Fendi Small By The Way Bag Review {Updated August 2022}

I’m not really a fan of Fendi. I’ve never liked their fashion/style (ick their F logos) nor their traditional specialty (fur). But 4-5 years ago, when this By The Way Bag was introduced by Fendi I fell in love. It didn’t matter what the designer brand was, I loved the style and simplicity (it almost look like it could be a Celine bag no?). Anyway I purchased this bag back in 2015 (at $500 off retail, but still at about $1300). A lot, I know but I loved that bag and waited for a year for it to finally go down in price. Also I should mention this is one of the few bags I’ve ever purchased new (that’s how much I wanted it).

And I’ve carried this By The Way (BTW) bag consistently for 3 years now and it’s probably the most used bag in my arsenal. It’s also one of the oldest, and it’s a testament to how great of a bag it is considering how quick I am to sell bags that I don’t find useful anymore.

So it’s a surprise that I’ve never thought about reviewing it on the blog yet. It’s probably because this bag never really took off and became a trendy “it” bag (but that’s also why I love it so much too—it’s obscure). Also when a bunch of new things are constantly entering the closet, the really old stuff sometimes get forgotten. But I would be doing a disservice to the bag if I didn’t review it and let you guys all know about it (especially now that it’s been out for so long and you can find some really really good deals on this bag used like the one linked above).

Some of the things I love about this bag are:

~ (ok this is the best thing about the bag) The handle straps that can be folded down flat against the bag to give it a sleek shape when carrying it crossbody. I usually carry my bags over my shoulder or crossbody but I like having the option of top handles, especially when I need to peer into the bag to get something. Most of my crossbody bags like my Celine Nano Belt (reviewed here) and Celine Soft Cube bag (reviewed here) have handles that stick out or flop down, which isn’t a problem. But this BTW bag handles are so discrete and yet so useful!

~ I’ve always loved the boston bag shape (rectangular bottom with a simple shape and two top handles). But this bag doesn’t look like your classic boston bag (think of Gucci’s Boston Bag or Dior’s Boston bag).

~ That classic shape also allows it to hold a lot of stuff. The top is slightly narrower than the base so the bag feels unobtrusive, yet because of the great rectangular base it can way more than you think! This is probably one of my larger crossbody bags that can fit the essentials and then some.

~ The leather is super durable (well the one I have is the smooth leather) and this is the bag I take on rainy days. No water spots ever. Plus it’s fully zippable so nothing inside gets wet.

~ Speaking of the inside, the bag is separated into three compartments. There’s a middle zipper one, perfect for small items and things you don’t want to lose ever. And then there’s two larger compartments that can hold your sunglass case or your larger wallet. One of the side also has pockets in the lining (though it can’t fit your iPhone). And then the whole thing can be zipped up securely with the main zipper compartment.

~ Because of the adjustable crossbody strap and the flatable top handles, there are a lot of ways to carry this bag. Over your shoulder with a shortened strap, crossbody with the longer strap, hand held, or push one side down flat and pop the other for a cool clutch (like the runway models below but I have to say I have never once carried it this way).

Large size

small size

After three years of using and owning this bag here are some of the negatives I’ve learned:

~ The strap that the BTW comes with is great because the snaps make it fully adjustable. But for me, my hair kept getting stuck in them and it would end up pulling my hair out. No thanks, I need all the hair I can keep! So I ended up switching it with a different strap and it was no big deal.

~ There are no feet on the bottom of this bag so you have to be kind of careful where you set it down. Seriously feet would have made this bag near perfect in my eyes.

~ After 3 years of use and abuse the corners of the bag have started to indent in. But that doesn’t really bother me, it’s just a sign that this bag has been well used (plus have you seen the corners of my Everlane Day Market Tote? If I can handle that, I can handle anything. Well except when the corners start getting holes in them—ahem I’m looking at you Goyard St. Louis bags and Longchamp Le Pilage bags. The flatable handles of the BTW bag will also start bending with use but there’s no popped stitching or other wear on them.

So if you compare my pros and cons list, you can see that the pros far outweigh the cons (even 3 years later). So now you can see why I’ve kept this bag around as a workhorse. Seriously there couldn’t be a more practical crossbody bag for me out there, so I’ll excuse the fact that it’s a Fendi, lol.

As I mentioned above, because this style was never super popular and because it’s 4 years old you can find some major deals on this bag at my favorite online consignment store: Fashionphile. Here are the current ones available. Like I said in the beginning I currently have the black one in a small but I’m really loving the larger one in dove gray, which is priced at less than half of what I bought my black one for! So tempting but I will wait for now.

Anyway this bag really lives up to its name. Not flashy and almost an afterthought. Like “by the way, this is an awesome, minimal and useful bag!”

