Please help me decide which Loewe tote to buy

[pomni25]

Hello, I have an appointment in Loewe store this weekend and I would like to buy large tote, I have 3 favourite which I previously tried on , I really need help deciding . Can you please share your opinions and experience in wear and tear and comfort of wearing it, versatility of use.

Loewe Puzzle tote Large : pros -It is super soft and comfortable , and it fits a lot, also very lightweight, cons: can only be worn as a tote so not versatile and comes in shiny leather only which is prone to scratching

Loewe Flamenco Large : pros - it’s gorgeous, its lightweight its comfortable, super versitile can be work top handle and cross body with additional strap, the nappa leather is quite sturdy and resistant (I have the Flamenco mini and use it every day so I know this by experience) cons: it is not as big as the XL

Loewe Flamenco XL: pros - it is huge and stunning, it fits everything and I like it the most but cons: it is too bulky, it is too heavy, it can only be worn one way just like the Puzzle tote so no versitility

Please help me decide ….


Thank you all

 

[despair]

I would totally recommend the large flamenco - it is entirely usable as a workhorse bag, very resilient leather and can hold a laptop. But I do not believe the large flamenco can really be used as a crossbody as there are no anchors for a crossbody strap at all, only the shoulder straps. I have the large puzzle tote and the "problem" for most people would be that it's a deep bag - more north-south than east-west, which means unless you're quite tall, it has a good chance to keep touching the floor if you're not slinging it on your shoulder.

The XL flamenco is a really large bag so it does work for me (since I am a guy and 5' 11" thereabouts or 180cm) but it can get rather heavy and unwieldy if you load it up.

Just a caveat that all three bags you mentioned are purely totes and really cannot be crossbody-ed. So if you're looking for a bag that has a crossbody option then none of the three would work for you.

Hope that helps!

 

[BareniaKelly]

I will contribute my very biased 2 cents. Loewe Puzzle Tote Large. That has my vote. Largely for stylistic reasons. Which can be personal. I have one and I love it. The leather is lovely and shiny. Wearing leather of any kind can be hard on the heart. But it is my personal opinion that any leather that has to be babied is not worth the money we are spending to get it. Good luck with your decision!

 

[pomni25]

I would totally recommend the large flamenco - it is entirely usable as a workhorse bag, very resilient leather and can hold a laptop. But I do not believe the large flamenco can really be used as a crossbody as there are no anchors for a crossbody strap at all, only the shoulder straps. I have the large puzzle tote and the "problem" for most people would be that it's a deep bag - more north-south than east-west, which means unless you're quite tall, it has a good chance to keep touching the floor if you're not slinging it on your shoulder.

The XL flamenco is a really large bag so it does work for me (since I am a guy and 5' 11" thereabouts or 180cm) but it can get rather heavy and unwieldy if you load it up.

Just a caveat that all three bags you mentioned are purely totes and really cannot be crossbody-ed. So if you're looking for a bag that has a crossbody option then none of the three would work for you.

Hope that helps!

Hi despair,

I really appreciate your detailed answer it really helps. I am quite tall and ehm, well built, so the Flamenco large looks like a sort of medium bag on me rather than large. I have tried it in the shop as cross body they added the cross body strap on each side to the cord that ties the bag and it worked really well actually. So even if it has no specific metal loop a cross body strap can be added just in case you want to try it.

I appreciate you mentioning the Flamenco XL, even empty it felt bulky and I can totally imagine how heavy it must get after being carried for a while, thank you.

have a nice day

 

[pomni25]

I will contribute my very biased 2 cents. Loewe Puzzle Tote Large. That has my vote. Largely for stylistic reasons. Which can be personal. I have one and I love it. The leather is lovely and shiny. Wearing leather of any kind can be hard on the heart. But it is my personal opinion that any leather that has to be babied is not worth the money we are spending to get it. Good luck with your decision!

Thank you , so you are saying that the shinny leather that the Puzzle tote comes in is hard wearing , right ? Can you explain a bit more about how you style it , since it can be only worn as over the shoulder or by hand or do you have a hack for other ways to wear it and style it ? Thank you

 

[BareniaKelly]

Thank you , so you are saying that the shinny leather that the Puzzle tote comes in is hard wearing , right ? Can you explain a bit more about how you style it , since it can be only worn as over the shoulder or by hand or do you have a hack for other ways to wear it and style it ? Thank you

Hello.

Not necessarily. The bag is new to me, since the L size only came out this year 2024 I think. So I do not know if it is hard wearing for people who prefer their leather pristine. It will be hard wearing for me, because I believe in Loewe's leather, and my personal style demands leathers which only look more interesting with more wear.

To me part of the beauty and fun of wearing leather is having those marks, which each mark telling a story and triggering a memory.

Good leather eventually patina and will somehow blend the signs of wear together creating an interesting hue. They make the leather more multidimensional and visually dynamic.

It is also my believe that we should not baby any leather. The more money we spent the more freedom we should feel carrying and using the bag. This is what I think. Not everyone agrees.

I hope that clarifies.

As for how I style it, I really don't. I am in jeans, sandals, and white cotton shirts most days. I carry it "wings in" and "wings out". But mostly "wings in". If that makes sense. That is having its sides tucked in. I have a photo of me carrying it this way in one of the Puzzle Tote threads.

It is a very large and a very floppy tote. I think more so than the Flamenco bags. Again, I am not familiar with the Flamenco bags.

I never fully stuff the large puzzle tote not only because that makes the bag impractically heavy but that also makes the bag less attractive somehow.

Due to the lack of structure and the deliberately super slouchy look, I found that it is best suited with casual attire.

Sorry for the long post. I have no idea if I answered your question.

