Cuyana Mini Saddle Bag Review (and Comparison to Mansur Gavriel Crossbody) {March 2018 Update}

Hi guys, thought I would switch it up a little today by reviewing something other than Everlane or Mansur Gavriel.  The last time I reviewed a Cuyana bag it was their Classic Leather Tote.  That was the first time I tried out a bag from Cuyana and I found their leather and bag quality in general to be pretty awesome.  So I was eager to see what their new saddle bags were like, especially since I've been wearing out my Mansur Gavriel crossbody (review here) with daily use.  

First, a note on the two sizes of the Cuyana saddle bag.  The regular Cuyana saddle bag measures 9.5" H x 10.75" W x 3.5" D; while the mini saddle bag measures 6.5" H x 7" W x 2.5" D.  So the regular saddle bag is 3 inches higher and almost 4 inches wider but only an inch deeper.  I went with the mini version because the regular just looked too wide for a compact crossbody that I would use daily.  But the regular size is just $100 more so I would say it's a really good value (which seems to be evidenced by the fact that the larger sizes are always sold out).

Now onto the review of the bag.  First the pros:

- The leather, as expected from Cuyana, is really awesome.  Soft and buttery, it's what you would expect good Italian leather to feel like.  

- The price on this bag ($195) feels totally reasonable too.  If you look at Everlane's Italian made crossbody, they go for $365 while Mansur Gavriel's saddle bag crossbody goes for $495-$595.

- I love the gold bar detail at the magnetic clasp.  It makes a boring old saddle bag a little more interesting.

But in the end I didn't keep it because:

- It was just way too tiny.  I don't need to carry a lot on a daily basis but the bag could only hold my phone, keys, and wallet (and my wallet is pretty compact as it is).  I couldn't really fit sunglasses with a case in there (and lately I need to carry around sunglasses since there's sunshine all the time in San Jose-- so different from foggy SF).  I think it might feel smaller than it actually is because the opening of the bag is quite small.

- Also the bag is not lined on the inside and I like my bags with cotton lining, but that's just a personal preference.

(And there's those Adidas slides I talked about, the ones that my husband think are hideous, but give me 90's nostalgia, lol.  They're not quite blog-worthy shoes, but hey that's just what I was wearing at the time).  Anyways in these pictures, the mini saddle bag doesn't look that small, but I guess I'm so used to the size of my Mansur Gavriel crossbody so it felt tiny.

For reference the (regular) Mansur Gavriel crossbody is 7"H x 9.25"W x 2.25"D {and Cuyana's mini saddle bag is 6.5" H x 7" W x 2.5" D}.  So Cuyana's version is deeper but the shorter width and small opening at the top make the bag feel smaller.  Also I ended up sticking with the Mansur Gavriel version because it's lined and its larger magnet makes opening and closing the bag really quick and easy.  

Anyway if you're looking for a super high quality leather saddle bag that's reasonably priced and you don't need to carry a lot of things (or conversely if you do need to carry a lot of things, you might want to try the regular size), then I think Cuyana's bags might work for you.  Currently these bags are sold out on Cuyana (all sizes and colors but I've seen them do periodic restocks-without fanfare so make sure you sign up for restock notices if you're interested).  As usual this post is not sponsored and if you're interested in other products from this brand, check out all my Cuyana reviews here.  

{March 2018 Update: So it's been 2 years since this review and things have changed. I loved my MG crossbody bag and wore it consistently for 6 months, after which the leather where the handles attached to the bag got all crumbly and disintegrated.  I cannot stand by MG's calf leather quality and I am not the only one.  Read this eye-opening post here.}

Cuyana Silk Tee and Scoop Tee Review with a comparison to Everlane's Silk and Cotton Tees

So now you all know I'm moving from 2500 sqft. to 250 sqft. next year (details here), so you would think that I've completely stopped acquiring things, especially clothes.  And I will...slowly... but I can't just quit cold turkey.  Plus I have some left-over store credit that I need to use up before I become technically home-less (though I'll be trailer-full).  Well that's what I was telling myself when I purchased a couple more items from Cuyana.  (I did a review of the Cuyana Classic Leather Tote).

If you haven't heard of this brand, I sometimes think of it to the older sister of Everlane.  Their clothes are a little less trendy and I think for a more refined crowd.  Their motto is "Fewer, Better" which is a bit different from Everlane's "Radical Transparency", yet both companies believe in quality items sourced and produced in a responsible manner.  Oh and Cuyana costs a bit more too.  Cuyana's silk tee runs you $155 while a comparable one from Everlane is about $75.  Cuyana's cotton tee is $40 while Everlane's is $15.  Those numbers alone would tempt some just to stick with Everlane (especially since what they're doing is not only socially responsible but their products are also really quite fantastic).  But Cuyana deserves an honest test-drive as well.

And this is what I thought: (also for those who are interested in the sizing of Cuyana's cothes, I am about a size 4 or small in most tops and I would say the sizing is pretty comparable to Everlane- ie an Everlane small is about the same as a Cuyana small).

First up is the Cuyana scoop neck tee.  I really love the fit of this shirt.  The scoop neck is just-right in that it's not so wide that you flash everyone with your bra when you bend forward.  Also, the sleeves are the perfect length.  And finally the shirt isn't cropped, but it's not too long either (it's hard to tell because the model has the shirt tucked-in on all the shots, but the shirt ends right below the waistband).  For a better idea, Everlane's shirts in a small are about 24 inches from shoulder to bottom hem while Cuyana's is 22 inches.  The material is also super soft, softer than Everlane's cotton shirts.  And that's because Cuyana's are made from 50% modal and 50% pima cotton.  (Also did you know modal is just another way of saying rayon?  I didn't because I never really bothered to know more about my clothes until recently).  So that means the care for this shirt requires laying flat to dry.  But I really don't have space anywhere to lay them dry.  Also this tee is $40, which is over double of Everlane's cotton tees.  So my overall verdict is to stick with Everlane for their tees (edit: but to be clear, it's mostly due to my preference for a no-hassle shirt that I wouldn't get too upset about if I got it dirty-which happens to my shirts all the time).

Everlane silk tee on left and Cuyana silk tee on right

But if I were to choose Cuyana or Everlane when it comes to the silk department, my vote goes to Cuyana's silk tee in black (in small).  I love love love it!  The silk feels amazing and is totally different from Everlane's silk.  This silk material is of a heavier weight and feels more durable.  It reminds me of the kind of silk that kimonos are made of (I know that's not super helpful, but I really don't know too much about silk).  It's hard to describe the difference, but I plan to write a more in-depth post about the different kinds of silk and compare the silk from Everlane, Equipment, and Cuyana.  As for the shirt itself, the cut is really flattering.  I like the extra length in the back and also the sleeves, which I didn't think I would like because it almost looks like cap sleeves.  But the sleeves are cut a little longer so it actually looks quite flattering (still hides any flabby triceps, though I like how the Everlane silk tees have a longer sleeve overall).  For almost double the price, the Cuyana silk tee might seem like less of a value than Everlane's silk tee.  However the silk tee from Cuyana is of a higher quality and seems like it would last longer.  If your goal is truly to have fewer but better clothes then Cuyana's silk tee is the better choice.

So I would say give Cuyana a chance, especially when it comes to their silk items and their leather goods.  Those items are truly made with a higher quality and are worth the extra dollars if you plan to use these items for years and years.  Like all my reviews, I purchased items for myself and have not been paid for any of my opinions.

{edit if you're looking for more silk reviews there's the first one- Everlane vs. Equipment vs. Cuyana silk review; and the second one- Grana vs. Everlane vs. Cuyana silk review}