{August 2022 Update: This Fendi By the Way bag is officially the oldest and most used bag in my collection. I first wrote this post 4 years ago and by then it was already 4 years old. And this 8 year old bag still looks good and functions great. In fact, it made it to the number 6 position in my bag rankings (6 out of 23). It’s funny I love this bag so much since I’m not really a fan of Fendi, but I plan to never sell this bag, ever!}

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:

My Fashionphile Selling Experience {Updated September 2019}

I’ve talked about my purchasing experience before with Fashionphile, my favorite reputable source to buy secondhand luxury bags (I wrote about it here). But I couldn’t speak to the selling experience with them since I usually sell all my bags directly on eBay. I like eBay since it’s the platform with the lowest selling fees and I’ve been selling on eBay for years (and thus have enough feedback to be considered a legit seller). But when my Valentino purse (reviewed here) was not selling even after multiple price drops, I decided to finally try selling it on Fashionphile.

So the first step with selling with Fashionphile is to fill out their form and sending them some pictures of your item. Once you submit it, they get back to you in about 24 hours and they will let you know whether they will consign your item or if they will just buy your bag from you. They usually only consign higher ticket items like Hermes Kellys or Birkins, and they will usually do a straight buy-out for everything else.

If they decide to consign your item, then their fee is 30% of the selling price for under $3000 and 15% of the selling price for bags over $3000. They determine the sale price and if your item doesn’t sell, they reserve the right to put your item on sale (thus lowering the official sell price at the end). Also you don’t get paid until the item sells.

If they decide to buy it, then they will offer you a buy back price. You can get paid either by check or store credit. If you choose store credit then you get 15% on top of the buy back price. In the end they offered me a straight buy back and so I took it. It was about $200 less than what I was trying to sell it for on eBay, so I’m sure if I wanted to make more money I could have split the difference and sold my bag on my own for $800. But for the sake of research and to save me some time I decided to go with Fashionphile.

Once you get the buy back price, they send you a link where you commit to selling it to them and choose your payout method (check or credit). I went with credit since I purchase from Fashionphile all the time, plus I could get 15% more. Then from there you print out a shipping label that they provide and just drop it off at your nearest FedEx location. Once they get it, they send you the money. Seriously it was so easy.

So if you don’t have time or the right platform to sell your luxury bags and accessories I highly recommend selling with Fashionphile for the ease alone. Of course, it comes with a cost and you won’t be making as much money as you would if you sell it yourself. Based on that, I probably won’t be selling through Fashionphile any time soon, but if the stress of selling through Ebay ever gets to me (and believe me, there are some shady buyers out there so watch out), then I know where to turn to!

P.S. With my store credit I purchased a Celine Soft Cube bag, which I’ve been eyeing for months! And in the end I paid $180 out of pocket including tax and shipping because of the trade credit (and that’s for a $1700 bag). I’ve been using it non-stop and will review it soon!

{September 2019 Update: I reviewed the Celine Soft Cube bag here and used it so much I did a 100 wears later update post here. I also have tried selling with The RealReal which I wrote about here: Part 1 and Part 2. When comparing the 2 sites, I still prefer selling and buying high-end items on Fashionphile because you get the check really quick, Fashionphile will tell you exactly how much they will pay before sending the item in, and Fashionphile usually gives a higher payout. But The RealReal is the easiest if you don’t care how much you earn back on your stuff.}

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.

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.}

Hermes Lindy 30 Review {Updated May 2018}

So some of you might remember that I purchased a used Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here) from Fashionphile  several months ago or you might have seen it in almost all of my pictures since then.  Well finally here's the review of the bag after heavy use for about 3 months.  And guess what? I love love love this bag.  Contrary to what you might think, it's not because it's from Hermes and it's the most expensive bag in my collection (well retail, not what I paid for).  I really love this bag because it's not only super useful but also so well made!  You would hope so from bag that costs so much, but if my decades-long journey through luxury-bag-land has taught me anything, that's not always the case.  

When I reviewed Loewe's hammock bag I had mentioned I really love Hermes' Lindy bags, and when I finally got my hands on the Lindy I had expected both bags to feel the same in terms of functionality (both are bags with a strap connecting the two handles of the bag).  But the Lindy is above and beyond a much more useful and well-made bag.  It's really all in the details!  Let me count the ways I love this bag:

1) The 30 size is perfect to fit everything I need to carry everyday.  It can fit more if I wanted to, and then the bag would look much more duffle-y and less slouchy.  My usual items include a wallet, coin purse, sunglass case, keys, phone and some reusable bags.  If I wanted to, I could even fit my to-go coffee cup in there (empty of course).

2) The two handles are my preferred way to carry the bag and the rolled handles are comfortable when carrying the bag in the crook of my arm.  But if I want to be hands free, then the strap is the perfect length for slinging over my shoulder.  The Loewe bag also uses the same system but I sometimes find the long strap too long and gets in the way.  Also the Loewe hammock bag doesn't have rolled handles and the handles are too short to carry the bag in the crook of my arm.

