out loud LOL).
The Vera Bradley line was started in 1982. During a vacation, friends Patricia Miller and Barbara Baekgaard noticed the lack of attractive and feminine luggage while in the airport. Soon after, Vera Bradley (named after Barbara's mother) was born and began marketing and manufacturing the first products in Barbara's basement.
These 100% quilted cotton bags are just the ticket for any occasion. There is the original cotton fabric line, a 100% silk line and a microfiber line. Of all the bags, I prefer the cotton material, due to it's comfort and washability and this review highlights those products.
Most of the bags are constructed of 3/4" diamond-quilted 100% cotton fabric in a main pattern (usually a smaller repeating type, such as flowers). The fabric has a nice layer of foam inside of it to give the quilting a little puffiness. There is normally a contrasting pattern inside the bag, which is also fully quilted. For example, a red bag will have a yellow interior with a coordinating but totally different pattern. There are two outer handles that extend down and are sewn into the sides of the bag, almost to the bottom (on some of the bags, the handles completely wrap around the bottom of the bag). The handles may or may not be quilted, depending on style...I prefer the quilted straps...they feel a lot more comfortable. Although the bags are made of cotton fiber, they will last a long time given the proper care and handling.
There is very little to no plastic or metal hardware on most of the Vera Bradley product line...most bags zip, button or magnetic-snap shut. Outside pockets normally are open or have a flap that closes with a small piece of velcro. Many of the purses and totes have multiple quilted open inner pockets sewn in.
The top and bottom of the bags are covered in a non-quilted larger and bolder pattern border that is around 2" wide or so in a coordinating pattern to that of the body of the bag. The bottom of the bag as well as any pockets inside or out are constructed of quilted cotton. In some of the bags, a separate hard base which consists of a heavy cardboard rectangle covered in a removable non-quilted fabric sleeve is included (this item must be removed before washing). Some of the hard bases are sewn into the bag and in that case, it is perfectly fine to wash the entire bag as is.
I haven't reversed any of the bags, but have heard that it's sometimes done, depending on the style of the bag.
The Vera Bradley line offers various types of handbags, backpacks, tote bags, baby bags (with changing pad), soft briefcases, luggage (garment bags and carry-ons) and accessories such as cosmetic bags, wallets, coin purses, curling iron covers, eyeglass cases, hanging organizers, jewelry cases, ditty bags, placemats and napkins.
The larger bags and luggage have lots of room inside. Also, because the overall construction of the bag is non-rigid, Veras will conform to just about anything you happen to be toting.
A word on luggage: I probably would only use these bags as carry-on's, gym bags or use them for overnight stays (road trips, etc.). Reason being is that I have a Samsonite bag that is fairly rugged in construction and it's got black marks, tears and all sorts of abuse showing, just after a handful of trips through the airport carousel. I can't bear to think of what damage would be done to a Vera...and whether or not it could be repaired or cleaned is another story altogether so I don't dare try it. Also, the luggage has two handles and if one handle is grabbed without the other, uneven distribution of weight is placed on the stitches around it and can result in a nasty tear. These bags are meant for gentle handling!
On that note, as Vera's are made up of fabric and are therefore somewhat delicate in makeup, wear and tear will eventually begin to show if special care is not taken. Fabric rub, stains, fading (from improper washing/drying and heavy sun exposure), overloading and setting the purses down on rough surfaces such as concrete, etc. or dragging it on a frequent basis will greatly increase the damage that can be done the fabric, especially on the straps and bottom. To me, there's nothing sadder (fashion-wise) than a once-beautiful Vera looking down, dirty and ragged...it's not "country chic", it's just plain sloppy. So handle those Veras with care and you'll have a super-looking bag for years to come!
The patterns are generally those of a floral type, although I've seen and own several whimsical patterns with bees, chickens and nautical themes (the photo/colors shown for this item don't do the bags justice, plus they're discontinued patterns). I've also seen limited edition patterns that are geared towards the younger set with bolder, brighter colors and energetic designs. There are so many varieties to choose from, new and old...everyone who loves Vera has their personal faves. It's never too long before the next pattern or style comes out, however so there's always something fresh and different to look at.
One problem is rain. These bags will not fare well when wet. This goes for any accessories inside the bag. H20 will just soak right through. When it rains and I'm caught holding my Vera, I keep it close to my person so it only gets a few drops on it, if any.
