For most of my life I have been a one handbag kind of woman. I typically carried a black crossbody with enough space for a book and my minimalist accessories. I’d wear it everyday till it fell apart or someone told me it looked so bad I had to replace it, always with another basic black bag. In late 2019 I was in search of my next bag and made the decision to start investing in my wardrobe in a way I hadn’t in the past. And thus began a fashion obsession that is getting stronger every day.
In about 18 months I have gone from one handbag to five. Not a big collection, but definitely a change for me. It’s been fun and I’m excited to walk you through what I’ve purchased and give you the pros and cons of each bag.
The Everyday Black Bag
Brand: STUAD
Bag Name: Mini Shirley
Purchased: December, 2019
Price: $250
Obviously I was going to start with a classic black bag. It’s the workhorse in almost every woman’s closet and goes with everything, always. I didn’t want to get something boring though, so I did a lot of looking around and found STAUD. This is a relatively young brand (2015) out of LA, To be honest, most of their stuff is not really my style, but they do have the occasionally piece that really catches my attention and this bag did it
Pros
- The leather is high quality. This smooth leather has held up well to near daily use and abuse.
- It’s a squarish, bucketish style bag that perfectly walks the line of timeless style and of-the-moment edge. The handles and contrast stitching gave it the visual interest I was looking for.
- The simple shape and color make this an extremely versatile bag. I wear it with jeans and a white t-shirt for running errands, or boots and a dress for dinners out. It’s just really easy to style.
- I think cost per wear and relative to the quality, the price is really good.
Cons
- Because this bag is a bucket style bag, the top is wide open. They do include a zippered pouch that fits snugly inside, but it’s not the best in terms of security or protecting against rain.
- The bag doesn’t hold a lot. I don’t carry much but I can’t fit a book or iPad in here and even what I do carry maxes out capacity quickly.
Would I repurchase this bag?
It’s a hard question to answer. I really do like this bag and have no regrets about buying it, but I do think I could find something that better suits my needs. I’d probably go for something else if I lost this one.
The Fail
Brand: Frye
Bag Name: Ilana, Small
Purchased: April, 2020
Price: Retails at $245, but I paid $150
I wanted a white bag to coordinate with the Tod’s loafers I’d purchased and was loving Loewe’s hammock bag. I don’t make that kind of money yet, so I was trying to find something in my price range that mimicked the Loewe look. My google searching turned up a Frye bag that fit the bill. I got it off eBay for about half the price it typically retailed at and was happy to be buying from a brand I know and like. Sadly it turned out to be an ecru color instead of the white I had hoped for and was non-refundable.
Pros
- The quality of the leather and construction of this bag is good, which I expect from Frye.
- It does have a similar style to the Loewe bag I love.
Cons
- The biggest con for me is that it was not a true white. It’s also picked up a lot of dye transfer from my jeans and is now pretty stained. I have not used it all that much so this is annoying, but I should have sprayed it to begin with.
- The bag is a little too small for my more active days and too casual for evenings when I need less space. Small is in the name so this is my fault.
Would I repurchase this bag?
I don’t actually dislike this bag, and looking at the pictures below I think it works just fine with my Tod’s, it’s a cute style , but I would not repurchase it. It never was what I wanted and I don’t think it meets my needs in general.
The Parisian Obsession
While researching bags I came across Polene, a Parisian brand with a cult following. I immediately fell in love with their most popular bag, Numero Un, and ordered it in a beautiful two-tone camel color. I’m on the fence about many of Polene’s styles but I like their belt bag and am DESPERATE to get the Numero Deux if they ever reissue it.
Pros
- The quality of the materials is excellent and very good for the price.
- The design is totally unique and beautiful. Architectural and femmanine, LOVE it!
- It’s a great year-round color which makes it a great addition to a starter bag collection.
Cons
- The shape, while amazing, is a bit tricky to deal with. Sometimes you have to tetris your stuff in and that can make practical use of the bag a bit much for some people.
- The closure is also a little tricky, but not bad once you get used to it. Still, not the best.
- The chain strap can really dig into your shoulder if you put a lot in the bag. I wish they had a leather strap option and may try to find a DIY solution this summer.