3) There are 4 really functional pockets, two inside the bag and two outside.  The two outside ones are the perfect size for my iPhone 7+ and it's deep enough so my phone doesn't fall out ever.  And now I probably spend 30 minutes (cumulatively) less everyday searching for my phone.

4) The Taurillon Clemence leather is super scratch-resistant but also really slouchy and perfect for this kind of bag (if I ever get my hands on another Hermes bag though I would probably go with a different kind of leather that's stiffer than this one, but for this bag it's the right kind of leather).  

5) The closure to the bag is super secure, with the two zippers and a turn lock.  When going into large crowds I know my stuff will be safe.  But on the flip side it's so secure that sometimes it's hard to get get stuff in/out of the bag easily, and that would be the one and only drawback to this purse.  So after some inquiry over at the purseforum, I've learned that most Lindy owners never really secure the zipper ends with the turn lock, and for me personally I just usually leave one of the zippers open for easy access.

As always I only recommend buying bags used  from a reputable source and my go-to is always Fashionphile since they really know their handbags and sell only authentic ones (also they allow returns as long as you don't remove their tags so it's a great way to online shop for preowned luxury items without committing!).  Also since I waited for this to go on sale, I was able to purchase it for half the price of retail.  And when I got it, I could hardly tell it was used.  There's so much life left in this bag!  I can see why Hermes is such a sought after brand: their bags are well-designed and made to last a lifetime.  Anyway sorry if you've been sick of seeing this bag in all my shots, but it is easily my favorite!  

{May 2018 Update, my love for this bag is still going so strong!  I still find the bag super useful and even with daily wear the bad still looks great!  Here are some current Lindy offerings from Fashionphile if you're interested! And here are some recent pictures of me carrying it:}

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.}

Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Universite Bag Review

So last week I reviewed the Celine small trotteur bag (review here), at the end of which I contemplated selling that bag or selling this bag (I definitely have to sell one for an even trade with my most recent preowned bag purchase) .  So here is today's bag review: the Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Universite bag.  

I purchased this bag as a treat for myself last year, though I don't quite remember what I did to 'earn' that treat, lol.  I do remember enjoying my VIP experience though at Saint Laurent in Valley Fair Mall (free glass of champagne at 11am?  Yes, please!).  I love this bag because the grain leather is super durable and prevents scratches (similar to the Celine small trotteur) and I love the simple and boxy shape.  In fact I saw it online first and then went to the store to try it out and fell in love.  This particular bag also came with 2 straps, a leather one and a canvas one for traveling.  I use the canvas one now with my Celine micro belt bag (seen here).

As you can see this bag can hold more than my Celine Trotteur {it's a bit hard to see but there's my Celine wallet (reviewed here), iphone 7+, keys and sunglasses inside}.  There's also a very narrow compartment that would probably be ideal for tickets or other slim paper items.  And there's also a zippered compartment inside.

So I love that this Saint Laurent bag can hold more than the Celine one.  But I love the hardware on the Celine more, and I'm not a fan of the YSL hardware on this bag (I was a fan, but now I think I'm just seeing it everywhere so now I want something more discreet).

Anyway bag lovers help me out here!  If you were to keep only one bag which would you keep?

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.

Vintage Chanel Caviar Leather vs. New Chanel Caviar Leather (and my Chanel experience in general)

Black Medium Caviar Chanel Flap Bag from 2013 next to a Navy Small Caviar Flab Bag from 1999

So I've been very fortunate in my life to own a lot of different Chanel bags.  Back in 2008 when the economy was on the skids, pre-owned Chanel bags were considerably cheaper than today.  I also took part in the Bing and eBay program that gave cashback to up to 30% of the purchase price (so thank you Bing for making Chanel bags even more affordable back then).  I used the PurseForum and Etinceler Authentications to ensure I was getting the real deal, and many times I would sell the bag back on eBay having already made money off the bag with the cashback deal.  This was when my Chanel obsession was at the max and I had a revolving closet of Chanel bags.  I'm not saying this to show-off but rather let you know that I know my Chanels.  And these are some of the lessons I've learned from this experience:

1) Caviar leather is always better than lambskin if you want to keep your Chanel looking as good as the day it was purchased.  Lambskin may scream luxury to some people but it's a pain to keep nice.  And even if you baby the hell out of your bags, the quilted squares will eventually deflate and this is especially true for lambskin.  Here are some other bloggers take on caviar vs. lambskin: 1, 2, 3.

2) The jumbo and maxi Chanel flaps are heavy (especially if you get the jumbo in a double flap, so I went with the single flap).  But even the single flap jumbo will be enough weight to dig the chains into your shoulders and leave a mark after prolonged usage.

