Invited to a "thirty-one" party. Are any bags park friendly?

[Disneycrazymom]

My friend is having a thirty one purse party today. I am looking on line but can't really tell too much from the pictures. I want to go a little bit prepared so I won't over spend or end up with something I won't use. I want something like a cross body bag. Big enough for a water bottle but not too big to carry all day at the parks. I was going to order the organizer one everyone talks about here (can't think of the name right now) on line until she decided to have this party.

So has anyone bought one of these? Which one? Do you like it? And is it worth the money?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[crusoe2]

One of my co-workers sells these bags. I haven't actually bought one yet but I've seen the organizing shoulder bag in person and it's very much like the Vera Bradley Hipster. I know that she and a few other co-workers have used it on trips to Europe. There is also a new bag called the Pop Up Crossbody (I think) that might make a good park bag but I haven't actually seen it in person yet. I can't attest to durability or anything since I haven't used any of the bags from this line. I saw a post here on the Dis awhile back tho where some people were saying that they don't hold up as well as Vera bags. This is why I've been hesitant to buy one. I'd rather just spend a bit more and get a Vera cause I know how long those will last me.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thank-you! I also thought they looked a lot like the Vera's. I have looked at the Vera and even the new Disney Dooney and Burke. Both look really nice. These are not inexpensive and while I like my friend I am not at all sure I really want one of these over the other choices! I guess I will have to figure out a polite way to not order? I personally am not a fan of these "bring all your friends over and sell them stuff" Parties! Maybe I will try to find something less expensive in the catalog? I have to go as I said I would and I always feel obligated to order something.

 

[crusoe2]

Thank-you! I also thought they looked a lot like the Vera's. I have looked at the Vera and even the new Disney Dooney and Burke. Both look really nice. These are not inexpensive and while I like my friend I am not at all sure I really want one of these over the other choices! I guess I will have to figure out a polite way to not order? I personally am not a fan of these "bring all your friends over and sell them stuff" Parties! Maybe I will try to find something less expensive in the catalog? I have to go as I said I would and I always feel obligated to order something.

I know what you mean. I quite buying at these kinds of parties years ago. The one that was going round here at that point was knick knacky stuff to decorate with and everyone in my family was having them. I diligently went to every party and ordered something and then decided to have my own party. Suddenly everyone was tired of them or couldn't make it or some such excuse. So I never got my turn to get all the hostess goodies. I said never again and I've never suffered a moment's guilt for it.

If you just really feel awful to not buy anything at all tho, you might take a look at the lunch bags. I see lots of those at school and they seem to hold up well. There are 2 different sizes and one would work well as a bottle bag for someone with a new baby.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thank-you for the lunch bag idea! I think that might be perfect. Usable so not a complete waste of money and not too expensive!

 

[mommy2twingles]

I love 31 products. I have bought several and not had any problems. I do use them almost every day to cart stuff to work. I also bought my son one to use during football season. He is 8 and fit everything he needed for practice every day in it. It was great to have all pads and helmets in one place.

 

[bobcat]

Full disclosure, I work for Thirty-One. Not as a consultant but in the home office. I LOVE all of my bags. For the parks I would go with the organizing shoulder bag. It lays flat against your body and can be worn across the body. I use this purse on a daily basis but love it when I am shopping since it's hands free. You can fit a lot in it and I love the two outside pockets. I personally would not go with the new pop cross body purse. It's smaller and has a thinner strap. Good for a day of shopping but not a day at the parks.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thanks so much everyone!

I did go to the party and ended up getting the smallest cooler. It is the size of a 9 x 12 pan (rectangle)with a shoulder strap. I think I will use it to carry drinks and snacks in the car for trips and picnics. It was $32 so pretty expensive but I think I will use it often. My friend went with me and did get the lunch bag and it looked nice too.

Neither of the cross body bags were really what I wanted and they were both pricey. But I agree the one with the pockets would be the better of the 2. I thought they were both too small in width.

Thanks again!

 

[bucket o' butter]

Thank-you for the lunch bag idea! I think that might be perfect. Usable so not a complete waste of money and not too expensive!

Lunch bags are nice. They are only $14. If you add your name to it, it is an extra $6, so the total is still only $20 + shipping and tax. And I think there is a smaller lunch tote. A friend of mine just had a book party and I ordered the Organizing Utility Tote. It looked interesting and also wasn't too expensive. Good luck shopping!

