Celine Soft Cube Bag 100 Wears Later

My Celine Soft Cube bag (originally reviewed here) is the third item in my closet to join the “100 wears” club after my Everlane Day Market tote and my Vince Blair sneakers (since recording wears in January 2018). And like I did with the other two items, I like to check-in on these items to see how they’ve fared after 100 wears.

I first got this bag back in August of last year, and I bought it used from Fashionphile. So it’s real wear count is more than 100, but I’ve personally used it now 105 times. And how is it doing? It’s looking pretty darn good. Upon close inspection there is only one popped stitch on one of the handles (but it hasn’t unraveled or anything), and a mark on one of the corners. Also there’s a bit of a slumping in of the corners as the leather softens (see pics below), but this doesn’t bother me.

And this is despite all the abuse I give my bags (for example, the Everlane Day Tote didn’t fare as well). This Celine Soft Cube bag looks almost just as good as the day I bought it and there aren’t any major scratches or gouges. The lambskin leather they used for this bag is tough!

I did however noticed the leather looking a tad dry up close. So I did a quick buff with my favorite leather conditioner, Chamberlain’s Leather Milk No.1 (reviewed here). And now the leather is looking more hydrated, and it looks like I got some dirt off the bag as well (but I could only tell by looking at the sponge since the bag itself is so dark).

Out of all my most worn bags, this one has held up like a champ and I can’t wait to see how it holds up after 100 more wears!

The One That I Sold Away: Celine Medium Box Bag Review {February 2023 Update with Celine Teen Box Bag}

I rarely regret selling a handbag because usually by the time I’m ready to sell it, the bag has gone unused for quite some time. But of course there’s always an exception to the rule, and for me the exception is the Celine Medium Box Bag. Once in awhile I find myself wistfully thinking “I could really use that bag right now.” I originally purchased the bag back in 2015 through Fashionphile (my favorite consignment site) at a price that is less than what they are selling for now used. Yep, can you believe this bag is just as pricey if not pricier 4 years later?! Talk about holding its value (also I know with the end of the Phoebe Philo era, all great Celine classics are going up in price).

But just look at that beautiful light blue color:

The calfskin leather of the box bag was surprisingly durable, even though it was such a light color. I had it for several years and by the time I sold it there were only one or two light scratches. There’s no color transfer and no major gouges, despite my usual roughness with bags. The leather held up beautifully.

The clip closure is relatively easy to use (and not as bad as say the closure for the micro belt bag, which was always a pain). The shoulder strap is adjustable and pretty easy to adjust (it was like one of those clip mechanisms you find on belts). The inside is subdivided into three main compartments which made organization easy. One of the compartments was zippered and a tad smaller than the other two. You can’t hold a lot in each compartment since the inside of the bag isn’t as roomy as you would thing. I would be able to hold my wallet in one compartment, my phone and keys in another, and sunglasses and some lip balm in the third. But it could hold the essentials easily enough.

So why did I end up selling it? Well first of all the bag is not light. The thick calfskin leather with the all the compartments ends up weighing down the bag even when empty. Also I don’t usually carry boxy bags as my everyday bag. My ideal everyday bag is Celine’s soft cube bag (reviewed here), so I only ended up carrying the box bag on date nights or special occasions.

However hindsight is 20/20 and what I really should have done was sell one of my Chanel bags (similarly boxy and only used for special occasions) and kept this one. Ah well, sometimes there’s just a bag that gets away. But if I were to seriously repurchase this (and I still might in a more neutral color because it’s such a classic!), my go to shop would of course be Fashionphile (their selection of Celine box bags here) or TheRealReal (their selection of box bags here).

Do you guys ever have bags or items of clothing you regret selling? What were they?

And if you’re interested, here are all my other Celine bag reviews.

{February update with the Celine Classic Teen Box: I also purchased this in late late December after seeing the Celine Triomph Teen Bag at the Celine store in Hawaii (and not purchasing it). I loved the size of it, and it reminded me of the Celine Classic Box but it was lighter since the Triomph had one less compartment (as compared the the medium Box that I once had). But in the end I couldn’t pull the trigger because of 1) the price (even with the Hawaii price of being $300 less than retail, with tax it was going to be just under $4000 and that’s how much I paid for my new Chanel Classic many years ago 😱) and 2) I’m just not 100% about the new Celine clasp hardware with the two C’s (to me it screams Hedi Slimane Celine and I’m pretty much a Phoebe Philo loyalist even though I am a huge fan of the Tabou bag above and that’s a Hedi era style). So I went with a secondhand Classic Celine box (from Fashionphile) in the new-ish Teen size. Unfortunately the leather on the box is super stiff and not forgiving to aging. The leather was quite creased, to the point of almost cracking in a year or so. So back it went. Oh but if you’re interested to see what fits (and also what I’m talking about on the leather) you can see my video of the bag in my Insta story highlights—just scroll to the end).}