3) And vintage caviar leather is better than new caviar leather.  The picture above is of my 2013 black caviar in medium next to my 1999 navy caviar in small.  I really should take a macro photo of the two leathers so that you guys can really see the difference (but I'm a lazy blogger, so only if people really want it will I bother, lol).  But the 1999 caviar leather is shinier and stiffer while the newer 2013 caviar leather is more matte and softer.  I tried to see if anyone else wrote about this online (but really couldn't find anything) but the 18-year old vintage Chanel is just a lot more durable than the 2013, making me think that Chanel went with a lower quality leather supplier for their caviar leather in recent times.  I hardly use the black medium flap bag because even without use I can feel that the leather where the CC buckle is, is starting to cave in a little.  So I keep it in its box, stuffed to keep it pristine (which is not the way I like to be using my bags.  Since this was a gift from my mother I'm trying to keep it as pristine as possible but TBH if I had just purchased this myself I probably would have sold it by now).  I really only use my navy flap bag because it's resistant to scratches and I can throw it around without having to worry about dents in the bag.  I think well-made luxury items should be used constantly since they're supposed to handle that kind of usage (and the really well made stuff just get more beautiful with time right?).

Anyway, this is to say I think my Chanel phase is pretty much over (good bye Chanel years, hello Hermes years--juuust kidding I don't have the budget for that yet).  I still have these 2 flaps and my Chanel WOC (wallet on chain-also in caviar and my other Chanel workhorse), and also a wallet I plan to sell.  But that's it!  And I think a large part of it is because my last new Chanel bag (this 2013 black flap) is clearly not as good as my old stuff.  Just because it's a Chanel and it cost a lot of money doesn't automatically mean quality anymore.  So when buying a Chanel, go ahead and be very very picky (you should be for that price point).

P.S. I don't know what 2017 caviar leather is like so it may have gotten better, or I may have just gotten a bad batch back in 2013.  But in general I prefer early 2000 caviar leather flap bags (my long gone jumbo was this type of caviar leather too and it was great).

Goyard GM St. Louis Tote Review {Updated Feb 2018}

My two loves: Airstreams and bags

I don't know a whole lot about Goyard and I'm not a super fan of the brand or anything but when I sold my Louis Vuitton Neverfull (because I wasn't a fan of the super rigid leather straps), I decided to replace it with this Goyard St. Louis tote (similar here).  Even though I waxed on and on about used bags last week, I actually got this one brand new at the Goyard store in San Francisco mostly because the prices for the secondhand totes weren't that much cheaper than the original price and because the SF store was so close (this was before I moved down to San Jose).  Also it was most definitely a bit of an impulse purchase because I was in the store.

Anyway I decided to go with the GM size (the bigger size which is 23"x 13"x 7") because I wanted this to be more of a travel bag, and I think it's not too big for my 5'4" frame.  The things I love about this tote: A) super lightweight coated canvas (bags that are light as a feather are a must when traveling); B) The flexible leather straps are thin but don't hurt my shoulders; C) The way the top corners can fold in to make the tote smaller when carrying less stuff.

But in the end I don't really carry this bag as much as I want to because the Goyard tote corners and strap glazing are notoriously fragile.  Plus I'm not a fan of how soft the canvas fabric is, so much so that it can't stand up on it's own (it just wrinkles into a pile really).  And in the end I don't think I'm much of a tote person in general (if I have to carry a lot, I rather carry a backpack).  Oh but I do love my Everlane dipped zip tote (reviewed here), which I carry daily as my work tote.

Anyway so I decided to sell this tote to fund a future bag purchase.  Since I rarely used it (seriously only like 5 times), it doesn't make sense for me to keep it.  And I might as well sell it while it's still in pristine condition.  

{Update: Yep I sold it and actually only "lost" $200 on it so at least these bags have very good resale value.  I consider the $200 the cost of using the bag and learning my lesson about expensive totes.  From now on I think I'll stick with more reasonably priced totes, since tote bags are meant to be workhorses and carry loads of stuff.}

Loewe Hammock Bag Review {updated Jan 2018}

Hi y'all so if you guys have been around my blog for awhile, you know that I've had this small Loewe Hammock bag for some time now.  I feel like I promised someone a review of this bag quite awhile ago (sorry I can't remember), so better late than never?  Anyway this is my first bag from Loewe and I purchased this navy one online through Selfridges (I also had a light blue version of this bag which I eventually sold because I just wasn't a fan of the light blue color).

I first heard about Loewe and this handbag from Alice Gao of the blog Lingered Upon.  It was damn good marketing on Loewe's part, lol.  When I saw the BTS (behind the scenes) shots of their handbag production factory (which to me looks quite ethical, I mean their workers all have iPhones/iPods/or at least those white earphones), it looked a lot like one of Everlane's factories.

