* This review is not sponsored, nor was the bag gifted. I purchased this bag myself.
After scoping out this bag IRL in Paris during my short trip back in January, I finally decided to buy the Polene Numero un in black. I purchased the smooth black leather version because even though the pebbled leather is more durable, I already have the Celine small cabas phantom in pebbled leather and for the most part I actually like the look of smooth leather more. With the current Euro to USD exchange, I got this bag for about $425, which isn't cheap but at the same time is more affordable than it's look-alike cousin, the Mansur Gavriel Mini Lady Bag (review of that here) which retails for $750 for the cheapest veg-tanned leather). And for almost half the price, I have to say this Polene bag is easier to use, made of more durable leather, and is overall a better quality bag.
But first of all, if you were wondering about the ethics behind this bag: it’s made in Ubrique, Spain where "all the workers in the factories are well paid. This is a town with a high level of social protection for them because most of the peoples are working in this industry" (quoted from an email response from Polene when I asked about their manufacturing process). Ubrique is also where Everlane makes their leather foldover cross body bag (reviewed here). {Here's an interesting article about Ubrique as well.} To be honest, I feel like you can tell these bags (both the Everlane and Polene ones) are made by skilled workers because these bags are so well made. Not a loose thread or wonky leather edge in sight!
The above picture is a side-by-side shot with my Celine micro belt bag (reviewed here), which is just a tiny bit smaller than the Polene bag though both have a similar style with a top handle and a long shoulder strap. When I first got the Celine bag I loved it a lot (and I still do), but I was concerned about using such an expensive bag for daily use. So I would rotate my bags weekly. But now that I have the Polene bag, it's become my every day version of the Celine bag. And I couldn't be happier. I'm ok with slinging my Polene bag over my chair at a busy restaurant or using it when it's raining. And you know what? This bag can take it.
Here are some other pros about this bag:
- This bag has 5 studs at the bottom that are it's feet so that the leather doesn't directly rest on the floor. Even my $2250 Celine micro belt bag doesn't have feet!
- The top handle is really well-made and sturdy. Much better than the Mansur Gavriel top handle and on par if not better than the Celine top handle. I also like that I can fit my wrist easily through this top handle if I choose to carry my bag this way.
- I like that even when I don't have the front clasped and I'm holding it by the top handle, the bag doesn't tip over and spill out my stuff. It's perfectly centered so that you can rifle through your bag with one hand and carry it by the top handle in the other.
- There's a large zip pocket and two medium sized flat pockets inside and that make organizing the stuff easier. I also love that the inside is lined fully with cotton (unlike my Celine bags and Mansur Gavriel bags). There's also a large pocket on the back to stash your phone. Seriously this bag is so well designed.
- The leather on this is beautiful and much more durable than the veg-tanned leather that Mansur Gavriel uses.
- And when my stuff got stolen out of my locker at the gym, the thief didn't bother stealing this bag since it's not a well known brand (at least not yet). I was super lucky in that I switched to this bag just a day before (from my Celine cabas phantom, which I'm sure would have been stolen too with the rest of my stuff). There are definite perks in buying and carrying bags that aren't flashy or from a recognizable luxury brand.
photo taken the day I got the bag, so this was all the stuff that got stolen but not the bag itself!
The only two cons with this bag are:
- At 12.5" x 9" x 6.5", this bag is smaller than what I've been carrying lately so I can't fit a water bottle and extra containers for my zero waste lifestyle. I can still carry reusable bags along with all my other stuff though. Also this bag can't fit a 13" laptop.
- Also it's pretty impossible to close the front clasp with one hand. I need both hands to get the magnetic button to line up perfectly for the bag to close.
{Wearing Everlane Utility Jacket (reviewed here), Frame straight leg jeans (similar here), Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here)}
Lately, I've been carrying the bag around with the front snaps undone so that the bag is more squarish. The front clasp still closes and I find this way I can search through my bag easier. When you have all the snaps done up, the opening of the bag shrinks considerably and there's less access to your stuff (a good thing especially if you want to keep your bag secure in a crowded area).
Anyway I hope you liked this review and let me know if you guys have any questions about the bag! Anyone else get this bag and what do you think of it?
Update: Here's a better look of the lining inside the bag. I have to say the lining is a really sturdy cotton canvas that's better than the lining in my Balenciaga bag (currently the only other bag with a cotton lining in my collection right now).
{Jan 2019 Update: I have sold the bag to a blog reader since I pretty much stopped using it. The main reason for that is I no longer am commuting to an office so I’ve been carrying around much smaller bags (mostly my Celine soft cube reviewed here). This mid-size bag is a little too big for my everyday needs. The leather is a bit more scratched up but other than that it has held up beautifully (and I think if you opt for the pebbled leather version, you definitely will have less scratches). Also I wanted to note that now that Polene has set prices in USD, you can get it for $400, which is $25 cheaper than what I paid. I still highly recommend this well crafted beautiful leather bag, especially if you’re looking at a good mid-size option!}
{March 2019 Update: So my friend got the Polene numero un mini and I have to say it’s so cute! It’s a really great size if you’re looking for a more elegant going out bag. The metal front clasp and the chain make the bag look more expensive than it is. I forgot to take a pic of it, but when I see her again I’ll be sure to add a photo here. Her only complaint about this bag is that there is no way to adjust the chain length so on her, it’s a bit too long even for crossbody (she’s shorter than me at like 5’1” I think). Also here’s a great review of the mini bag from one of my fave bloggers Jaime.}
And lastly here are some pics that I took when I went to the Polene shop in Paris sometime in January of 2018 (it was a bit hard to find but thanks to Google I made it lol). I was luckily able to try the bags in person before deciding on buying one, and I decided to purchase it online to save room in my luggage.
I’m 5’4” for reference
That’s the one I got!
{March 2020 Update: So I noticed that they increased the price a bit to $420 (lol still less than what I originally purchased it for, due to the Euro conversion back in 2018). Also I wanted to mention that I sometimes see secondhand Polene bags pop up on the RealReal from time to time here. }
{July 2020: A word of warning: after sending back a faulty Polene Numero Uno Nano bag on my own dime, they basically gave me a “you’re sh*t outta luck” attitude when it got lost in the mail. Several months later, I decided to track my package and lo and behold, it made it to their Spain warehouse 3 weeks earlier. I emailed them about it and they finally gave me a refund. But if I hadn’t been diligent they probably wouldn’t have said anything and kept my money, which is disappointing customer service to say the least. They definitely need to work on their QC and communication with their Spanish producers, and in the meantime I will no longer be giving them my business.}
{September 2021 Update: Ok ok so I know I said I would no longer buy from them but what can I say, I’m a sucker for well designed bags. After being turned off by this unpleasant experience, I finally caved and bought from them because I fell in love with their Beri bag. You can read my full review of the Polene Beri bag here. This time the transaction was easy (since there was no returns involved) and I was 100% satisfied with my purchase. So I guess for me, I probably will continue to purchase from Polene because I love their well designed bags, mostly good construction (loved 2 out of 3 so far), and reasonable price point. I also hunt the RealReal for used Polene bags once in awhile. So would I recommend purchasing from Polene? Yea I think it’s still worth it, just don’t try to do a return during a pandemic lol.}