All about APC (or A.P.C. )!

[foxgal]

I see there are few threads about APC (Atelier de Production et de Creation) founded in Paris in 1987, and they are dispersed in various forums and hard-to-find depending on if the periods are used or not. Mods, please feel free to collapse this into an existing thread if appropriate!

Anyhow, this brand deserves its own thread! The Demi-Lune (half moon) and Grace bags are contemporary classics imho and I’ve been eyeing them for a long time. Finally pulled the trigger on a mini Geneve and am thrilled!

My collection was lacking a small neutral day-to-evening option and the Geneve in noisette (hazelnut) fits the bill perfectly - a touch more polished than the Demi-Lune and a bit more casual than the Grace. I can carry this crossbody with athleisure for a quick trip to the grocery store or dress it up on the shoulder for a night out.

First impressions: the leather is sturdy, actually quite stiff. Many have said that APC’s smooth leather is like box and is prone to scratches. I suspect it’s been coated because running my nails over it doesn’t do a thing…I think more pressure would be needed to create an actual scratch. The card that came with the bag says the leather will develop a patina and should be treated regularly so I will buff it with conditioner.

The color is gorgeous - a rich brown that skews reddish depending on the light. The stitching and edge coating is impeccable, but I will have to be careful when pulling the strap through the clamps on the top handle, and also when setting the bag down as it sits right on the edges at the bottom. It doesn’t carry a lot but just for going out with my phone, card case and lipstick, it’ll be perfect!

For reference, I’m 5’6”. Please share your APC bags here!

 

[l.ch.]

Wow, you look so great! And the bag looks in your pictures so beautiful, much better than in the stock photos. Thank you so much for this review!
I think I will join you in this thread at some point!

 

[mel823]

I think I'm going to order the regular sized Grace Bag in Hazelnut. I've been looking for a bag that had a similar brown color to the Gucci Horsebit shoulder bag and this is the only brown I'm loving. SSense is having a sale right now, and they have APC 40% off. I can also get an extra $20 off with my Klarna Rewards. The only concern I have is the weight and the depth. 2.5"D is a on the smaller side and also I seen reviews saying the bag is really structured so I don't know how much items I can really fit. And I think I saw one YouTube review where they said the bag was 1.7lbs, which isn't too bad.

 

[foxgal]

I think I'm going to order the regular sized Grace Bag in Hazelnut. I've been looking for a bag that had a similar brown color to the Gucci Horsebit shoulder bag and this is the only brown I'm loving. SSense is having a sale right now, and they have APC 40% off. I can also get an extra $20 off with my Klarna Rewards. The only concern I have is the weight and the depth. 2.5"D is a on the smaller side and also I seen reviews saying the bag is really structured so I don't know how much items I can really fit. And I think I saw one YouTube review where they said the bag was 1.7lbs, which isn't too bad.

I got mine from Ssense too! Their sales are amazing! Mine is also hazelnut (noisette in French).

The Grace is absolutely gorgeous but I hear your concern about the depth. It’s got that triple compartment design like the Celine classic (pic below), which I’ve learned from experience just does not work for me. Basically the only things you can put in the front and back slip compartments are a few slips of paper. Maybe great if you carry loose bills, metro tickets, etc. But anything of any depth like a phone or even a slim wallet causes these compartments to stretch out…it looks awkward and makes the bag hard to close. Granted I’ve never used the Grace in particular but that’s my experience with the style.

So basically only the wide middle compartment is usable. Plus the APC leather is very stiff so not much give. As long as you’re not carrying anything that is thicker than 2” wide, it will be fine. And given the great price and how classic the style is, it’s great value and worth it to play a bit of tetris to fit things in. I’m loving my APC - so versatile style-wise, looks very luxe and under-the-radar. Show us if you get it!

 

[michele28ice]

A few years ago, I bought the regular Geneve bag pre-loved for $175 on a whim. I wanted to find a bag with a similar strap style to the Hermes Constance to "try out". I wasn't sure if I would like the strap style, but it turned out to be one of my best purchases ever. It's my favorite, most well-traveled, most used bag. It fits a ton (including a standard water bottle), isn't heavy (only 18.6 oz), and looks great in photos. I've even carried it to a wedding over the shoulder in a pinch. It can also fit a standard Poland Spring water bottle. I'm also very petite so I needed a bag that fits a ton for travel but doesn't overwhelm my frame.

My ONLY qualm is that it can be difficult to close with one hand. It's possible, but it takes some practice. The magnet is strong enough so you still need a little force to open it, but not strong enough to snap shut automatically without matching it up (if that makes sense).

I basically only use three bags now--this Geneve, my small Loewe puzzle, and lululemon belt bag. Love them all!

edit: your noisette color is gorgeous and I might need another one now

 

[hanvanlan]

I think I'm going to order the regular sized Grace Bag in Hazelnut. I've been looking for a bag that had a similar brown color to the Gucci Horsebit shoulder bag and this is the only brown I'm loving. SSense is having a sale right now, and they have APC 40% off. I can also get an extra $20 off with my Klarna Rewards. The only concern I have is the weight and the depth. 2.5"D is a on the smaller side and also I seen reviews saying the bag is really structured so I don't know how much items I can really fit. And I think I saw one YouTube review where they said the bag was 1.7lbs, which isn't too bad.