And then when I saw Alice's new pick I was in love:

For the longest time I really liked the style of Hermes' Lindy bag, which can be held in the hand with short handles or slung over the shoulder with a strap.  And Loewe's hammock bag is of a very similar style.  And of course I can't afford the Hermes version so I was really excited by Loewe's hammock bag.

My favorite part of this bag is the zippered gusset, which expands to allow you to carry a lot of things.  Seriously you can just stuff the bag and it still looks great.  And if you aren't carry a lot of stuff, then you can bring the "wings" in and it becomes a really sleek rectangular bag.

There is a clip near the top of the bag to allow you to secure the bag closed to prevent any thieves from getting at your stuff.  Though if you are carrying it crossbody or over your shoulder, having the bag clipped shut can be a bit of a nuisance because it no longer has that hammock shape.  Usually, if I'm not in a crowded area I'll just carry it on my shoulder like in the picture below).

Inside, the bag there's also two slip pockets (which are quite deep though narrow), and outside there's another zippered pocket (which really doesn't fit anything).  

The nice thing about this hammock bag is that even if your bag is stuffed and are holding it by one handle, stuff never falls out.  They somehow got the geometry right so that you can't accidentally dump out the contents of your bag.

The small version, which I have, doesn't come with an extra pouch but the larger size does.  But for me the small size is the perfect daily handbag size.  Anyways if you guys have any other questions about the bag (or want to see comparison shots) just shoot me a comment below. And now my favorite consignment site sells Loewe bags and sometimes you might get lucky and find a hammock here or sometimes you can find it on TheRealReal here.

{January 2018 update: I wanted to fully disclose that I ended up selling this bag this month because I just found I wasn't carrying it as much as my newer bags (especially since I ended up buying a Hermes Lindy which I loved much more—but was also 3x the price).  Also the front leather panel on one side started getting a weird bend to it that I couldn't get out (I tried hanging it by the handles in hopes it would straighten out but it didn't).  The bend is probably from the way I had stored it (without any stuffing, so if you do get this bag be sure to take good care of it when stored away).  Anyway I just wanted to let y'all know I let it go and no longer have this bag in my collection.}

P.S. You can find my other Loewe 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.

The Wallet On Chain (WOC) Bag: Chanel vs. Gucci

I realize I'm occupying a strange space where I love and want to promote ethical clothing brands but at the same time I (somewhat irrationally) love expensive luxury hand bags.  I'm the girl who shops at Barney's and Goodwill on the same day (yes I've done that before).  But hey, if I love a handbag and use it for years and years then (like I said before), at least it counts as slow fashion.  Unfortunately I cannot say that this Gucci chain wallet falls under that category (but fortunately I have a lot of interest from people who are willing to take it off my hands).  But anyways I'm getting ahead of myself here.  Today I'll be reviewing the differences between my tried and true Chanel Wallet on Chain (WOC) and my relatively new and trendy Gucci Chain Wallet.

First up, the workhorse of my bag collection, the Chanel WOC.  This bag is the best compact bag I've ever used.  It fits a set of unbulky keys, some lipstick, your phone, and maybe a slim wallet.  But it also has card slots and a zippered pocket if you want to go sans wallet (and if you have a non-plus size iphone, you can fit it into the zippered pocket which is a really secure way to carry your phone--especially in a crowded Vegas nightclub where theives literally will steal your phone out of your flap-type bags.  Seriously it's happened to 3 of my friends on separate occasions).  Though the bag looks tiny, there's a fairly wide gusset (maybe about 1.5 inches or so) and so there is enough space to fit the essentials.  There is also a slim pocket near the front that I use to hold tickets or other flat items that need to be readily accessible.  I would say the best thing about the WOC is the deep flat zipper pocket that runs the whole length of the purse (which can be accessed by the zipper right above the Chanel emblem).  Also if you don't want to wear this cross body, you can slo double up the chain so that it fits neatly under your arm.

I've taken this purse everywhere and it's really held up well.  Partially I think because this is caviar leather without the quilted diamonds (lambskin will wear faster since it's more delicate and the quilted diamonds will eventually deflate, making it look more used).

As for the Gucci Dionysus Chain Wallet, well it was an impulse purchase of the worst kind--from overexposure to trends via instagram and blogs.  The bag itself isn't bad and in fact it's larger than the Chanel WOC so it does fit quite a bit.  There's more card slots than I know what to do with and there's a zippered pouch as well for your phone or other small valuables.

I guess what it comes down to is that I'm not even a fan of Gucci style (usually a 70's over the top kind of style).  But I kept seeing it everywhere and that made me want it.  And I had a bit of credit so I decided I "deserved' a splurge.  But well I never really loved it so I never really used it.  And now I know when it comes to bag choices I need to be aware of why I want certain items.  I have to ask myself, "do I want this because it fits my style/ fills a gap in my closet/ I have a real need for it/ I can use it in a multitude of ways?"  Well that's how it would work in theory anyway, lol.