My Best and Worst Designer Bag Purchases {Updated January 2022}

Though my luxury bag obsession has died down a bit in the last couple of years (thanks to being a bit more conscious about my consumption habits and also getting into slow fashion), I’ve still purchased (and sold) a lot of designer bags in my lifetime. So why not share my experience of the 5 worst and 5 best designer bags I’ve ever purchased and used.

Worst

1) Goyard St. Louis GM bag: I reviewed the Goyard St. Louis tote here and even in the review I stated all the things I didn't like about it.  My main gripe was the fragile and floppy canvas.  Also the straps were quite thin and would dig into my shoulder when the tote was filled up (which is something one does with a tote). This tote was only for the brand-name looks. If you’re looking for a cheaper practical workhorse of a tote I recommend Everlane’s Day Market tote or if you’re looking for a more upscale tote but one that’s still practical, I would go with the Celine cabas phantom tote (which is on the “Best” list below). If you absolutely love the Goyard print and have to have one, the PM size might be better since it won’t flop around as much nor can it be weighed down with too much stuff.

2) Loewe Hammock bag (reviewed here): When I got it, I just really loved the unique shape of the bag.  But because it doesn't close very securely (which my mom demonstrated to me once by pick-pocketing me without my knowledge), I was hesitant to use it as much.  You could clasp the inner hooks together but then it becomes a really awkward shape to carry. The flat handles were also not that comfortable if you were carrying the bag on your arm (and the handles were a bit tight so that if you were wearing a coat, you wouldn’t be able to really carry it in that way). Also, if you aren't careful with how you store it, the leather starts to bend in weird ways.  I sold it for about a $200 loss (for about a year of use).

3) Celine Small Trotteur bag (reviewed here): The problem for me is that it was just too small for my needs.  If I wanted a small going out bag, I’d reach more for my Chanel, so this Celine didn’t get used much.  Plus the metal hardware as a closure isn't as secure as I would like. Looked cute but not super functional in the small size.

4) Valentino Glam Lock bag (reviewed here): Sort of the same problem as the Celine small Trotteur, this Valentino bag was just too small.  Also the leather on this is super delicate and fragile, while the studs would poke and damage my other bags adjacent to it in storage (so it had to be stored separately—what a pain).  Also the look of the bag is so specific to a certain time that it can look outdated fast. I ended up selling it through Fashiophile and got a trade-in bag that made the “Best List” below!)

5) Gucci WOC (reviewed here): I was following the crowd on this one, getting the newest "IT" bag.  The construction was meh and I regretted it pretty much as soon as I got it.  I'm glad I sold it fairly quickly so there was still a lot of buzz around the bag, so I didn't lose much money on the purchase.  I think that was the last trendy bag I've purchased and I'm glad I'm finally starting to learn to buy bags for their quality and not for their name.

Best

1) Celine soft Cube Bag (reviewed here): This is the bag that I traded my Valentino Glam Lock Bag for and it was the best bag decision I ever made (I did the trade over at Fashionphile, which sometimes has a soft cube bag now and then). I used this Celine soft cube bag so much that it was my number 3 most used item in 2018 (and I only got it in September). This bag has held up like a champ and you know how I abuse my bags (case in point). I can throw all my essentials into this bag and then some. It’s the perfect size between a small bag and a mid-size one. The top handle straps are easy to use when carrying the bag on my arm and the crossbody strap is convenient for carrying the bag over the shoulder but it’s thin enough to not get in the way.

2) Celine Small Cabas Phantom (reviewed here): This bag was also one of my top 20 most worn items of 2018. This is a really well-made high-end leather tote. The leather is soft but not floppy and it can stand on its own base. I like that you have the option of pulling the straps and tying them to make the bag smaller and more secure. The small size is the perfect size without being too big and the bag itself doesn’t weigh a ton. Hands-down my favorite luxury tote ever. You can usually find a great selection of authentic used Celine Cabas Phantoms at my favorite consignment site, Fashionphile here. If you’re looking for a more affordable but similar option, I recommend Cuyana’s Classic Structured Tote.