 

[pomni25]

@BareniaKelly Many thanks for your reply. Now I understand what you meant.

You also have a great point about the ‘wings’ in and out , it does make the back look cool when you tuck the sides in.

thanks and have great day

 

[despair]

Hi despair,

I really appreciate your detailed answer it really helps. I am quite tall and ehm, well built, so the Flamenco large looks like a sort of medium bag on me rather than large. I have tried it in the shop as cross body they added the cross body strap on each side to the cord that ties the bag and it worked really well actually. So even if it has no specific metal loop a cross body strap can be added just in case you want to try it.

I appreciate you mentioning the Flamenco XL, even empty it felt bulky and I can totally imagine how heavy it must get after being carried for a while, thank you.

have a nice day

The caveat with this way of crossbody strap anchoring is that the cord is not really designed to hold the bag’s weight - the knots are made of a leather wrapped plastic tube so it won’t be as hard wearing as actual strap anchors. Also, I don’t know if your SA let you load in the bag with the crossbody strap - it will work well when the bag is empty, but when the bag is heavy the loops will be pulled significantly taut which looks weird to me (IMO) but of course YMMV.

 

[Mirisaa]

Hello, I have an appointment in Loewe store this weekend and I would like to buy large tote, I have 3 favourite which I previously tried on , I really need help deciding . Can you please share your opinions and experience in wear and tear and comfort of wearing it, versatility of use.

Loewe Puzzle tote Large : pros -It is super soft and comfortable , and it fits a lot, also very lightweight, cons: can only be worn as a tote so not versatile and comes in shiny leather only which is prone to scratching

Loewe Flamenco Large : pros - it’s gorgeous, its lightweight its comfortable, super versitile can be work top handle and cross body with additional strap, the nappa leather is quite sturdy and resistant (I have the Flamenco mini and use it every day so I know this by experience) cons: it is not as big as the XL

Loewe Flamenco XL: pros - it is huge and stunning, it fits everything and I like it the most but cons: it is too bulky, it is too heavy, it can only be worn one way just like the Puzzle tote so no versitility

Please help me decide ….


Thank you all

Hi!
I had exactly the same debate at the end of January and I decided to go with the Flamenco in size L.
I wanted a bag suitable for travel but also for days that I need to carry more with me. As much as I liked the tote in size L it felt like a giant pit, the proportions of the Flamenco felt better and it was easier to access. I loved the tote in size M better then the L but it was not what I came for so I might get it in later times.
The leather on the flamenco also felt nicer and softer and the tassels could change the shape of the bag completely. Also, for its size it is a very light bag. In General I would say the flamenco feels more versatile and luxurious while the tote is a very casual and easy grab and go.

 

[pomni25]

Hi!
I had exactly the same debate at the end of January and I decided to go with the Flamenco in size L.
I wanted a bag suitable for travel but also for days that I need to carry more with me. As much as I liked the tote in size L it felt like a giant pit, the proportions of the Flamenco felt better and it was easier to access. I loved the tote in size M better then the L but it was not what I came for so I might get it in later times.
The leather on the flamenco also felt nicer and softer and the tassels could change the shape of the bag completely. Also, for its size it is a very light bag. In General I would say the flamenco feels more versatile and luxurious while the tote is a very casual and easy grab and go.

Thank you this is really helpful may I ask if you have any experience with warm desert colours of the Flamenco. I am asking because I wanted black one but now I see that the S24 they have the XL size for the price of the Large size so I am tempted but afraid of the lighter colour .

 

[Mirisaa]

Thank you this is really helpful may I ask if you have any experience with warm desert colours of the Flamenco. I am asking because I wanted black one but now I see that the S24 they have the XL size for the price of the Large size so I am tempted but afraid of the lighter colour .

You are welcome! I have it in black, warm desert is not a color that could work for me.

 

[BareniaKelly]

Hi!
I had exactly the same debate at the end of January and I decided to go with the Flamenco in size L.
I wanted a bag suitable for travel but also for days that I need to carry more with me. As much as I liked the tote in size L it felt like a giant pit, the proportions of the Flamenco felt better and it was easier to access. I loved the tote in size M better then the L but it was not what I came for so I might get it in later times.
The leather on the flamenco also felt nicer and softer and the tassels could change the shape of the bag completely. Also, for its size it is a very light bag. In General I would say the flamenco feels more versatile and luxurious while the tote is a very casual and easy grab and go.

I wish the M puzzle tote came in E/W (side to side wide) instead of all N/S (tall). It is no accident I am sure that the XL and L puzzle totes are parts of their men's collection. But why the EW for larger ones for men and NS for the smaller ones for women. I just don't understand what these guys are doing sometimes.

 

[Mirisaa]

I wish the M puzzle tote came in E/W (side to side wide) instead of all N/S (tall). It is no accident I am sure that the XL and L puzzle totes are parts of their men's collection. But why the EW for larger ones for men and NS for the smaller ones for women. I just don't understand what these guys are doing sometimes.

Maybe they will release an E/W version later on. I really liked the XL shape but it was so giant that I returned it, I hope they will come with a smaller version.

 

[BareniaKelly]

Maybe they will release an E/W version later on. I really liked the XL shape but it was so giant that I returned it, I hope they will come with a smaller version.

Let's hope so. I fell hard for the XL but it was ridiculously big on me. The bag was wearing me! So when I saw they finally issued the L I grabbed it.

 

[pomni25]

I decided on the XL size , I have tried it cross body and top handle as well as the obvious design and I think it’s perfect for me. Only problem is that the store doesn’t have it and the website is also out 🤦🏻‍♀️

Why do they not have a bigger stock of black colour?

I was told it will be back in 6 weeks.