Polène handbags
- Thread starter iluvbagsnshoes
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
While I'm very happy with my collection, I've been open to a red bag for some time but didn't want to drop $3k on some of the usual suspects. I just ordered the Sac Numero Un in red; I'll post pics when it arrives.
Are you in the US? I would be curious as to shipping costs. And, of course, modeling pics!
No, I'm in Canada. The shipping cost is 20 euros; I'd guess it would be the same to the US. I don't do modelling shots, but I can take a couple against other bags for scale.
I am in Canada as well, really like this bag, do you mind me asking what the duties are like. Whith exchange rate and shipping I hope it’s not more that 700. Is looks luxurious and not every one has it. Thank you
Sure. It cleared Customs on Thursday, so I should get it early this week. I think it should be less than $700; one of the youtube videos said that duties/fees were about $100 and the Canadian cost of the bag and shipping on my credit card was about $560.
My bag arrived yesterday. I haven't taken pictures yet because it was too dark when I got home from work, and it's a very dull day today. Duties were very reasonable; I only paid 13% HST for the Canadian value of the bag (they used a more favourable exchange rate than my credit card company) plus $10 handling. Total cost: $330 euros plus 20 euros shipping = $560 Canadian (bag and shipping) plus $75 duties and fees = $635 all in.
The leather is a bit different than I had expected, but I'm quickly warming up to it. One of the youtube posters said the same thing, and I get it. The leather is full-grain, thick and chewy. It just isn't soft or buttery and it's matte. I think if it was softer, it wouldn't hold the distinctive shape over time and that wouldn't be a good thing. It's not stiff either; you can easily move it in your hand without it feeling like it's going to crack or anything. But its thickness makes it stiffer. I wasn't sure how I felt about that yesterday, but after carrying it a bit last night and looking at it again today, I really like it. It's the right leather for the bag, if that makes sense. I just wouldn't want it for a slouchier bag.
My first reactions:
1) Love the shape
2) Love the colour
3) Love that the strap can be converted from crossbody to shoulder
4) Handle too short for arm carry - I like to hand carry so not an issue
5) Not sure I love that the strap doesn't clip on; it's threaded through a d-ring and you adjust the size by pushing a metal ball in the strap through the hole of your choosing. I like that there are two handle 'sleeves' for each side; one to hold the strap folded at the bottom and one at the top. Ok if you get it to a length you like (I have), but not as quick to convert lengths as some.
6) Leather is thick and stiffer than what I'd expected, but I'm warming up to it already
7) Bag is well made and well designed; the snaps are in just the right place to create the folds I like so much, but can be easily undone so that there's a wide opening to the bag. I don't need to do that to get things in or out, but I could if I wanted to.
There's an inner zipped pocket and a double inside pocket. One side is bigger than the other; the smaller side holds my iPhone X like a glove (standing up). There's an outer back pocket, but it's not big enough for a phone. Would be a good spot for a transit card. My passport also fits well (just right, really) into it.
The purse is generously sized and very deep. I put in my cosmetics case, a Coach trifold wallet, another catch-all pouch, two key cases and my headphones case and I still had lots of room. The top half was entirely empty. No Jenga required.
I really wanted to buy a red bag in Paris when we were there in October celebrating our 25th anniversary. This is that bag. I love red, my husband always buys me the red version of an item if it exists, it's the colour of love from the city of love and I'll always associate it with that trip even though I got it later, so I don't regret the bag. I've ordered souvenirs before when I got home from a trip, so it doesn't bother me that it came later. I like that it's from a small French company and that's there's a single storefront in Paris. All good.
First visceral reaction: I like it a lot and am glad I bought it. At first I wasn't sure about the leather and thought I might not order from this company again, but I'm already changing my mind about that. I think this is a bag I will fall more in love with over time.
Pics as soon as I can.