Celine Micro Belt

Celine Nano Belt

3) Celine Micro and Nano Belt bag (Micro reviewed here and Nano reviewed here): The Celine belt bag is so nice I bought it thrice, lol. Yep I started with the mini size (the first size to have the crossbody strap—the small size has just the top handle). And when the Micro size came out, I got that one new at the Celine store in Hawaii (that’s the black one in the pics above). As much as I love that size, it still was too big for my everyday needs and ended up weighing a lot more than I wanted to (mostly because I would fill it up, but also because it was just bigger, had more leather to it and thus weighed more). So the following year I upgraded by downsizing to the newest smallest size, the Nano, and I’ve finally found the right belt bag size for me (that was a classic goldilocks story right there lol). As I stated in the review, I love the Nano size because it’s lighter but also because it has a regular clasp for the front (instead of the finnicky hook thing that all the other belt bags have) and the crossbody strap is adjustable. The Nano is harder to find on any consignment site, though Fashionphile usually has a pretty good selection of Micro belt bags here.

4) Fendi By The Way Bag (reviewed here): This is currently the oldest bag in my collection and is probably one of my most practical bags. I love the foldable handles for when I want to carry the bag crossbody and the three compartments on the inside that make finding things super easy. Even though this was never a popular style, I’m never going to give this bag up. And since this was never an It bag, you can find them for really good prices used.

5) Hermes Lindy 30 (reviewed here): This was my “holy grail” bag for a long time even though it’s such an obscure bag (at least for Hermes). I first heard about it through a purseblog or bagsnob post in the height of my bag obsession days. But ever since then I’ve always thought this would be the first Hermes bag I buy. And so two years ago, when I saw a used one at a decent sale price at the Fashionphile I bit the bullet and have no regrets. I love the way the bag slouches like a duffle (thanks to the soft Clemence Taurillon leather). I also love that I can carry it by the handles or sling over my shoulder. It’s surprisingly roomy and can fit a lot of things if I need to. This was the bag that made me realize that even though the Loewe hammock bag above had a similar concept, it just wasn’t the same (and whenever possible it’s best to go with what you really want over some kind of substitute).

So I should note that I obviously have a favorite type of bag and these kinds of bags make up 4 out of the 5 on my “Best” list: it’s the bag with both top handles and a long shoulder or crossbody strap. I love the convenience of these bags because it makes it easy for me to grab things from my bag by holding on to the handles or I like to sometimes carry it on my arm by the handles, but when I want to go hands-free, I can sling the bag over my shoulder. I have other favorite bags, like my classic Chanel flaps (which I use only when going out or special occasions), my Balenciaga work bag (for when I need to carry a lot of stuff), and my Longchamp nylon bags (for travel). But these bags are not my most used bags, instead they each have their specific use case scenario. So of course take this best and worst list with a grain of salt but in general I can attest to the quality of Celine bags (or at least old Celine bags), and would not recommend the Goyard totes, trendy Gucci bags, or delicate Valentino bags.

{Januaury 2022 Update: Here are my best and worst luxury purchases as of 2022, and I also did it for 2021.}

Céline Soft Cube Bag Review {Updated March 2022}

Hi guys and it’s finally here, the Céline Soft Cube bag review I’ve been promising for the last couple of weeks (months?). I purchased this bag through my favorite secondhand bag retailer, Fashionphile, using credit from a bag I sold to them (read about how that all works here). And I’m so thrilled that I was able to “trade-in” my rarely used Valentino glam lock bag for this Céline soft cube bag that I’ve been using almost daily since I got it! I had my eye on this bag for awhile now but I couldn’t justify purchasing it since I also purchased my Nano Belt bag (Celine Nano Belt Bag review here) this year. But I love my Soft Cube bag and it has quickly become a workhorse in my closet.

Lol posting this awkward photo since it captures the bag best

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann Silk Mara Jumpsuit (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here)}

The bag measures 8.66 x 9.45 x 4.33 " so it’s not quite a cube, but of course it’s better this way (a real cube would be so awkward to carry lol). The shoulder strap is about a 21” drop and sadly it’s not adjustable. The inside has a flat pocket with two slots that are pretty small. They can hold credit cards/business cards and sometimes I stash receipts in them but I can’t fit my iPhoneX in it. I also sometimes but my keys in the pocket though it stretches it out.