I think I'm going to order the regular sized Grace Bag in Hazelnut. I've been looking for a bag that had a similar brown color to the Gucci Horsebit shoulder bag and this is the only brown I'm loving. SSense is having a sale right now, and they have APC 40% off. I can also get an extra $20 off with my Klarna Rewards. The only concern I have is the weight and the depth. 2.5"D is a on the smaller side and also I seen reviews saying the bag is really structured so I don't know how much items I can really fit. And I think I saw one YouTube review where they said the bag was 1.7lbs, which isn't too bad.

Hello! Did you end up getting this? It’s the one I’m thinking of getting as well but I have the exact same concerns of weight.

 

[mel823]

Yes, I did get it, and I ended up returning it. It did have a bit of weight on it once loaded up, but for me it was the depth that was the bigger issue. Even with my essentials (the last photo showed my essentials), it was still a tight squeeze. I feel like if they had made it a true accordion bag or if they had increased the depth to 3 inches, it would have been perfect.

 

[hanvanlan]

Yes, I did get it, and I ended up returning it. It did have a bit of weight on it once loaded up, but for me it was the depth that was the bigger issue. Even with my essentials (the last photo showed my essentials), it was still a tight squeeze. I feel like if they had made it a true accordion bag or if they had increased the depth to 3 inches, it would have been perfect.

View attachment 5881534View attachment 5881536View attachment 5881537

Thank you for the response! The photos are so helpful. It’s a shame because it really is a beautiful bag.

 

[3guys2]

I’m really loving the APC Grace bag. For me size is key. The Mini is useless. I bought the large size in black 25x20 cm and it fits everything I need. I think it looks classy and I love that it’s not really a known name brand. I have many designer bags (Gucci, dior, chanel, ferragamo) but really prefer to have a brand that shows style over money. So if it’s designer and you can’t tell that works too!
I now am pondering whether to get the hazelnut brown color. The price has gone up so much though…760€ on APC although I’ve found it for less on matches. Not many retailers carry the large version! All mini or small. Anyways, two thumbs up for this bag

 

[pocketvenus]

I bought the demi-lune clutch in python for a steal at SSENSE and I quite like it. It has a crossbody strap and I think it's a bit too big for a clutch so I only ever use it with the strap. It's shallow but wide and tall, roughly 8.25" x 6". The size means it's definitely not for long days out. I like it for quick outings as it's light and looks cute. My only gripe is that the shape makes it annoying to open and close the bag. You need to use both hands to pull the two zippers in the opposite direction.

 

[cparroyo777]

How do you find the magnetic snap button? I find mine easily gets undone and hard to snap it on again ☹️

 

[foxgal]

How do you find the magnetic snap button? I find mine easily gets undone and hard to snap it on again ☹️View attachment 5917772View attachment 5917773

Wow, that’s a gorgeous color! I haven’t seen APC in pebbled leather!

Too bad about the magnetic snap, though. I find mine is very secure…it’s never popped open while carrying the bag. Sometimes it is a bit fiddly to close, to line up the magnet properly. But I usually can do it fairly easily with one hand…once it’s close enough, the magnets pull together and just click into place.

Maybe your magnets are defective?

 

[icecubist]

Hey there! Just a PSA that there are terrific sales on their site now. After realizing my small Grace was my most used bag of 2023, I popped on to get the gorgeous black Betty with gold trim that I’d been eyeing (on a massive discount on their site). There was a slight issue when I got it but customer service was top notch and I’m really delighted with the new bag. Hope you all find something you love as much!

 

[yenniemc]

I saw a scratch on the back of my APC Grace bag. I tried to buff it out with Cadillac leather cleaner and conditioner. No luck but at least it’s on the back. Anyone else get scratches on their bag and would you mind sharing tips on how did you get it to disappear?

 

[chillychews]

I recently ordered the APC Geneve bag in noisette/hazelnut/brown and my first impression is that the big is super stiff! I'm having trouble just opening the bag! It's a beautiful smooth leather but I will definitely leave a major crease on the back of the bag at the rate I'm pulling the top back.

I opted for the regular size over the mini because I had read reviews that the mini is too small to accommodate carrying your daily items. It is comfortably sized to fit all my daily items (i.e. phone, wallet, tissues, hand cream, etc.) but as I'm quite petite (5'2"/158cm), the bag feels a little overwhelming for my frame.

I think it's a good casual bag and would be easy to match with most outfits. I had been looking for a brown bag at this price point for some time now so I thought it would be a perfect fit but after actually touching the bag and modeling with it, I may have to reconsider. I do have the option to return it so I'll report back on my final decision haha.