My Purse Collection Ranked

As you guys all know by now, I’ve been so fortunate to have had quite a few purses in my life. Lately I haven’t been buying and selling as many bags as I have had in the past (thank goodness) so my collection has been pretty steady. And since a reader asked me how I would rank the purses currently in my collection, I thought why not? So here are the rankings of all 20 bags that I currently own from least favorite to favorite.

20) Longchamp backpack: I purchased it on impulse last year and have yet to use it >.< . I’m not a backpack person but I thought it might be useful with a toddler or when traveling. I’m keeping it around just in case but if I don’t use it this year I’m selling it.

19) Everlane Form Bag (reviewed here): I never use it because it’s just too large for my needs. I much prefer the mini form bag (see #7) on this list. This bag is also on the chopping block.

18) Longchamp medium tote: I use this for times when I don’t want to carry the larger Longchamp tote, but tbh those occasions are kind of rare. We’ll see how long I keep this one.

17) Lululemon Crossbody/fanny pack (similar here, but mine is smaller and in black): I bought this bag a long time ago and it used to be my music festival bag. It can be worn both as a crossbody bag and a fanny pack, it’s waterproof, and it has a ton of pockets for organizing. I still sometimes use it for hiking or other times when I don’t want to have to worry about a bag. I’ll probably keep this indefinitely since I plan on it being the last fanny pack I’ll ever buy.

16) Longchamp Weekender: I used this as my hospital bag and plan to use this as my “personal item” the next time I catch a flight. Also just got this at the end of last year.

#15 and #13

15) Everlane Foldover Crossbody (reviewed here): I love using this crossbody when traveling since it’s pretty discreet yet can hold a ton of stuff if you need it to. It also can double as a clutch when going out.

14) PB 0110 Circle bag: I just reviewed this bag here and as much as I love this bag, there are so many more bags that I love before it so sadly it gets pushed down to number 14. And as much as I love the quality construction of the bag, the circular shape is just a trend, I know. We’ll see how long this ends up sticking around.

13) Balenciaga Work Bag: I used to have a lot of Balenciaga bags like this (it’s actually the bag that got me addicted to high end purses and started my former PurseForum addiction). I’ve sold them all a long time ago, but recently purchased this bag used on the Fashionphile (because of nostalgia and the fact that they go for such good prices now). I don’t think they’ll ever come back in style (they’re sooo 2000s) but I’ll always love them!

12) Hermes Bolide (reviewed here): I love this discreet Hermes bag and to me it’s the definition of understated luxury. But since it’s currently so low on my list here and it’s so expensive, I’ve decided to return it to Fashionphile using their buyback program. It just didn’t make sense for me to keep something that I didn’t love love love, especially since we’re trying to do FIRE.

#10 and #7

11) Acne Studios Musubi bag (reviewed here): I just got this bag at the beginning of the year (from TheRealReal), but this bag has made my top ten list. I love the sturdy leather, the great useable design, and its unusual shape. The more I use it the more I fall in love with it. Plus it fits a lot more than my usual “just essentials” daily bag.

10) Chanel small crossbody flap : I purchased this bag in London at the end of our Europe trip last year. This is probably the most useable Chanel I’ve purchased and I wear it often when going out. It holds just the essentials and can be dressed up or dressed down. And unlike the regular flap bags, which have a strap length that at the longest makes for a short awkward crossbody, the chain on this one is long and it’s a very comfortable crossbody length. Plus there’s a strip of leather that makes carrying it crossbody comfortable (instead of having the chain dig into my shoulder and leaving marks).

9) Longchamp large tote: This bag has been my travel workhorse over the last decade. I’m planning on replacing it with the weekender (see #16) since this tote is starting to wear out (the nylon corners are usually the first to go and mine are starting to have tiny holes in them). But I plan on still using it until pencils can fall out of the corners (like my friend’s longchamp tote).

8) Everlane Mini Form bag: This is my current obsession and also the newest addition to my collection. I just reviewed the bag here and I mean it when I said it was one of the best crossbody bags I’ve ever purchased.

7) Fendi By The Way bag: I recently reviewed the bag here even though I’ve had this bag for over 3 years and it’s the second oldest bag in my collection (the oldest being #9 above). Even though it was never a popular style, it works really well for my lifestyle (durable leather, easy to organize inside and multiple ways to carry it).

