Polène handbags

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I just bought a Polène numéro neuf and posted this review in another thread - wanted to share it here in case it is useful!

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So I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Polène numéro neuf, which I had been eyeing forever (along with a number of other polène bags). I ended up returning it (more info on that below but TLDR: painless but with shipping to and from Spain I ended up out $40 - which I see as a very reasonable price for not buying a plane ticket to Europe, lol).

The Polène bag arrived quickly - I ordered on a Friday and it arrived the following Wednesday via DHL, two days before it was officially slated to arrive. The box was quite large and the black polène box inside was pretty - definitely usable as a gift box if the purchase was a gift.

The leather looked high-quality to me and was supple (see the undulating, origami-ish shape of the bag), & the stitching was solid. There was no chemical smell (nor a strong leather smell, which I've sometimes had with purses bought in Spain). What I didn't quite like about the bag was: no zipper (see title of this thread :cool:) and some gaping on the sides of the bag (e.g. the bag was never completely and totally closed, like it would be with a zipper). I travel a bit and, in more everyday terms - things are always falling out of my purse, so I was hoping that the bag's top closure would seem a bit tigher in person, and it didn't. (Of course, as people have pointed out elsewhere, this could simply be solved by purchasing a zippered purse organizer.) But even more than that, I wasn't sold on the blush color I picked. Even in the pictures below, it appears a deeper, richer pink than in person - to my eye, it looked too muted.
Here is a picture that makes the bag look quite close to the images on the Polène website - the color appears a darker, rich pink.
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However this picture may do more justice to the "muted" shade of pink that you see in person:

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The leather also is not super thick - this is a good thing for weight, I think, but to me it made the purse seem a bit floppy and unsubstantial (perhaps particularly because of the lack of structure that I was already concerned about).

So after some going back and forth I opted to initiate a return - which was totally painless. Polène CS got back to me in about 2 business days) with a DHL label and some important instructions about including the customs forms on the *outside* of the box. I scheduled a pick up with DHL and the person who came for the package even helped me make sure that the customs forms, etc, looked good. I paid return shipping - $20 - and so was out a total of $40 for shipping to the US and back, a totally reasonable amount, I think, for an overseas delivery.

So overall, the purse was lovely but ultimately (as I feared) just not what I was looking for.

As I'm looking for a purse with a secure closure - I am now looking at the Coach Rogue 25 (which I saw recommended in these forums) as well as the Hammit Daniel Medium (which seems like it might be just a tad bit less heavy? Coach purses sometimes can get quite heavy!). Any suggestions on either of these, or others - I'd love to hear! Thanks
 
I own this bag. I did some research here (tpf) as well as Youtubers reviews, good, bad & indifferent.
Many described this bag as a "dumpling" shape so I knew it would be soft & unstructured & visually
the images were pretty clear from various angles
The shape works for me but I was concerned about the quality of the leather, perhaps scuffs
(as several comments were when bags arrived scuffed) & the quality of the stitching.
The stitching was perfect
I also considered the comment about polishing up the area(s) that were scuffed with cream polish
Also if the bag had an issue their customer service response time was of concern
Taking all of that into consideration I decided to order. I was not disappointed at all & am
considering that same style in that same size in another color Chalk..
The bag is priced right, I did not purchase thinking it would be an investment bag, just
a stylish bag well made to be worn & I mean worn & not have a concern for snow or rain.. LOL
Personally, I could not use this bag as a crossbody, it is much too bulky for me.
But as an everyday knockaround bag it fits the bill.
I don't have any experience with Coach or the Hammit.. so good luck in finding a bag that
will work for your specific needs
 
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I acquired 4 bags in a fairly short amount of time. They’ve all been excellent quality. I’ve taken my Neuf around friends & family to show off the quality & beauty of the bag. That being said, the iffy customer service definitely makes me hesitant to buy more, let alone recommend them to others.

This sums up my feelings exactly. I have 5 Polenes right now, and am very happy with them, but with all the negative experiences folks have been having, I’m hesitant to buy anything else. We’ll see what colors get released, I guess.

