Help! Plum or Conifer for Medium Cafe Bag

[Perplexa]

So I finally have an excuse to get myself a Cafe Bag, and now I'm stuck. Do I go with Plum or with Conifer. I have a plum FJN, and I love it, but it's a really, really bright colour. Anyone else love or hate the colour they chose?

[redranger]

Well this is no help to you, but I am having a similar color conundrum between Indigo or perhaps something more understated in a Synapse. At least we know whatever we choose, the bag will be spectacular! Good luck!

[backpack]

If you like a more muted color Conifer is a lovely green, you can also get a Ballistic Organizer Pouch in Forest. Just sayin !

[dougmon]

I have a LCB in Conifer that I think is pretty nice. If they'd had Forest, I might have gotten that. But the Conifer is nice-looking, and compared to the Plum, it's certainly understated. And Conifer is one of those colors that goes with almost anything (well, almost anything I own.)

As important as the color might be, don't forget to get one of the Absolute straps; it may not seem necessary at first, but as you start packing more and more in your bag, it's pretty nice to have one.

[KmK]

I'd say it depends on your style and your druthers...(of which there always seems to be more than one... who ever has one druther?) I have a plum MCB and love it...not minding a bit that the bag dances a bit in contrast to what I am wearing. I just plain like the color. And I know that I'd use something that was purple far more often than something in a pine-ish green, regardless.

[Maria]

Oh gosh - I'm no help - I'd say one of each!

[darbs]

I have the MCB in Storm and LOVE it! The color is really beautiful and goes with just about everything. I also have an LCB in Steel. It is a dark color and not my favorite, but since the BF has taken it over, I might just order myself another one in a better color. I have a plum pouch and really like it. I don't think it is too bright. I have also seen swatches of the conifer. It is nice, definitely a darker muted color. I think if you like the plum, go with that one. At the end of the day, you have to carry it around. (I know, I'm no help either)

[Tlacltme]

Hehe. I really shouldn't stir up already muddy waters but I can't resist I agree with everything everyone has said! Yes, the more muted TB colors (navy, cocoa, conifer) are still absolutely beautiful shades and sheens of those colors. Absolutely, get both if you can (and quite frankly, Cafe bags are decently priced enough to be able to do that, IMO). As others have said, a lot of it is "your druthers." Are you a matchy matchy type? If so, get the one that would match with more of your stuff.

BUT But if you asked me to choose for you, I would pick the plum. The TB bright colors are FABULOUS. For example, I'm not a pink type of gal, but one of my daughters is (she's 6). Anyway, got her an MCB in Azalea/Sapphire for Easter. She has let me use it a few times and it is stunning. I hope to get an Azalea LCB at some point, and I would never have predicted that. Another daughter got a Plum MCB (also for Easter) and it also is stunning (and I've borrowed it. IMO, the sheen and shades of the bright colors are unique to TB and I LOVE them (don't even get me started on Turquoise!)...but I'm also not a matchy type. Anyway, I doubt I've helped much but do be sure to let us know what you choose and we will vicariously enjoy it with you

[Tlacltme]

Forgot to add- you mentioned you have a plum FJN....I love the bright colors in and of themselves- like your all-plum FJN -but I think the contrasting interior color of the Cafe bags really adds to the fun! The Plum/wasabi combo is delicious

[WhiteStar]

I love my Plum/Cayenne MCB and actually think the Plum is a rather quiet, sedate purple color. At least compared to my Turquoise/Wasabi and Azalea/Saphire LCBs!

[moriond]

So I finally have an excuse to get myself a Cafe Bag, and now I'm stuck. Do I go with Plum or with Conifer. I have a plum FJN, and I love it, but it's a really, really bright colour. Anyone else love or hate the colour they chose?

The problem with asking this question is that you have fans of plum, and their answers won't necessarily help you with your color decision. However, here are a few other thoughts: consider what color you'd like for the inside of the bag, too. I really like having bright or light colors, like wasabi, to provide contrast in the interior of a bag. It's less important when the bag is small, or when the opening is wide (e.g., horizontal Imago design vs. vertical Cafe bag or Ristretto design), and perhaps for the medium size cafe bag you can go either way. But for me, if I'm split over the outside bag color selection, then having a bright color like wasabi or cayenne instead of steel will weigh in my decision. Conifer is a lovely color, but it would come with steel. By the way, for the medium cafe bag an Absolute strap is not an option for current models; that only works for the large cafe bag.

I've seen the FJN in plum (ordered it as a gift), and the color does look bright in comparison with the plum/wasabi Ristretto that I have. I can only say that I think the plum doesn't look too bright to me (subjective impression in both cases) on either the Ristretto or the Cafe bag. (Full disclosure: I'm a plum enthusiast, and my response to the one remaining Cordura option for the re-designed Ristretto is that it's a fine bag — but would be even better in plum/wasabi rather than in olive/cayenne.) On a slightly more objective note, a friend who is not particularly a plum enthusiast shifted last year from carrying a medium size black/wasabi cafe bag to a plum/wasabi small cafe bag, and is now convinced this is the best color combination.

Well this is no help to you, but I am having a similar color conundrum between Indigo or perhaps something more understated in a Synapse. At least we know whatever we choose, the bag will be spectacular! Good luck!

I'm also an Indigo fan, and even bought the second-to-the-last Indigo/Solar Synapse as a duplicate bag, in case anything ever happens to my current Indigo/Solar Synapse — the only instance where I've bought a duplicate bag to hedge against hypothetical future loss or theft of a loved color combination. My remarks about the bright interior would apply here, too. If you want a less bright bag right now, I'd order the Navy/Iberian Synapse. If you want the Indigo, and can wait for a month or two, I might hold out for the new color Dyneema instead of steel. Check with Katy or Darcy, but my impression is that the new Dyneema might go with Indigo.

Oh, well, at least I didn't recommend buying all the bag color combinations.

moriond

[Tlacltme]

I love my Plum/Cayenne MCB and actually think the Plum is a rather quiet, sedate purple color. At least compared to my Turquoise/Wasabi and Azalea/Saphire LCBs!

Ahh, White Star! The minute you tire of that Turquoise/wasabi LCB be sure to PM me (don't worry, I won't hold my breath!) I've got a Turquoise/cayenne LCB on the way and I'm pumped about that- it'll be awesome, but Turq/wasabi would be awesome-er And the Azalea/sapphire LCB is on my wish list (that's a long list, though!).

[Perplexa]

Thank you for all the replies. Better Half is already getting a conifer LCB. I was thinking about getting myself a conifer MCB, but maybe I'll get the large in plum and we can arm wrestle. Better Half is color blind anyway...

[Perplexa]

Ah, I have it! Clearly, I need to get the plum LCB AND a Kit in Forest (prettier than conifer, I think). Then I can have it all!

[Scattered]

Ah, I have it! Clearly, I need to get the plum LCB AND a Kit in Forest (prettier than conifer, I think). Then I can have it all!

That's the Tom Bihn Addict Way...Creative thinking and ordering rules the day! Sounds like a striking and useful combo to me.