Inside the bag feels pretty big and can easily fit my essentials (wallet, keys, phones, sunglasses) along with my reusable bags and other odds and ends. Because it’s just one large compartment, things sometimes do get lost on the bottom and it can feel like a bottomless pit. Luckily, the bag is small enough so that you’re not searching endlessly for stuff.

I’m not particularly careful with my bags and I find that the leather is quite durable. No scratches or marks on it. It’s more durable than the smooth leather of my Sangle or the Trio I had before that. Also on a new Soft Cube bag, the handles tend to stand up but with wear I’ve noticed that they fall to the sides when wearing the bag crossbody (which I prefer).

Overall, I feel like this is a great simple, no-fuss bag from (old) Céline (read all about my ode to them here). If you’re looking for a classic daily bag that can fit all your essentials and then some, I highly recommend looking into getting this bag! I’m not sure how much longer Celine stores will be carrying the old stuff, but you can sometimes find the Soft Cube bag on Fashionphile here or on The RealReal here.

P.S. For those wondering what it looks like on as a crossbody (for reference I’m 5’4”):

{2019 Update: I ended up using this bag so many times that I now have a 100 wears later post about this bag here.}

And if you’re interested, here are all my other Celine bag reviews.

Also for those interested in what it looks like over my shoulder, here is a recent picture:

2022 Update: It’s been 4 years since I bought this bag used and my love for the bag is still going strong. The soft cube has also remarkably held its shape and maybe because there are no hard corners to the bag, there’s zero corner wear. However, there’s some softening to the corners as it concaves a bit. But it’s a very subtle thing and the bag looks almost as good as the day I got it. This is by far my favorite handbag purchase of all time. You can see me wearing it most recently here in:

Celine Nano Belt Bag Review & Comparison to the Micro Belt Bag {Updated March 2022}

Call me crazy and I'll understand because this is my third Celine Belt Bag!  I started off with the Mini Belt Bag and then downsized to the Micro Belt Bag (Celine Micro Belt Bag review here).  And this year I've downsized to the Nano Belt Bag.  I really just love this functionality of this design with a top handle, a long shoulder strap, a zippered top, and a flap.  And with each smaller iteration Celine comes out with, the more I love it!  I used the Micro Belt bag for over a year now and as much as I love it, the Micro size is just a tad too large (lol when is a micro anything too big?).  It's too big to wear crossbody (it’s kind of bulky for my 5’4” frame) and the bag ends up getting weighed down by all the extra stuff I leave in there when I only really need the essentials.  Also the larger size means more leather and thus is also heavier than the Nano from the get-go.

They've also made some improvements to the Nano that's won me over.  First of all, the long strap is now adjustable so I can adjust it either to wear as a cross body or over the shoulder.  The Micro Belt Bag strap isn't adjustable and I've found that it's too long for me to wear it over the shoulder (thus I replaced it with a YSL cloth strap when I was using the bag).  The Nano version doesn't have the back outside zip which I found nonfunctional in the Micro bag anyway.  Also there are no pockets or compartments inside the Nano bag, which doesn't bother me but some might miss that.  But it also keeps the Nano bag extra lightweight!

But my favorite new improvement is the easy magnetic round clasp that's found on the Nano instead of the fussy and hard-to-use clip that the Micro has (which is the same for the Mini and Small sizes as well).  Now it's so much easier for me to close the flap, though I still mainly use the zipper as a way to close the bag.  

But of course the biggest difference is the size.  The Nano is 8 X 8 X 4 IN (20 X 20 X 10 CM) while the Micro is 9 X 8 X 5 IN (24 X 20 X 13 CM). So what can the Nano fit?

Well for me it fits all my essentials with some room to spare.  I usually only carry my wallet, coin purse, sunglasses, keys (which are made extra bulky with my Airpods attached to them), my sunscreen hand lotion and some lip balms.  I can also fit a couple baggus in there as well.  Since the base is fairly wide, a lot of stuff that can fit in there!

So for me, the Nano bag works perfectly.  If you're one to carry a bit more than I would probably advise going with the Micro Belt bag.  But since I prioritize weight, I like that the Nano is so much lighter than the Micro.

Micro

Nano

Sometime you can find a used Celine Nano belt bag from my favorite consignment bag shop Fashionphile here (and if you want to know why they’re my fave, read this post).  If you're looking for the Micro Belt Bag, they usually have more of a selection here. You can also sometimes find the Nano on The RealReal here or the Micro here. 

And as usual, I'm welcome to any questions you might have about Celine's Belt bags.  Just drop a line below!