As a new Polène-lover with several bags on my wishlist I am so worried they will increase their prices before I get to buy them. When was the last time they increased their prices and how much have the prices increased (approximately in % ) over the years?

I have a neuf and a mini half moon wallet in my chart right now. I would love to see a photo of the mini half moon in use. Is it practical for cards or just too small?

I am also eyeing a mini Huit, but I am waiting for more colors to be released. Polène CS told me they would add new colors but they couldn't give me a time estimate. They responded really quickly

I’d like more colors for the mini Huit also… they just did some for this summer tho (chalk, beige, blush), so I kind of doubt they will do more in the near term. Here’s hoping tho!
 
Update on my Mini Neuf:
I've been using the bag and I am really loving it.
The design is really unique and the overall quality is beautiful.

I find that the small opening, which initially seemed like a con, turned out to be a pro!
I can keep the bag open (magnetic snaps open ) which is so comfortable to reach in and out on the go, but it's still pretty secure as it would be impossible for anyone else to snatch something since even I have to maneuver.

It's a really special little bag and I am tempted to get another one in a different color, but I'm still eyeing the Tonca so we'll see.
 
I am so close to pulling the trigger on the Tonca Ecru. I really want the Chalk, but it's on pre-order. I would like to have the bag sooner rather than later as we're going on a beach vacation end of this month, and I'd love to have a light, neutral bag that would go with anything. Do you guys think the Ecru is neutral enough? I mostly have black purses but wanted to branch out. I do have 2 other Polenes (One and Eight, in Blue and Burgundy) which I love! I don't really have any white/nude bags yet.
 
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I am so close to pulling the trigger on the Tonca Ecru. I really want the Chalk, but it's on pre-order. I would like to have the bag sooner rather than later as we're going on a beach vacation end of this month, and I'd love to have a light, neutral bag that would go with anything. Do you guys think the Ecru is neutral enough? I mostly have black purses but wanted to branch out. I do have 2 other Polenes (One and Eight, in Blue and Burgundy) which I love! I don't really have any white/nude bags yet.
I think Ecru will be perfect! I personally think it looks warmer (colorwise), fresher and maybe even more neutral than chalk, since a whiter bag sticks out more.
 
I am so close to pulling the trigger on the Tonca Ecru. I really want the Chalk, but it's on pre-order. I would like to have the bag sooner rather than later as we're going on a beach vacation end of this month, and I'd love to have a light, neutral bag that would go with anything. Do you guys think the Ecru is neutral enough? I mostly have black purses but wanted to branch out. I do have 2 other Polenes (One and Eight, in Blue and Burgundy) which I love! I don't really have any white/nude bags yet.

I think Ecru will be perfect! I personally think it looks warmer (colorwise), fresher and maybe even more neutral than chalk, since a whiter bag sticks out more.
The Ecru looks like the perfect neutral. It's not too light or cold, nor too dark or warm. It seems to be a very light, creamy beige.
I think it's perfect for a beach vacation, and really, for any kind of summery outing. I'm looking at this color as well as the taupe for the Tonca.
 
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Just received my Mini Neuf. I loved it , it fits all of the stuff i normally carry but it's definitely smaller than what i thought. From the Youtube vids and pictures i didn't think it looks that small.
Now i wonder if the regular size isn't too big after all? But it is bulky yes?

Here introducing my first Polene ! Now thinking if i should get another one in Camel or Chalk :angel:


View attachment 5581358
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Gorgeous!!!!
 
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I keep telling myself to wait for the free shipping promo to pull the trigger on more polene bags, but the bag monster voice in my head keeps saying that the shipping fee is really not so much considering how fast it is… arg!

For those of you who own the cyme, do you find the shoulder straps to be on the thin side? Just wondering if they’ll dig into the shoulder if I load the bag up full. The cyme mini in lilac in particular is what I am wondering about :biggrin:
They are ok for my opinion, but I still hate the straps. Still get all tangled up when I want to grab the bag fast onto my shoulders. Such a pity because it is such a pretty bag!
 
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