While I haven't read the person who criticized Quvenzhane's handbag choice in detail I get the impression she is in the mode of Robin Givhan - the former fashion editor for the Washington Post. Givhan is one of those people who judge everything based on her rather narrow view of fashion. She criticized Michelle Obama for wearing shorts when the First Family visited the Grand Canyon. Less you think it there was some racist and sexist undertones she also criticized John Robert's family for looking like Easter eggs and jelly beans.

My point is that some people have very narrow view what is and is not acceptable fashion wise. And they don't take into account things like a person's age. For them a 9 year old girl is the same as 19 yr old or a 29 year old.