Jan Update: Also here’s a quick comparison pic of all the different sizes taken from Fashionphile. It goes left to right: Nano, Micro, Mini, and the Small.

Also, here are all my other Celine bag and wallet reviews!

March 2022 update: I was considering re-purchasing a mini Celine Belt Bag from Fashionphile when I took this pic below (it was $900 and in great shape!):

But in the end I returned it because the bag was quite a bit larger and heavier than what I was used. I think if I were to get another belt bag, it would be the micro size (lol I know I should have just kept my black micro belt 🤷🏻‍♀️ oh well). But I’m still very happy with the lightweight nano size and use it mostly for solo errands trips or going out at night (it’s just too small when I need to travel with my kid). Also the nano belt is holding up really well. It probably wears better than my mico did because I don’t overload the nano size (you can’t!) and I use it less frequently than I did the micro.

2018 Celine Medium Strap Wallet Review (vs. 2013 Celine Zip Around Wallet) {Updated January 2021}

Hi guys, so for my bag-people readers this one's for you.  My high-end bag and SLG (small leather good) addiction doesn't normally translate to the ethical fashion world, except I hope for the most part Celine and other brands I support are paying their workers fairly.  H&M they are not.  But I get it, I'm lucky and most people are not looking to buy Celine wallets.  However, if you're looking for a bag or wallet to be a workhorse for years (if not decades) then I recommend getting luxury accessories secondhand.  That's how I got my 2013 Celine zip around wallet (from my favorite secondhand seller, Fashionphile).  And well I'm doing this review for you today to let you know that used can definitely be better than new.

So I got my new medium strap wallet from my mom as a birthday present (I'm so grateful!).  I've been wanting a new wallet because even though I love my pink zip around wallet, I really wanted a bill fold to hold cash.  I don't do well when I have to neatly tuck my bills in a gusset, which is what I was doing with the zip around wallet, because I'm not neat (maybe my new blog name could be The Messy Blogger lol).  I hated fumbling and unfolding all my cash, especially since most of the time the bills were crumpled.  So when I saw this medium strap wallet, I knew it was the right one for me.  It has more than enough card slots for me plus it has a bill fold.

But here's the thing, in this day and age of a highly competitive market, even Celine has taken to cutting some corners.  One of the biggest difference between my 2018 wallet and 2013 wallet is that the card slots of my 2018 wallet are no longer all leather like they are in my 2013 wallet.  Celine has taken to making the slots (at the bottom where you can't see it) out of nylon.  My 2013 zip around wallet is all leather.  It's not a big deal but that's a sign of a loss of quality.  Also the leather quality of the zip around wallet is all around better.  I've only had the strap wallet for a couple months and already there's quite a bit of scratches on the soft leather interior. 

But in the end, I really like my new wallet for the added functionality.  However, I'm keeping the pink one as a back-up for it's durability.  But either way I'm set in terms of wallets for at least a decade now so this should be my last review of wallets ever (I hope!) lol. 

Also here's my original review of the 2013 zip around Celine wallet and how it compared to Everlane's.

And you can find my other Celine reviews here.

{January 2021 Update: I still have my strap wallet and I love it! It hasn’t worn much and I’m impressed how well its held up. A winner for sure!}

Tale of Two Totes, Part 1: The Celine Small Cabas Phantom Review {Updated April 2022}

One of the things I realized when I started my minimal-waste lifestyle makeover is that it entails carrying a lot of your reusable goods with you.  I not only carry reusable shopping bags, but also my water bottle, bamboo utensils, small drawstring bags for bulk items or fruit, and sometimes reusable plastic containers for food.  So that means I need to carry fairly large bags, and that's how I've come to carry around two totes with me everyday: one as my personal item and one for work.  For work I just switched over to Everlane's Day Market tote (reviewed here as Part 2), but for my personal life I carry the Celine Cabas Phantom tote in small (similar ones here).  If you've been following along with my on Instagram, you already know that I purchased this tote during my trip to Paris.

When I bought it, I have to admit that I was on a buying "high".  I was shopping!  In Paris!  And the prices were several hundreds cheaper than what I would pay in the US!  How could I not buy something?  But then I purchased a Chanel crossbody in London (Heathrow) and I felt a tiny bit of buyer's remorse since I felt like I overdid it in the bag buying department (I also bought a leather purse in Amsterdam from an unknown company).  But since I bought it, I thought I might as well get some good use out of it (and get that cost per wear down).  So I've been using it everyday since I came back.  And now I absolutely love love love it.  Zero buyer's remorse now.