A feature I love about these purses is their washability (the silk and microfiber line are spot-clean only). Each bag has a tag inside, much like that of clothing that clearly states laundering instructions (bags should never be dry cleaned). To wash, I first remove the cardboard hard base that is wrapped in fabric and put the fabric inside the purse. I close all zippers and snaps (an open zipper can "saw" fabric during the wash and damage it), then put the purse into a zippered net delicates bag (this protects the surface of the fabric during agitation) and wash on the coldest cycle (both wash and rinse) possible using a gentle cycle and a mild detergent. Wash even your "white" or light-colored Veras in cold cycles because warm and hot water will fade out the pattern considerably. Color bleach can be used if desired and works well on lighter-colored bags (if you're unsure, test on an inconspicuous area first). If you want to use a spot cleaner, test first. For my darker bags, I use Woolite Dark detergent, which is super for all dark and red fabrics...it seems to really retard fading and grey-out. Skip the fabric softener...as you'll read soon, you won't need it. To dry, I remove from the net bag and then open the purses (zippers, snaps) and hang or put the bags onto a net "hammock" of sorts (most often used to dry sweaters and lingerie). Don't machine dry a Vera...it will really ruin it over time. This is the best way to minimize fading, wear and shrinkage and the bags always come out clean as a whistle. It does help that I have a front-loader washing machine, which is much gentler on fabrics.
I store my Veras out of direct heat, sunlight and damp areas in a large plastic storage container. If I'm going to be storing a purse I've used for a while, I'll give it a good washing before to clean off dirt, oils, odors and stains that will be harder to remove later or that can damage fabric in storage.
My Veras have lasted for years and still look fairly new using these methods.
When Vera Bradley began their company, their items were made in the USA (Company headquarters is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana). Sadly, I've noticed more and more that a lot of their purses are manufactured in China. The quality over the years has not been compromised, however...in fact, a lot of the bag designs and fabric quality (especially colorfastness) has greatly improved over the years.
Vera Bradley also has a yearly (sometimes twice yearly) outlet sale, where some real bargains can be had. One-of-a-kind items such as baseball caps and fanny packs can be purchased at these sales as well. The lines are often out the door at these sales and people travel great distances to get these bargains....Vera-lovers are an extremely devoted following and the company seems to acknowledge that fact, based on the info on their website. I've also visited several online and store retailers...some specialize in monogramming/personalization, discontinued and new patterns. Also worth checking out are some of the popular online auction sites where great bargains can be had, but don't get caught up in a bidding war or you might end up paying too much...do your homework before you bid!
These bags can be expensive. The average handbag costs around $55-$80 (the smaller bags are around $25 up). Luggage is $60-$125. Accessories cost anywhere from $20 up.
Vera Bradley discontinues a pattern after about 2 years, sometimes sooner...as some patterns are more popular than others, this only increases the value of a given item. I've seen prices quadruple for hard-to-find patterns within a short period of time after they've been discontinued. Of course, most of this is due to hype and if one is patient, a real bargain can be found. I've seen a lot of discontinued patterns that have never been used. These bags are often advertised as "NWT" or "New With Tag". I've also seen styles come and go, but the most popular have been around for a long time.
New patterns are introduced during the four seasons. Some patterns are released for one season only, such as spring and then discontinued, such as the silk line. Others are slated for the holidays and are discontinued after the winter season has ended.
Vera Bradley also has an ongoing pattern that helps to raise funds for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. The pattern has a pink ribbon incorporated into the fabric design, which is usually named "Hope". The VB Foundation for Breast Cancer was established in 1998 after a friend of theirs lost their battle with the disease. The company also has yearly golf and tennis tournaments in Fort Wayne, Indiana to help raise funds for cancer research.
These bags are so comfortable to carry and make great gifts. They're excellent for travel, too as they can be easily packed into a suitcase. I've given them away to women both young and old and they're always a huge hit. They're a real stand-out from the more common black and brown heavy leather bags and are quite cheerful, feminine and pleasant to look at.
There are a lot of knock-offs and imitators out there, so make sure that you see them in person before you buy. I've bought some of these bags online and from catalogs and have been disappointed in them...they just don't match Vera Bradley's quality.
For more information on patterns, styles, company history, retailers and the outlet sale, go to www.verabradley.com
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
califtonjgirl
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Reviews written: 39
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
I am a married female in her mid-thirties.
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