Ah well, lessons learned I guess.  My head still gets turned by bags daily, but at least I'm on this self-imposed shopping ban so I have to slow my roll.  I definitely need this spending detox!

Kara Backpack Review

I purchased this Kara backpack from Shopbop (during their awesome sale FTW) mostly so that I could use it for my month-long road trip.  And what a great backpack it was for traveling.  Actually I would gander that really any backpack is a great travel bag.  But I especially love the simplicity of Kara bags.  

Here are some of the other things I love about this backpack:

~ It can fit my DSLR along with everything else that I needed for traveling

~ The adjustable straps were super comfortable even though they are on the skinny side.  I never found them digging into my shoulders

~ The large zip compartment made grabbing things super easy

~ Fully lined on the inside with a zipper pocket

~ An outside compartment where I could easily slip in my phone and sunglasses.  That pockets had a fairly strong magnet closure and faced my back so it was quite secure

~ The pebbled leather makes it super easy to maintain, even in such a light color.  I never had to worry about getting color transfer on the leather or about getting it wet (in fact for the last half of the trip through Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, BC, the bag got rained on a ton of times and I just had to wipe off the water and it was fine

Some things that could be improved:

~ Maybe a higher quality zipper or at least 2 pull zippers that can zip from either side.  Due to the shape of the bag and the stiffness of the zipper, at times it was hard to do a quick zip up if I was in a rush

~ I was bit annoyed that the small handle at the top of the backpack kept folding down instead of standing upright (but this is minor)

~Also when carrying heavy things, the backpack wouldn't really hold its shape (like in the picture above)

~ I really wish this was ethically produced in the USA, but it's made in China

Anyways I love the look and utility of this bag so I'm definitely going to keep it around and use it for travel.  

P.S. And congrats to Phoebe for winning my artisan-made goods giveaway!  And thank you to everyone who entered!

Cuyana Crossbody Pouch Review

Lately my blog has become all things Everlane all the time, so I'm working on getting some variety here. Today's review is for Cuyana's Crossbody Pouch in Stone.  If you're looking for a high-quality minimal crossbody without spending a lot of money then this bag might be for you.  This bag reminds me of Celine's trio bag, but of course this is just a single.  I had the Celine trio before and I loved the chic simplicity but at the same time it was hard to swallow the over $1050 price tag.  In the end I sold my trio because the leather was fairly delicate, it didn't suit my needs, and I felt like I could have spent that $1000 more wisely somewhere else.

But anyway, onto the review!  The pros:

- This beautiful bag is made from high quality Italian leather but in the U.S. Yay for supporting local American manufacturing.  And just like Cuyana's mini saddle bag and their Classic Leather Tote, the leather is soft and smells wonderful.  Also the pebbled leather seems a lot more durable than the Celine leather, and is probably less likely to scratch.

- The size of the crossbody is fairly decent, measuring 7"H x 9.25"W x .25"D.  I was able to fit my sunglass pouch, wallet, phone and keys with a little bit of room to spare.

-The strap is adjustable as well as removable.  So you could use it as a pouch within a bag or a clutch, and then convert it to a crossbody when you want a minimal handsfree purse.

-For $110, this beautifully well-made purse is a pretty good price (even a Madewell leather purse, made in China goes for $138).

And then there are the cons:

- That 0.25" depth is kind of a deal breaker for me.  Even if I could over-load it with a lot of things due to the decent height and width, I don't like the look of a bulging purse.  And if you don't put relatively flat things or have a couple bulky items in your purse, then the crossbody starts looking lumpy.  So this bag is definitely for people who just carry the essentials with them (or it would be a great simple going out purse).

- No lining on the inside.  Again, it's not a big deal but I just like to have some kind of lining on the inside.

-The strap ends up being a little too long for me.  If I were to keep the purse, I would just pierce another hole in the strap to shorten it.  (The strap is at the shortest in the pics below, and though the length is alright, I just prefer if the bag hit a little higher up the hips).

In the pictures above I'm wearing Everlane's microstripe u-neck shirt in a small, Paige Verdugo Crop jeans (similar here), and Everlane Modern Loafers.

In the end, I returned the purse since I already have too many going out purses and really don't need another one.  Currently Cuyana is out of their Crossbody Pouches in all colors except mint, but if you sign up for email notification they will email you when they get more in stock.  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.  

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.}

Mansur Gavriel Mini Lady Bag Review {Updated December 2020}

This is it guys, this is IT!  And by IT I mean this is Mansur Gavriel's IT-bag, or at least the IT-Lady Bag.  And I should know because I'm the Goldilocks of Mansur Gavriel Lady Bags.  First I tried the regular lady bag in calf-skin (review here), then the large lady bag in veg-tanned leather (review here), and finally the regular lady bag in veg-tanned leather (review here).  Today I have the mini lady bag in brandy veg-tanned leather (avion blue interior) and it's my favorite by far.