{Wearing: Jamie + the Jones Heavy Weight sweater (review coming soon), Elizabeth Suzann Clyde work pants in cotton canvas (reviewed here), Everlane modern loafer mules (reviewed here), and Celine small cabas phantom tote (similar here)

I've never liked floppy leather totes in the past because either the bottom would sag out or the tops would flop in, but I've had none of those issues with this bag.  The leather on the bag is stiff enough that it can sit on its own.  The grained calfskin leather on this is gorgeous, so soft and really durable.  I toss this tote around a lot and there's been no scratches or marks.  

I love that there are the the two leather strips that can cinch the bag if you need to.  Of course, this tote isn't the most secure bag but at least when I have it cinched and under my arm, the chances of someone reaching in and grabbing something is super slim.  (In some ways I feel like its even more secure than my Celine Sangle {reviewed here} because the stiff smooth leather of my Sangle tends to gape open more). When I cinch it up all the way (which I rarely do), it kind of reminds me of a large bucket bag but just one that goes over your shoulder.

There is also a really large zipper pocket that can hold several hand lotions and my keys, so I put the things I use the most in there.  Of course, I still have the age old problem of things getting lost at the bottom of the bag and unfortunately my purse organizer from this review is a tad too long.  Oh well, so far it hasn't been a major problem so I'll hold off on the purse organizer for now. Oh and this tote can definitely hold my 13" macbook in its bulky case (so probably even a 15" laptop would fit).

The only I don't like about this tote is the suede interior (such a fragile material for inside of a tote).   But other than that I'm really in love (just see how many mirror selfies I've taken with this bag lol >_<) and I'm so glad I went for it in Paris.  Since this is definitely on the pricey side I recommend finding a pre-loved one if you're interested.  Right now Fashionphile (my favorite online consignment site) has these available. 

Anyway I have a feeling you will be seeing a lot of this bag in the years to come!

P.S. If you’re looking for a much more affordable version of this tote I would probably recommend Cuyana’s Classic Structured Tote. I’ve tried their Classic tote before (reviewed here) but the leather on the old classic tote is a tad flimsier and thinner than either the Cuyana structured tote or Celine’s small cabas phantom (and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re specifically looking for a floppy tote). At least both the Celine cabas and Cuyana’s structured tote can stand up on their own.

And you can find all my other Celine reviews here.

{April 2022 Update: I just wanted to update this post to let you guys know I ended up selling this bag last year. I hardly carried it around anymore because tbh a leather tote can get quite heavy in general. And I found myself favoring my nylon totes from Longchamp or Everlane whenever I needed a tote. So I sold this bag when I bought my Celine blade bag secondhand from Fashionphile.}

CELINE Seau Sangle Bag Review {Updated May 2021}

So if you guys have been following along on my Insta-stories, you saw a quick unboxing of this bag and a poll asking whether or not it was a keeper (by the way thank you to everyone who takes the second to answer the poll because I really value your opinions!  I was surprised at how many of you guys thumbs-downed the Chanel bag last week and I have to say I think I agree with you guys).  Anyway from what I recall a little over half of you guys said it was a keeper (wish I had taken a screenshot of the poll but I forgot before the 24 hours was up, darn!).  And I was very much on the fence about this bag.  I purchased this bag used from Fashionphile. It's a 2015 version and there was some wear on the strap as well as the exterior of the bag, but you can hardly tell right? 

Here's what I love about the bag:

- the sturdy cloth strap never slipped off my shoulders

- the large and deep external pockets for holding my iPhone 7+ (it never fell out).  Plus by having the pockets on the outside, it was super easy to grab my phone without having to dig through the bag

- and the large capacity of the bucket bag, which allowed me to just keep throwing endless amounts of stuff inside

{Wearing: Grana cropped cashmere sweater, COS pants, Everlane Day Heels, Celine Seau Sangle bag}

Here's what I didn't like about the bag:

- the hook clasp on the bag isn't very secure and so the bag was pretty much always gaping open unless I was wearing it over my shoulder and had my arm keeping it closed.  Also the clasp would undo itself unless the bag was very full (in the pics here I'm just carrying my usual stuff: wallet, phone, keys, and a makeup pouch)

- the bag was sometimes too deep and cavernous, and I would have trouble finding things.  Also I wasn't able to reach in while the bag was still on my shoulder.  Instead I would need to take it off and hold the strap with one hand while I reached down into the bag with the other.  Maybe those with longer arms can reach into the bag while it's still on their shoulder

- the interior of this grained calfskin bag is suede and since it's already several years old, the suede started to come off and onto the stuff inside (mostly clung to my cotton canvas makeup pouch)

In the end I decided to return this Sangle bag even though I still like it.  I'm really on the fence about it, but since I didn't love it from the beginning I'm thinking I won't miss it now that I've returned it.  This would be a great work bag for those who only want to carry one bag (my 13" laptop easily fit in the bag).  But I already have a work bag and I carry a separate personal handbag for my daily needs, so this bucket bag is a bit large for my daily use.