Organizing Utility Tote

 

[mommy2twingles]

Lunch bags are nice. They are only $14. If you add your name to it, it is an extra $6, so the total is still only $20 + shipping and tax. And I think there is a smaller lunch tote. A friend of mine just had a book party and I ordered the Organizing Utility Tote. It looked interesting and also wasn't too expensive. Good luck shopping!

Organizing Utility Tote

The Utility tote is great. This is what I take back and forth to work everyday. I can fit all my general papers, lunch and sometimes my purse in it. Got it for $5 on a special before the holidays.

 

[KigerKat]

I know you have already gone to the party, but I just wanted to throw my thoughts in as well.

A good friend of mine sells 31, and I totally love it! I know a lot of ladies who have traveled with the shoulder bag and have had no complaints about it at all. I was lucky and went to an open house a couple of weeks ago and was able to buy one as a "cash and carry" item she had, and I plan on testing it out next month when I go to Baton Rouge for a school function.

I did use a cinch sack during our cruise in December. It was very lightweight and I loved being hands-free while we were roaming around at the ports. The bad was big enough to fit a change of clothes and other essentials like sunscreen, hat and sunglasses.

Compared to other bags out there, I think 31 is much cuter and MUCH less expensive. I have often thought about becoming a consultant, but I don't want to be competing with my friend since we run in the same circles.

 

[*sarah*]

I bought a 31 bag just a few weeks before our trip. I got the one that crosses over your body, I guess like the letter carrier style. I used it every day of our trip and LOVED it. I was able to carry my wallet, phone, kleenex, lipstick, 2 autograph books and some other things. It was more roomy that I thought it would be and the weight did not bother me at all. It was a great bag for the trip!!

 

[crusoe2]

I posted on this thread earlier about being a Vera Bradley fan and preferring their bags. However, after reading on another thread here about VB bags no longer being manufactured in this country, I don't plan to buy any more of their products. I'd really like a hipster-type bag for our next Disney trip, tho, and I'm debating between the ones from Stephanie Dawn and 31 Gifts. Could any of you who are familiar with 31 tell me if all their products are made in the U.S.? Or does it vary from one product to another? I looked on their website and saw that the company was started by a woman in Tenn but couldn't find anything to indicate where their products are currently made.

 

[bobcat]

I posted on this thread earlier about being a Vera Bradley fan and preferring their bags. However, after reading on another thread here about VB bags no longer being manufactured in this country, I don't plan to buy any more of their products. I'd really like a hipster-type bag for our next Disney trip, tho, and I'm debating between the ones from Stephanie Dawn and 31 Gifts. Could any of you who are familiar with 31 tell me if all their products are made in the U.S.? Or does it vary from one product to another? I looked on their website and saw that the company was started by a woman in Tenn but couldn't find anything to indicate where their products are currently made.

Thirty-One bags are not made in the US but be assured our factories meet all US guidelines.

All of the embroidery and personalization is done in our central Ohio warehouses and the home office is here as well.

 

[akmlingo]

If you want something small for id, cash, etc... The new essentials crossbody(item 3798) is perfect for that. You can even take the shoulder strap off and use the loop on the back to put on a belt or the handle of another bag. If you want something larger, I would recommend the organizing shoulder bag (item 3165), pop crossbody (3452), or the cinch sac (3039). I sprayed my cinch sac with water repellent and didn't have any issues. I've also used the pop crossbody. I just bought the essentials crossbody for my next trip. You can check out the bags at www.mythirtyone.com/117121

 

[Fire14]

My bff has a cross body bag. She carries water bottle and rest of her park needs in purse and she seems to like it. I believe it is 3165 style.

 

[Patience]

I used the organizing shoulder bag for our trip to WDW last fall and it worked great. Mine is brown poppy with my initial embroidered in tan.

 

[Bearvet]

bobcat - DS22 just got a job working in the Easton Distribution Center through a third party logistics company. Is Thirty-one a good company to work for? I think he goes on Friday for meetings and a tour. He graduates from OSU on 3/18 and begins work on 4/2. We are so excited for him!

The company he interned with sells power tools so he jokes that he's going from power tools to handbags!

 

[tiggger1]

love my thirty one stuff! I have a ton of it.....lol

 

[momof1princess]

wow, this is kind of an old thread, but i have to say, i LOVE all of my thirty-one bags! i considered selling it, but home parties don't go over very well around here, it seems. i've got several of the bags - the cindy tote, organizing utility tote, large utility tote (2), demi purse (carry this every day and LOVE it!), all-in-one organizer (3), wristlet...oh my, i could go on and on. DD14 has the skirt purse and large lunch bag and they're awesome. quality is MUCH better than vera bradley. DD14 won't even look at her VB bags anymore.