Would I repurchase this bag?
100%, YES!!! The bag has issues and I don’t wear it as often as I would like, but I LOVE the design and color and quality of the leather so much that I would happily repurchase this. I’ve even considered buying it in other sizes and colors.
An Impractical Purchase
Brand: Mlouye
Bag Name: Mini Naomi Belt Bag
Purchased: November, 2020
Price: $285
Instagram is good with the ADs and started to serve me a lot of posts from a brand called Mlouye. The images showed this really cute mini bag that could be worn a bunch of ways. I’ve really warmed up to belt bags or ones that can be worn across the chest and this one really appealed to my love for interesting shapes. I did what research I could, there isn’t much out there, and decided to give it a try.
Pros
- The design of the bag is what sold me. I’m a sucker for a structured, architectural design. This one has a nod to the Loewe puzzle bag, which I love.
- The quality of the construction is pretty good. The only thing I will note is that the loops on the belt straps can come off.
- This bag can be worn in a variety of ways and I give it big points for that. I tend to wear it across my chest or over the shoulder but I love having so many ways to style it.
Cons
- This bag fits almost nothing! This is mostly due to the shape of the bag and totally something you have to accept if you want to prioritize form over function. It works for me because I can get away with very little, but it’s pretty impractical.
- The opening is super narrow, again, because of the design. I don’t mind not fitting in a lot, but trying to access even the few things I store in there is a process.
Would I repurchase this bag?
Well, I can’t because they don’t make this style anymore, but they do make the larger version and I would buy that one. I doubt it fits all that much more in a larger size, but I love the design enough to tolerate the limited capacity. It’s one of the nice things about building up a little bit of a bag collection, you can add the occasional “just for looks” item in it. Mlouye has a handful of impractical but adorable bags and will be on my go-to list for more whimsical styles.
The Reigning Favorite
Brand: Pinko
Bag Name: Quilted Love Shoulder Bag
Purchased: February, 2020
Price: Retails for $395, but I paid $297
One of the trends I really tried to work into my style this winter was neutral colors. I picked up a beige/cream coat, a warm oatmeal turtleneck, and a beige shoulder bag from Pinko. This bag is probably the most classic one I own in terms of its shape and color, but the Pinko love birds give it a nice point of interest and I needed a more practical option since I’d been gravitating toward smaller and odd shaped bags.
Pros
- The size of this bag fits most of what I need when running errands. I clearly prefer smaller bags but I think I’m going to have to start sizing up if I want to carry a book or iPad.
- The overall design and quality is very good for the price. I love the quality detail and think the love birds are a nice visual point of interest (maybe a bit costume looking).
- The color of this bag also makes it an excellent year-round option and I think it will look great with my summer wardrobe.
- The Bag has a nice structure to it and will hold it’s shape even if you load it up with stuff.
Cons
- The strap is a little short for me to wear cross body. I still do it but the bag sits higher than I would like
- I personally don’t like that the interior is divided by a middle zipper section. I prefer an open storage area in my bags. It’s not really a flaw, just a personal preference.
Would I repurchase this bag?
Yes!! I really have been looking at more Pinko bags and clothing and I’m really liking their stuff. Some of it feels a bit “childish” to me, but they have several really cool designs and the price point means you can venture out from the classics to bring something fun and colorful into your closet. I could easily pick 10 bags I would be happy to buy if I had the money.
What I’m looking at next
With the pandemic coming to a close, fingers crossed, and coffee shops, offices, and bars opening back up I know I’ll need a bag that can fit more in it. I prefer to read on my iPad instead of a paper book and none of my current bags can fit it. I have a work tote that has seen better days and I should probably replace that next. I’ve had my eye on a Stella McCartney tote but I don’t think I can justify spending that much on a bag, especially because I have to fit out my new condo and I hope to apply to grad school this year.
Most likely I’ll try to find a cute tote from Target for the summer. I’m happy with my little collection for the time being and think I should put my money and energy into other aspects of my closet.
What’s been your go-to bag lately and what are you looking to pick up next? Any brands you think I should look into for a good tote bag?
Thanks for reading!
Rainy Day Rags 