The leather is a bit different than I had expected, but I'm quickly warming up to it. One of the youtube posters said the same thing, and I get it. The leather is full-grain, thick and chewy. It just isn't soft or buttery and it's matte. I think if it was softer, it wouldn't hold the distinctive shape over time and that wouldn't be a good thing. It's not stiff either; you can easily move it in your hand without it feeling like it's going to crack or anything. But its thickness makes it stiffer. I wasn't sure how I felt about that yesterday, but after carrying it a bit last night and looking at it again today, I really like it. It's the right leather for the bag, if that makes sense. I just wouldn't want it for a slouchier bag.
My first reactions:
1) Love the shape
2) Love the colour
3) Love that the strap can be converted from crossbody to shoulder
4) Handle too short for arm carry - I like to hand carry so not an issue
5) Not sure I love that the strap doesn't clip on; it's threaded through a d-ring and you adjust the size by pushing a metal ball in the strap through the hole of your choosing. I like that there are two handle 'sleeves' for each side; one to hold the strap folded at the bottom and one at the top. Ok if you get it to a length you like (I have), but not as quick to convert lengths as some.
6) Leather is thick and stiffer than what I'd expected, but I'm warming up to it already
7) Bag is well made and well designed; the snaps are in just the right place to create the folds I like so much, but can be easily undone so that there's a wide opening to the bag. I don't need to do that to get things in or out, but I could if I wanted to.
There's an inner zipped pocket and a double inside pocket. One side is bigger than the other; the smaller side holds my iPhone X like a glove (standing up). There's an outer back pocket, but it's not big enough for a phone. Would be a good spot for a transit card. My passport also fits well (just right, really) into it.
The purse is generously sized and very deep. I put in my cosmetics case, a Coach trifold wallet, another catch-all pouch, two key cases and my headphones case and I still had lots of room. The top half was entirely empty. No Jenga required.
I really wanted to buy a red bag in Paris when we were there in October celebrating our 25th anniversary. This is that bag. I love red, my husband always buys me the red version of an item if it exists, it's the colour of love from the city of love and I'll always associate it with that trip even though I got it later, so I don't regret the bag. I've ordered souvenirs before when I got home from a trip, so it doesn't bother me that it came later. I like that it's from a small French company and that's there's a single storefront in Paris. All good.
First visceral reaction: I like it a lot and am glad I bought it. At first I wasn't sure about the leather and thought I might not order from this company again, but I'm already changing my mind about that. I think this is a bag I will fall more in love with over time.
Pics as soon as I can.
A quick addition; the website suggests conditioning the bags 2-3 times a year. I don't know if it's the matte finish, but I felt like the surface of the bag could benefit from a light conditioning, so I used a little Lexol conditioner on it after doing a test on the inside of the flap. The leather absorbed the conditioner quickly, although I didn't use much. No colour came off the bag at all. I think the bag might have been just a little dry. I left it an hour or so, then went back and gave it a bit more. I'm not sure if it's in my mind, but the surface feels slightly softer now and while still matte, there's a faint glow to the leather. I probably should have taken before/after pics, but the difference is so subtle that I don't think it would have shown. The leather has a slightly bumpy (for lack of a better word) texture that isn't going to get buttery, but I do think the conditioning was helpful.
Last edited:
I am glad you are liking the bag. The colour is gorgeous by the way. Happy 25th anniversary.
It sure looks like one beautiful bag! So glad you love it. Also, thank you for the detailed report. I hope to have one in the future!
For those who asked, here are pics of what fits inside and the inner pockets.
The bag isn’t full with the items I have inside. I took pictures with the front and side snaps open, then the side snaps closed, then all snaps closed.
I wouldn’t use my Neverfull pochette in this bag as a carry all. I just put it in to show that a pouch will easily fit.
The bag isn’t full with the items I have inside. I took pictures with the front and side snaps open, then the side snaps closed, then all snaps closed.
I wouldn’t use my Neverfull pochette in this bag as a carry all. I just put it in to show that a pouch will easily fit.
Attachments
Last edited:
