This bag is STUNNING
. And it holds a ton!!! Thanks for the modeling shot for perspective.
Polène handbags
- Thread starter iluvbagsnshoes
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
. And it holds a ton!!! Thanks for the modeling shot for perspective.
thanks for the detailed review/ info! This is great!I was in Paris last month and managed to squeeze in a visit to the Polene store, so thought I'd share some pics!
The storefront is located along a little cobbled street -- it's an interesting and quiet location, though I'm not sure how much foot traffic they receive there! I was there in the early evening on a weekday, though, not long before they closed, so perhaps the little street has a bit more foot traffic earlier in the day or during weekends...
View attachment 4102005
I was pretty impressed by the quality of the bags that I saw -- the grained leathers on the Numero Un do feel quite nice to the touch, fairly buttery, though I think because the bags are so structured (likely with some additional backing to the leather?), the leather therefore doesn't feel as buttery-soft as some leathers on higher-end luxury brand bags.
What did surprise me slightly about seeing the bags in person, though, was that they were smaller than I thought they'd be, judging from the pictures on Polene's website or instagram! I was using an MZ Wallace Paige crossbody when I visited, which is one of their smaller sized bags (about 12" across, though in the pics below, I did have mine stuffed with things, including a foldable umbrella and a Kleen Kanteen 16oz water bottle). To my surprise, the Numero Un is pretty much exactly the same length across, when I thought that it might be at least a clear inch wider. It should still work for most people as a handbag that can fit daily essentials, though -- I'm just a bit too much of a pack rat with my handbag on a daily basis
View attachment 4102009View attachment 4102007
The other bag I had my eye on was the Numero Deux, but again, it wound up being smaller in person than I had thought. With the two-compartment construction, it probably also wouldn't fit my things even after I scale down what I carry (I use a full length continental wallet on a daily basis, and don't usually change out of it even for weekends), but it probably would work better if you use smaller wallets/SLGs than me. Again, it's a gorgeous design, though, and I like that the shoulder strap converts pretty easily between double-strapped as a shoulder bag, and single-strapped which works as a crossbody on me.
View attachment 4102006
I didn't end up getting any bags from the store, unfortunately, though I did pick up one of their SLGs (the larger sized pouch) in a "Trio" combination of smooth burgundy leather, burgundy velvet leather, and a rose gold metallic leather, which I haven't seen on their website before! I don't have a pic of this one handy, unfortunately, but can try to snap a pic when I have good daylight... Of the two pouch sizes they have, the larger one definitely seems more practical, as the smaller one looks like it could barely fit business or credit cards in there (mainly because the zipper opening is slightly shorter than the length of the SLG itself)...
Overall, I was pretty impressed by the quality of what I saw -- I wasn't convinced that the current styles/sizes would fit into my own lifestyle and bag needs at this point, but if there was a gap in my bag collection that one of these styles could fill, I would definitely go for it. Hope this helps anyone considering one of their bags!
Thank you so much for the very detailed review and information! I like this bag more and more.Hi Ladies!
Ipsom asked me to post these here too
Polene pics!
She is new to me, and well taken care of by the previous owner. Leather is on the heavy side, thick and chewy. It maintains its shape whether the front is snapped or not. I have not had any trouble snapping it either. There is a small pocket on the back, would be good for flat things like tickets, tissues, etc.
Snapped and unsnapped - it is definitely easier to get into with the snaps undone. When snapped I have to pull it open a little further - not really an issue but an FYI. It’s lined in a dark green cotton fabric, has a zipper pocket and 2 open pockets in front of it - one of those open pockets is large enough for my iPhone 8. It is on the larger side of medium for me - I have plenty of room for a full size wallet, checkbook, small cosmetic bag, sunglasses, Epi-pen and keys. I could get much more in it.
It’s a good size for me - doesn’t look too big or too small. I have the strap on the shortest length in this picture (I am 6’ tall) so... that’s a longish strap. But when I adjust the strap to it’s longest length - it’s not long enough for me to work as a crossbody.
I’m going to carry it today to Conner Prairie with my GD and I’ll let you know how it goes.
️
I carried it through the park and it was never too heavy or awkward - I was able to sling it behind my back when I had to bend down to tie shoes (double knots are the way to go), I didn't ever feel like it was in the way or bumping into people around me. The Sweet Pea was given 'Walking Onion' bulbs and a giant sprig of spearmint to take home, and I had no qualms about putting them in the purse - I don't feel like it's a 'Precious Petunia' sort of purse.
I did have a bit of trouble getting my wallet out, so I think depending on the situation, I would unsnap those front snaps to allow for easier access. The purse still keeps its distinctive shape even with those undone.
Earlier I said that the leather is thick and chewy - I think rather than chewy - it's more… sturdy - if that makes sense.
I am very much liking it after a whole day of carrying it!
Edit to add some more thoughts:
The strap as a cross body is probably long enough for most people - but at my height (giant = me) - I need a little longer strap than normal. I just measured the strap on my Annabel Ingall and it is 48 1/2 inches at it's longest length; the Polene is 43 1/2 inches. I do like a cross body to hit me at my hip and that may be lower than most as well.
The handle is short for everyone, honestly. It's hand carry, not arm carry.
Also - excuse my impromptu mod shot - exercise clothes are not the most attractive!
Congrats! That blue is stunning. How are you liking them now that you've had them for a while?
I prefer the all leather look myself, but it’s a matter of personal preference.
Same here, actually -- I feel like the metal clasp works with the Un Mini mainly because of the chain strap it has, whereas the all leather look on the Numero Un works because the strap on that is also all leather, if that makes sense
Thank you everyone for sharing your pictures and reviews! I absolutely love this bag, particularly in the burgundy colour. The only thing holding me back from ordering is that I currently already own 4 burgundy bags which is a lot (it’s my favourite colour) my second pick would be black but none of the other colours appeal to me as much. I’m not sure whether to wait and see if they release new colours for Autumn / Winter. In the meantime, I’m really enjoying see everyone’s posts while I try to decide!
reading all the positive comments and looking at everyone's pictures. I decided to purchase the number one yesterday and it will arrive tomorrow. which faster than I expected.
I do think TPF has probably played a hand in increasing the brand’s popularity. I bought mine over a month ago and everything was in stock back then. When I saw the Numero Un, I had to have it. I’m wondering if summer vacation has anything to do with low stock. Are you trying to buy a particular bag? You should e-mail them if you are.
Did anyone else notice the price change? I'm pretty sure they have changed from euro to us dollar on the English site.
Ah yes, they did. I have the No. 3 bookmarked and it used to be listed as €330, but now it's 400USD. A tiny bit more expensive, but did anyone get a VAT refund anyway?