Mini Lady Bag vs. Regular Lady Bag

The above pictures show the the size difference between the regular and mini lady bags.  The mini lady bag measures: 9"H x 10.5"L x 3.5" depth while the regular lady bag measures 11"H x 12.5"L x 4.5" depth.  So it's about 2 inches shorter both in height in length but only 1 inch less deep.  So it can't hold a 13" laptop but it can hold a full-size ipad with case.  The mini lady bag works best as a day to day bag to hold all your essentials but might be too small to be a work bag.

Inside my bag in the top pic: My old Ipad in a Dodo case (I love these cases, even though they can make the ipad a bit heavy to carry), makeup case, wallet, phone, and sunglass case.  So not a whole lot of stuff but all the essentials and then some.

Another difference between the mini and the regular lady bag is the drop of the top handle.  The mini lady bag has a 5" drop while the regular has a 7" so that means for the mini lady bag, I can't get the strap around my arm if I wanted to carry it tucked under my armpit (which I sometimes did with the regular lady bag).  But I think the 5" handle drop is a good proportion for the mini. 

Strap out or tucked in?

Also the drawstring closure on the mini is a lot stiffer than the closure on my regular bag.  So the drawstring stays cinched and secure (but to be fair it might be because I've overloaded the regular lady bag in the past and it might have worn out the closure).  But this helps my mini bag to stay closed and secure, which wasn't always the case with the regular lady bag (thus my need to carry it under my armpit, especially in crowds).

Anyways I can tell this is going to be my favorite bag in the next few months!  If you want to get your own mini lady bag nab one at the Mansur Gavriel restock this month [edit: it's going to be on March 29th]!  And in the meantime here are my other Mansur Gavriel reviews!

P.S and this is for reader Svy showing a 13" macbook and the mini lady bag:

{March 2019 Update: They also have had a Mini Mini Lady bag out for a bit now. I can see that size being the best for going out and/or carrying just the essentials. Also since MG has been around for awhile now, you can score some really great deals on secondhand mini lady bags. Check out my favorite consignment sites Fashionphile (their selection of mini and mini mini lady bags) and TheRealReal (their selection of mini and mini mini lady bags).}

{December 2020 Update: I purchased and reviewed the Mansur Gavriel Mini Mini Lady Bag. Check out the post for a size comparison of the Lady Bag, Mini LB, and the Mini Mini LB}

Mansur Gavriel Mini Mini Bucket Review and Mini Bucket Review

I finally got my hands on a Mansur Gavriel mini mini bucket bag so now it's time to do another review (all other Mansur Gavriel reviews here).  I've done a review comparing the MG classic bucket bag to the mini bucket bag, but unfortunately I sold the classic bucket so I can only compare the mini to the mini mini.  I guess if you read this review and that review you'll get an idea of the sizing since both reviews include the mini size (the old review has a royal blue mini bucket).

Also, if you were wondering the difference between the cammello color and the brandy color, the mini is brandy (with cleo interior) and the mini mini is cammello (with rosa interior).  As you can see the brandy color is quite a bit more reddish in color.  My personal preference is cammello, though with the lighter color, water spots and other marks will probably be more visible.

As for the size, you can see that the mini mini is quite a bit smaller than the mini.  I think they probably should have named the mini as regular and the mini mini as just mini (since the classic size is really a large).  The mini measures 9.5"H x 8"W x 4.5"D while the mini mini measures 8"H x 6"W x 3.75"D.  Though it's only a 1.5" difference in height, the extra inch or so makes the mini bucket feel a lot deeper.  I personally prefer the extra depth so that items feel more secure (though really with an open bucket bag your items aren't going to be that secure to begin with).  Neither bucket bag comes with the wallet (that's only available for the classic size).

The mini mini is perfect for those who don't like to carry a lot of things in their bag.  It can fit the essentials like phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses but if you're someone who also like to carry a water bottle or ipad mini then the mini size is the way to go.  I prefer the mini size over the mini mini.  But since I prefer the cammello color over the brandy, I might try my luck during the 2-minute frenzy that is the Mansur Gavriel shop relaunch happening on Tuesday December 8th at 11AM EST (so 8AM my time).  But we'll see, I might save my pennies for their Spring 2016 launch and try to get a mini lady bag.

The picture below shows the mini mini with my iphone 6s and wallet while the brandy mini bucket is carrying a mini ipad.  Both bags are really gorgeous so I can't go wrong with either of them, but I think my vote is for the mini bag since the size just works better for my everyday needs.  Since I prefer the cammello color over the brandy, I might try my luck during the 2-minute frenzy that is the Mansur Gavriel shop relaunch happening on Tuesday December 8th at 11AM EST (so 8AM my time).  But we'll see, I might save my pennies for their Spring 2016 launch and try to get a mini lady bag.  But if you're participating in tomorrow's relaunch good luck and hope you get the bag that you want!!

