I’ve been carrying this Celine Blade bag almost everyday since I got it back in September so I decided it’s about time to write up the review. Before this bag I had been carrying the Mansur Gavriel mini travel bag and though I loved how much it could fit (especially when wearing it crossbody), I found it to be a tad bulky. So when I came across the Blade bag on Fashionphile, I was intrigued. After doing some research I ended up buying one from the RealReal (though I wouldn’t recommend that route unless you do some research).
First of all I was originally interested in this bag because I liked that it could work both as a crossbody as well as a shoulder bag with a simple change of the snaps. I usually wear it as a crossbody because that’s my preference, but the shortened handle option is a nice touch. Inside, the bag has three large compartments with one being full zippered (which is great for bag security). And there’s also a small zippered pocket in the front compartment where I put my card case.
But the best thing about this bag is that it fits quite a bit without being too bulky. I can fit everything I need for my toddler and then some. This includes extra wipes, her bib and eating utensils, and a light jacket if needed. Though once filled, the bag does weigh quite a bit. And it doesn’t help that the bag weighs 2lbs and 6oz when empty. My only other gripe about the bag is that the buckle isn’t the easiest to close. However I should note that if you get the Blade bag with the leather lining instead of the suede lining like the one I have, the flap is a lot stiffer and the buckle is easier to close (I know this because I bought my mom another Blade bag that has the smooth leather lining). As for me, I usually don’t buckle the flap unless I’m running (because when I’m running the flap flaps around—and why am I running? I have a toddler 😆).
Oh and I should note that the leather is a wonderfully luxe smooshy leather for the suede interior bag, while the leather interior one is a bit stiffer in general. But I think the suede interior bags are also a bit easier to scratch up and less durable. If you’re one to notice every scratch on your bag then I would recommend going for the leather interior version. But if you’re one to like a good patina on a bag like I do, then the suede interior, which is wonderfully soft, might be more your speed.
And having purchased two secondhand Celine blade bags (one for myself and one for my mom), here are some of my tips to ensure you purchase an authentic one:
Avoid Celine Blade bags in the colors black, pink, yellow, or bright blue unless you know you can return it. Since the Blade bag was never really an "it” bag, it was not faked too often. But the fakes I’ve seen selling online are in those 4 colors.
The date code should read with the year 2013 since I think they were only made this one year (but correct me if I’m wrong!). The date code is located inside the zippered compartment near the left seam (when the bag is facing you). To learn how to read Celine’s date codes reference this post here.
Check the inside of both zippers and make sure there’s a “1” on the inside (see pics below).
You can find secondhand Celine blade bags on Fashionphile (my preference for used bags), the RealReal (again a bit of a risk since they don’t allow bag returns), and eBay (ask for extra pictures and check their return policy).
I have to say this was my best bag purchase of the year in terms of cost per wear. I’ve used it basically everyday since September and I got this bag for around $750. I usually see these bags go from $500-$800 and I think that’s not bad for such a luxe bag. The Blade bag originally retailed for $3100 (which I don’t think is worth it, which is also why it might not have taken off in the first place). But this classic bag is fairly timeless and so even though the bag is 8 years old, it’s definitely the MVP of my closet this year!
And if you’re interested, you can find all my other Celine bag reviews here.