6) Everlane Day Market Tote (reviewed here): My most used item in my closet period. This is my work tote and all around “haul-anything” tote. You can see how it’s worn after 100 days of wear (and it’s taken a beating).

5) Chanel Medium Flap (featured in the post comparing vintage Chanel caviar leather to new Caviar leather): This was a gift from my mom on my 30th birthday so it’s the one bag I would never sell. And now I plan on passing it on to my kid eventually (hope she likes Chanel!). I only use this bag for special nights (mostly weddings).

4) Celine Small Cabas Phantom (reviewed here): This is my fancy tote that I treasure and baby. I use it when I want to look a bit more polished but still have to carry around a lot of stuff. I think a good dupe for it though is the Cuyana structured leather tote (I reviewed their original classic unstructured tote here).

3) Celine Nano Belt Bag : I’ve always loved the design and shape of the Celine Belt bag (and have purchased the Mini, Micro and now the Nano size—I’m like a crazy Celine Belt bag Goldilocks). I unfortunately sold my Mini bag before I started seriously blogging but I reviewed the Micro Belt bag here and did a comparison post between the Micro and Nano here. Now I have just the Nano and it’s the perfect size for my essentials without weighing me down!

2) Celine Soft Cube (reviewed here): This is the second most used bag in my collection after the Everlane Market Tote and it’s because the Soft Cube is a super functional bag. I like the crossbody strap (that’s a good length on me) along with the two top handles (which is how I carry it most of the time). The leather is durable and the inside is spacious enough for my essentials and then some. The only thing it’s missing are some legs to keep the leather bottom from touching the floor (not that I put it on the floor).

1) Hermes Lindy (reviewed here): This was my holy grail bag for over a decade, and I finally purchased it about a year and a half ago. And it was everything I had dreamt it would be. It’s my second Hermes bag (my first being a vintage Kelly that I had in my collection awhile ago), but I love it as if it was my first. This bag is a lot more functional for me than the Kelly was since the Lindy is a more casual bag. I love that I can carry it two different ways and even though it’s a high-end bag the leather is durable and not fragile at all. It’s the best of all worlds: functional, luxurious, and discreet.

Whew, that was some bag blog post! This is for all my bag-loving readers out there! I never really realized how many bags I had until I started to write this post, but 20 feels like too much. I think I’ll be selling some of those on the lower half of the list. How many should I cut my collection down to?

P.S. I found this old post with my old purse collection here. Not gonna lie, I definitely miss some of those purses!

Hermes Bolide 27 Review

2018 was a crazy year for me: We moved from an Airstream to a larger trailer to a house to an apartment, we sold our business, we got pregnant, and then I went in and out of the hospital a couple times and had several pregnancy scares. So that might also explain my temporary insanity when I impulse-purchased this very expensive handbag. I walked into the Hermes store in Palo Alto (just to browse lol) and picked up a Bolide 27 bag in epsom (a black one and not this one I’m holding) and just fell in love with the lightness of the bag, the usability, but also the gorgeously smooth interior leather and the hardy epsom exterior leather. I also loved that it wasn’t flashy and you wouldn’t know it was an Hermes unless you knew bags. I might also have been influenced by Shoko over at simplytokyo who loves her non-flashy Hermes bags and styles her Bolide 27 so beautifully.

Well whatever the reason (and this was before my one lengthy hospital stay and before we had discovered FIRE in December), this bag is in my life now. To be completely honest I still have mixed feelings about it because even though I love it, it’s also uber expensive and I really don’t need to be adding money to my bag collection right now (I should actually be liquidating and putting that money into ETFs and mutual funds lol).

This bag is the definition of understated luxury and there are several other brands that make a bag like this, from Louis Vuittons BB Alma to Linjer’s Crossbody Purse for much less than Hermes’ Bolide retail price of $6300 (I know, ridiculous right?!). No, I didn’t purchase this brand new, instead I got a used one that’s 9 years old and at less than half the price over at Fashionphile (in Epsom leather and in the color Bleu de Prusse). But still, I wonder if it’s worth it considering the more frugal lifestyle that my husband and I are going for these days.

On one hand, it’s a great bag that can fit all the essentials (wallet, keys, sunglasses, coin purse, lip balms, a reusable bag—though with all of that it’s quite full and causes some puckering because the bag narrows at the top). And I love it everytime I use it. Also it’s an Hermes classic that will retain its value over the years and hold up beautifully (even at 9 years old, this bag looks just as great as the new one I saw in the store). But on the other hand, I could get the same look for much much less.