Anyway if you would like to try out this bag (and I mean this exact bag), it's back up at Fashionphile for the time being.  You can find it here.  And currently Fashionphile also has a smooth leather version in a tan color, which I'm tempted to get (especially seeing as how I'm returning the Chanel flap bag).  

Also, when I got this bag I did some research to make sure it was the real deal (I researched online and I went to Barneys and Saks to see the authentic ones in person).  There are fake Celine Sangle bags out there so you do have to be careful.  Authentic Celine Sangle bags have the Celine embossed in gold in the front unless its a smooth leather version with an additional leather strap.  For example, I would doubt the authenticity of this Sangle (no extra strap plus you can't see any of the other markers to verify authenticity).  The interior zipper should have the word Celine on one side, and the inner view of the zipper should have a number imprinted, and on the pocket are the words "Celine, Made in Italy" imprinted on the leather in two rows.  The serial number tag should be a piece of leather and there is only one row of numbers.  The strap clasp should have the words Celine on the hardware, with the two 'e' s facing towards the strap.  Anyway I hope that helps all those looking to purchase a preowned Celine Sangle!

{Update: Ok so I returned the blue one and then saw a light caramel, smooth calfskin version and jumped on that one.  And I'm so glad I ended up returning the navy for this one.  I love the smooth leathered version (I find it much less floppy than the grained leather one) and the inside suede material isn't falling apart like the other one was (though it might be because this light caramel version is a year newer than the navy one).  The smooth leather version, however, is definitely more delicate and shows scratches easily.  But since it already came scratched and I mean to use this bag as a daily bag, I don't mind the scratches as much.  Also this came with the thick leather strap as well, but I prefer the cloth one since it stays on my shoulder better.  Anyway here are some pictures of my light caramel Celine Seau Sangle:

P.S. Here are the current offering of Celine Sangles from Fashionphile if you're interested!

Also here are all my other Celine bag reviews!

{May 2021 Update: Hi guys so just wanted to let you know that I’ve sold this bag and wasn’t missing it at all until just recently. I had no regrets selling it because it is such a heavy bag (it’s double lined in leather) and it’s best suited for a driving-all-the-time lifestyle. Also the non-adjustable shoulder strap was a pain because it was never quite the right length for me to be able to stick my arm in for a quick grab. And finally I kept “losing” my phone in one of the four outer pockets so I was constantly reaching into every pocket to find it. But in the end it was the weight that was the deal breaker. Well since then, I’ve purchased the Valextra bucket bag and it’s the perfect replacement for the Celine Sangle (the Valextra is lighter in weight yet still holds its shape better than the pebbled leather version of the Sangle). Anyway you can read my review of the Valextra Bucket Bag here.}

CELINE Small Trotteur Review

I really love Celine, especially their bags and accessories.  Their aesthetic is super simple yet really elegant, and in some ways remind me of Hermes.  Though Celine is a bit trendier than Hermes (remember those luggage totes?  It always reminded me of a face like this '_' ).  Anyway I currently have in my collection a Celine wallet (reviewed here) and the Micro Belt Bag (reviewed here).  Today I'm going to review my only other Celine item, this small Trotteur crossbody bag (similar here).  

This bag was definitely an impulse purchase totally out of the blue.  I had just sold my Celine box and Celine trio bag so I guess I was feeling a bit Celine-poor and just really wanted something simple yet not too simple. {Just to note I sold the Celine Box bag because it was too big and heavy for my everyday use since the three inside pockets were lined with leather, and I found the smooth leather on the Celine trio a little too fragile for my daily life.} . Anyway I had seen this online in a couple places and like the look of it, so why not?