Madewell Transport Tote vs. Cuyana Classic Leather Tote vs. Mansur Gavriel Tote vs. Everlane's Petra and Day Market Tote {Updated January 2021}

I was unfortunately not able to compare these two very similar totes side by side since I ordered the Madewell Tote first, didn't care for it so returned it and then purchased the Cuyana Classic Leather Tote.  But here are some of the similarities and differences I noticed between the two bags (also you can read a whole reddit forum discussion here).

First the dimensions: The Madewell Transport Tote (in black, with tan handles) measures 14.25(h) x 14.25(L) x 6(w) inches with a 8.25 inch strap drop.  The Cuyana Classic Leather Tote measures 13(h) x 18(L) x 5(w) inches with a 9 inch strap drop.  So the Cuyana tote is a a little shorter, but a lot wider.  However, since the leather on the Cuyana bag is so soft and smooshy, it's quite easy to fold in the sides a bit to make it less wide (like the picture below).

source

Though the totes are really similar, here are the reasons why I think the Cuyana tote is better:

-First off, the leather on the Cuyana tote is amazing.  It's super soft and smells wonderful. The smell reminds me of the leather of Balenciaga bags, even though the textures of the leather are different.  The leather on the Madewell tote is stiff and feels and smells like cheap leather.

-The difference in the leather is probably due to the fact that the Cuyana tote is made in the US while the Madewell tote is made in China (plus Cuyana is a brand all about producing top quality items).

-The strap of the Madewell tote is a just a tiny bit shorter, but it can make all the difference when trying to wear a tote bag over the shoulder when wearing a winter coat.  I think the Cuyana bag might fit, while the Madewell tote most definitely wouldn't.  

The Cuyana tote also comes in 3 different variations: the classic, the tall tote and the zippered tote.

So as you can see, my vote clearly goes to the Cuyana tote over the Madewell tote.  But if we were to have a broader discussion about all the totes that I own (including the Mansur Gavriel Tote —reviewed here—and the Everlane tote), I would have to say my favorite is probably the Everlane tote.  I love the smaller shape, the adjustable straps, and the two deep interior pockets with snap closures.  The Mansur Gavriel is good for just piling things in, and it holds its shape really well.  I think in general I'm just not a soft tote kind of gal.  But if I were to choose one, it would definitely be this Cuyana tote.  

Have you guys checked out Cuyana before?  I'm in love with their products and their site

I personally purchased all of these totes and were not paid in anyway to make this review (just trying to help fellow-tote lovers!)

{Feb 2019 update: Things have changed in the 2.5 years since I've written this review.  The leather on the Everlane petra tote stiffened up and became rubbery, which I really disliked so I sold it.  I also did not keep the Cuyana and Madewell totes because in the end I wanted to limit the number of totes in my closet.  I have a friend who used a Cuyana tote consistently for 1.5 years and the strap broke on her.  Also I had the Cuyana Leather Travel Bag for a brief time but also sold it because I found the leather quality on that to be not as great—it was very thick and pebbly.  So what totes am I currently using?  I love my Celine small cabas tote (reviewed here) and my Everlane Day Market Tote (reviewed here—which is very different and better made than the original line of heavy Petra totes IMO even though the leather is of a thinner quality. You can see how the Everlane Day Market Tote wears even after 100 uses here). I also love Cuyana’s Classic Structured Tote since it has an extra layer of microsuede on the inside to allow the bag to stand up on it’s own and make the bag overall less floppy. If I were to get a tote bag to replace my Celine one I would probably go for this one. However if you’re in the market for a lightweight, slightly floppy tote then Cuyana’s Classic Leather tote is the one for you.}

P.S. My friend has Cuyana’s small Carryall tote in stone and has been using it almost daily for at least 4 years. The long crossbody strap broke in year 2, but the bag itself is still going strong, which I think is a good testament to the quality of the leather Cuyana uses as well as it’s durability (well except for the strap). She replaced the strap but here she is modeling her very well used Cuyana tote for me: (also she’s tiny so the small bag looks huge on her fyi)

{January 2021 update: For those of you guys on a budget, Quince (also known as onequince) has some very similar totes for about half the price. Quince is an ethical company that contracts with the factories directly in small batches at the best possible prices (thus also preventing waste by not overproducing a certain item). My review of the Quince leather tote is here (where I also compare it to Cuyana’s leather). I would say Quince’s tall tote is like Cuyana’s structured tall tote and not the floppy one I reviewed here. Quince’s selection of totes can be found here. But if you’re looking for something like the Cuyana structure tote, unfortunately they don’t have anything like it anymore.}