I think the true test will be how often will I carry this bag in my new life post-pregnancy with a baby. I have a feeling not much, and if that’s the case I’ll probably sell it back to Fashionphile using their buyback program (TBH I’m getting more wary of ebay buyer scammers these days, especially when I’m trying to be frugal I can’t be out thousands of dollars). But until then (the buyback offer at 70% of the cost ends after 6 months), I’m going to use this bag a ton and keep trying to decide if I want to keep it. If you’re interested in this classic bag, I highly recommend purchasing it used from a reputable source instead of new. You can find a selection of Bolides at Fashionphile or TheRealReal.

So what do you think: keep or not?

{August 2022 Update: So I did sell this bag and I 100% regret it. Lol, I still miss it from time to time and tbh i was probably the best deal I would have gotten on the bolide. True, it didn’t fit everything but man, it was a beautiful bag.}

Acne Studios Musubi Mini Bag Review {Updated January 2024}

So as I mentioned before, this Acne Studios Musubi Mini bag was my one purchase for the month back in February and I purchased it secondhand (and for 20% off) at TheRealReal. I’ve been eyeing this bag for over 6 months and I still loved the look, so I decided to go for it. And I have to say, I have zero regrets!

via

via

I first was influenced to wanting this bag via Eva Chen’s Instagram (darn you Instagram) but when I polled y’all on stories only half of you guys liked it (which also truthfully sways my opinion). I myself was intrigued but wasn’t sure if it was cute or just too much. And I’m so glad I did hold off on impulsively purchasing right then and there because it gave me time to ruminate on it and now I know I really do love it. Also, during those 6 months, I got my favorite Celine soft cube bag (which I still really love but am currently letting it “rest” so I don’t wear it out too soon) and realized I love leather bags that look soft and pillowy. So I was pretty sure when I bought this in February that I would love it.

If I had a choice, I might have gone with the tan colored one, but since the black one was what’s available on TheRealReal, black it is! As for the quality of the calf leather of the Acne Studios bag, it’s really gorgeous. Comparing it to the calf leather of my Celine soft cube bag, I would say the grain of the Celine bag is slightly finer but not by much (but the Celine bag also retails for $700 more). And while the Celine bag is lined with calf leather, the Acne bag is lined with lambskin making the inside buttery soft but also helps keep the bag light (lambskin is lighter than calfskin).

Since I’ve been using this bag during the rainy California winters, I first protected it with some Chamberlains Leather Milk No. 3 (reviewed here). It gave the leather a slight sheen, due to the slightly waxy formula that’s meant to repel water, but the bag has held up in downpours with no issues so far. Also the durable calfskin has held up great with zero scratches or nicks.

The interior of the bag is divided into 2 sections with a zippered pocket divider. It’s perfect for keeping my things organized with my wallet and phone in one section, my keys in the zippered pocket, and everything else in the other section. The bag closes easily with snap buttons at the top, but I’m also not too worried about the security of the bag when wearing it over my shoulder or crossbody because the thick top handle tends to hide or cover the opening of the bag.

Currently all my bags have pretty thin crossbody or shoulder straps so I love the thickness of the Acne Studios strap and top handle. It makes carrying the bag super comfortable. Also the long crossbody strap is adjustable via some pegs on the sides of the bag that’s hidden by the mini knots.

via

Having never tried Acne Studios clothing before, I wasn’t sure what to expect about the quality of these bags. But I have to say I’m quite impressed (and this is coming from a long time bag lover). These made in Italy leather bags are really beautiful and durable. Also the design is different enough so even though it’s a pretty minimal black bag, it’s not plain or boring.

Also the word musubi refers to my favorite rice ball snack (and in Hawaii, my favorite spam rice snack) which maybe makes me love the bag even more. But the word also works for the tying of the Obi sash on Japanese kimonos, which is what Acne Studios was referring to. Either way, I love this snack of a bag and can’t wait to get over 100 good wears with it!

{2022 Update: So I sold this bag to a good blogger friend Andrea last year and she reviewed it on her YouTube channel here. Here are my last pictures of it before I sold it:}

{January 2024 Update: Even though I no longer have this bag (and neither does Andrea, I helped her sell it to know of my readers here) I thought this review of the Musubi bag from a leather crafter was interesting.}

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.}

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!