{Wearing: Grana silk PJ shirt (similar here), Everlane Wide Leg Crop Pant (here), Everlane Modern Points (here)}

And it really is a cute bag but in all practicality, it's a bit too small for my needs.  I can only use this when I know I won't be needing a lot of stuff.  The picture below pretty much shows how I always carry it: with just my wallet and phone and I can usually squeeze my keys on top of my wallet.  If I want sunglasses I have to either wear them on my head when I'm not using them or hung on the collar of my shirt.  There is an outside pocket which might fit a non-plus-sized iPhone but it's a bit too shallow for my needs.

I do like that the inside is lined with a smooth durable leather and that the outside of this is the grained leather (which I've found to not show as much wear as the smooth calfskin leather than Celine also uses for this bag).  There's also an interior pocket, but that's also a bit too small for me.  The straps on this are adjustable, which is also nice.

My friend has the medium sized one and that can fit quite a bit more.  I kind of wish I had gotten the bigger size, but oh well.  I've been thinking of selling this one for the longest time since it's just not the most practical, but a part of me still loves it.  But like I said in a previous post when I bought my Hermes Lindy, I really need to sell one more purse for the even 'trade' I promised myself.  So what do you think should I keep this one and sell my Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Universite or sell this one and keep the Saint Laurent?  Opinions wanted!

Also, another one of my favorite bloggers happens to have the same bag so you can read her take on the bag here.

And you can find all my other Celine reviews here.

CELINE Micro Belt Bag Review {Updated June 2018}

So back in February I was super lucky to get this Celine Micro Belt bag (similar ones here from my favorite legit luxury bag reseller, Fashionphile-- and I have a rare coupon code THANKYOU2018 for $50 off any purchase, even last call/discounted items!) as a gift for my birthday and seriously guys I have not put it down ever since.  This bag is my holy grail of bags, even though I didn't know I was even looking for such a bag.  As I said in my instagram post, I'm trying to find balance in using it: I love it so much I want to use it everyday but at the same time I want to make it last.  So for the time being I'm switching between this bag and my Loewe hammock bag.

Anyway onto the review!

One of the first things you might notice in the pics is that I'm not using the strap that came with and that's because to be honest, the thin strap the bag comes with (see pic below) is just not that comfortable.  Also it's not adjustable.  So instead I switched it out with the strap that came with my Saint Laurent Universite bag, which is made of canvas and is adjustable.  

My usual daily items in my bag (wallet, coin purse, sunglasses, and several pouches for essentials)

Other than that, this bag is perfect!  It fits all my daily items easily, and I love that I can carry it either by the top handle or use the shoulder strap (I think I've found that only these types of dual carry type bags work for my lifestyle).  I used to have the Celine belt bag in the mini size but still found that was too big for my needs (so I'm glad it found a good home with a reader!) but the micro size is just the right size (lol I'm the Goldilocks of Celine belt bags).  Actually as much as I love the brand (and I've owned 3 other Celine bags in the past) this is the first one that I truly fits me and the only one I really loved.  

Other benefits of the micro belt bag: you can just zip the top and leave the flap open if you're feeling too lazy to close it (and because the handle is located just right, you don't need to close the flap to use the top handle like in one of my pics above).  But if you don't feel like zipping (or if your bag is a bit too full to zip) you can also secure the flap to the clip and it will effectively close the bag.  

Inside the bag, it's unlined leather and there's 2 flat pockets inside.  There's also a rear zipper pocket on the outside but it's so tiny that there's no real use for it.  The dimensions of the bag are 9 x 8 x 4 inches.  

Anyways if you guys have any questions or want to know more about the bag just drop me a comment below, thanks!

{edit: Thanks to Sooji for her question about the clasp!  So yep, the clasp is probably the most cumbersome part of this bag.  I usually just carry the bag zipped and unclasped, but if I do use the clasp I usually clasp the bag over the belt and not actually tucked in the way Celine displays their bag.  So if you do plan to carry it the way Celine intended, it's gonna be a bit of a pain for sure.}

{edit: And thanks to Elaine C. who asked how the Micro Belt compares to Mansur Gavriel's mini lady bag.  Here are some quick phone pics for you guys!  As you can see they're pretty much the same size with the Celine Micro Belt being slightly wider.}

{January 2018 update: I've had this bag for almost a year now and my love for it is still going strong.  I've used this bag a lot and it has held up really well.  The leather is slightly softer but it's still structured and hasn't lost its shape.  This bag is still one of my favorites and probably was the best gift I'ver ever gotten.}

Also I should mention I used to have the Celine Mini Belt Bag and here's a pic of that for comparison:

And finally I also got the Celine Nano Belt Bag so a review of that and a comparison to the Micro here.

And you can find all my other Celine reviews here.