I am having second thoughts about the one I registered for. It's the Skip Hop Duo Deluxe:

I am afraid it won't be big enough and I would like something a little more...pretty, I guess. I figure if I am not going to want to carry a purse in addition to a diaper bag, then I want my diaper bag to look more like a purse rather than a canvas tote. But I am finding that all the purse-ish bags are patterned and way too girly/flashy for me, or too small. I tend to like things that are simple, classic, but somewhat stylish. I also don't want to spend a ton of money on a diaper bag either (maybe $50-100). Some of the bags I'm finding are almost $200. I just can't bring myself to spend that much on a bag that will hold my child's spit-up/poop-laden clothes and diapers.
Help!
Re: rec your diaper bag
I have 3 that I use regularly. I love my Vera Bradley. I got a petunia pickle bottom that I love but don't use a ton. My fave is a black simple backpack that I registered for at Bru. It was meant to be a db for dh. It has a ton of pockets and while it's not a cute purse-esque bag, it's my go to for now.
Are you planning on using disposables or cloth? I have the above bag and while I like it, I prefer the messenger option more. Last winter/spring when I had two in cloth and we were gone for the whole day I couldn't fit everything I needed in this bag, or when Brooks was little and I needed a diaper an hour it just wasn't enough. Now that I'm down to one kid and he's older it's plenty of room, but the depth is annoying.
(I watched my neighbor's daughter last winter/spring, just to fill in that hole)
We have this same bag in lime green, and really like it. I use it way more than my fancy Storksak bag. I've found that messenger bags are key!

They didn't make this one when I was pregnant, but I love this one (it can be a shoulder bag or messenger bag):
http://www.skiphop.com/product/versa.html
Now that I'm not carrying as much stuff for Oliver as I used to, sometimes I throw everything in my Longchamp tote, which is washable.
I have the skip hop studio bag and I love it. Its very affordable, stylish, and has tons of space and separate compartments without being bulky. Ive used it for nearly 3 years, and have not been that kind--throwing it in the back of the car and the bottom of the closet--and it still looks brand new. I dont use cloth diapers so Im not sure of its utility in that case. I would have bought the versa posted by Esyn but it wasnt out when I was pg with dd.
I bought DH the skip hop messenger bag which also seems really nice and sturdy with lots of great pockets, but he literally NEVER used it because he just used "mine" and didnt really care that my diaper bag looked girly. Both bags are grey so the color at least flies under the radar!
I think we are going to start out with a mix of disposables and cloth. I want to test the waters with DH first before we make a big investment. I registered for a few Kawaii NB pockets, but my guess is we'll mostly use disposables for the first few weeks.
Do you like the messenger bag more because of space/size? I really am not crazy about the messenger flap, because I would always leave it open. I am lazy.
I like the Studio bag the best, but I read a bunch of reviews on Amazon about how the straps seem cheaply made and started falling apart right away...any wear/tear on yours?
Jonathan Dean 4.5.08
Anna Capri 5.4.11
Im surprised by that comment. My bag literally looks brand new. No pulled threads, cracked leather, zippers pulling away from fabric, frays or pills etc. Perhaps compared to a $300+ coach bag its "cheaply made" but I havent seen any bags about $100 or less that are more nicely made or better materials that are similarly stylish and functional.
It also has little feet/button studs on the bottom to elevate the bag from floors/sidewalks etc so you dont get the germs all over the bottom of the bag. See, youre loving it now, right?!
They carry them at BBB if you want to see it in person and compare.
Most people I know that have a PPB bag love it. I didnt find anything by PPB that I LOVED and for the price I needed to LOVE it, so I didnt get one...but I think its a good buy.
I had a PPB but the clutch and I couldn't use it because of the cloth diapers, so I sold it, I wish I had kept it, but oh well. I too use my Longchamp primarily now. I didn't realize it was washable, I've been hand washing it every week or so. I am so throwing that *** in the washing machine tonight!
You mentioned about not using the flap on the messenger bag, I found with the DUO I was always overpacking it and *** fell out including my pricey sunglasses.
I have the Ju Ju Be B.F.F in black. I can't seem to post a link anymore, but here it is:
http://shop.ju-ju-be.com//BFF-at-Ju-Ju-Be-in-PID10858-09FM02A.aspx
I didn't do much shopping around. I didn't find anything I liked in BRU or BBB so I read the Baby Bargains book for recs but knew I wanted a backpack I also preferred something that didn't scream "diaper bag" though admittedly it's hard to get around. I can't imagine using anything else because between the carseat, any other thing we need and a purse (I use a messenger-type purse), the only other place I can carry anything is on my back. Someone bought if off my Amazon registry.
Has all the features described in the others - little metal feet on the bottom, lots o' pockets, changing pad, wipes easily, etc.
I use the handwash or delicate setting, fyi!