Honestly, I was just really hoping for a luxurious pebbled leather like the Numero Un... But if they are cheaping out on the textured leather I'd rather get the smooth. I don't really want something buttery smooth but something that will look luxurious and that will age well. I think larger textures on the bag don't suit the bag style since it's minimalist... And it will detract from the simple curved lines. Just my opinion though. Tbh completely torn between smooth and textured since I haven't seen them irl...
Polène handbags
- Thread starter iluvbagsnshoes
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There are some posts where people love each style so it really is just preference. Hopefully someone that has seen both can weigh in and help with your decision.
Thank you! [emoji846]It’s a fave of mine, and I feel like the quality is excellent. My local LV manager and SAs at Chanel both asked about the Un when I carried it. They couldn’t believe the price vs. the high end look and quality!
It’s interesting that you also feel the same way about the smooth leather on the Nano. I haven’t emailed Polene yet about a return, but I’m curious to know if they’re responsive.
For now, I’ll just enjoy my Un! I pulled it out to do the comparison pics, and was reminded of how much I love that bag. [emoji7]
I felt the same when I pulled out my Un when this one came as well. LOL! I have the Carbon. I do love the Croc but don't need another black bag so I've been thinking about one of the other colors. But, I worry if the color will be as it appears online. Took me a while to pull the trigger on the Carbon but I am so happy I did.
I'll let you know how it goes with the return request.
I have super enjoyed the navy croc Un! It’s pretty close to the online swatch in color. I’ve been considering the green croc Un, as I love that color in a bag!Here’s a better pic of the color IRL:
So gorgeous! It looks almost black. I've been wanting one of their green bags since I found Polene. I don't have a green bag. Now that they have the green croc I can have both - green and croc
Hey guys, I got my tangerine Nano yesterday! The size isn’t too bad, since I already knew it would be pretty tiny. I can fit my sunglasses case, a wallet and my phone ( iPhone 7 Plus) just fine. Could probably add a small pouch or two. I’m OK with the leather and the texture for the price point. Like another poster, I also have some comparison pics against my blue croc regular Un. The leather does look a little different from the leather of the regular Un, but that’s fine with me. My issue is with the color. It’s more of a terra cotta than tangerine. It’s not orange or pink (looks pinky in the model pics online). But it wasn’t too pricey and I definitely don’t have anything else in that color! Lol! Wish they had the sage in stock, though! I would buy another in either leather if they had colors I liked in stock. Guess I’ll wait on sage.
One thing to keep in mind about the higher cost of the Mini is that you also are paying for the (heavy) gold chain strap and the gold cover on the clasp. It also has the regular Un leather, so it is a touch “above.” Also the shape is a little more elegant in my opinion. Just hate that darn strap!
One thing to keep in mind about the higher cost of the Mini is that you also are paying for the (heavy) gold chain strap and the gold cover on the clasp. It also has the regular Un leather, so it is a touch “above.” Also the shape is a little more elegant in my opinion. Just hate that darn strap!
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And I see that the tangerine is photographing very orange here, but definitely doesn’t look like that irl...
This is my first order from Polene and I ordered the nano in black textured leather. I would describe the leather to be very similar to a Burberry Banner tote. I was worried that the smooth leather would scratch easily and I wanted a more all weather friendly bag. It is smaller than I expected, but it fits all of my essentials and I think it is a good starter bag to try a new brand.
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I agree, wish they had done a middle size instead of doing the Nano (which seems very similar to the Mini in capacity) - I think the regular size is probably going to be too big for me, whereas the Nano and Mini are both fine for essentials but don't have room for much more.
I think I'll pass on the Nano for now and perhaps opt for a different style, like the Numero Deux, if I do decide to purchase within the next couple of days with that free shipping code. I was able to score a preloved Numero Un Mini from eBay for a really great price and only just received it last week, and I love it.
I tend to agree with you. One person's opinion that a particular leather "feels like plastic" is just that, an opinion. To others it may feel the same as the leather on the other bags.. I only have the Numero Un's, so I cannot weigh in on it. If I did have one that I thought was not the same leather, I think I would send a polite question enquiring if the leather on all the bags is the same. Just a suggestion.Judging from all the reviews of the quality on Polene's other bags, I doubt that they would make it plasticky. I personally think it looks really nice textured on the model shots. Also, I myself ordered the textured leather in black so will be able to share when it arrives.I noticed that most people on this forum bought the smooth leather, so haven't seen any "real" pictures of what the textured looks like.
The smooth is sooooo pretty, I might have to buy a second bag with it if/when it comes back in stock. This depends if the smooth leather is easy to scratch. I bought the textured one because I was looking for an everyday bag that I could bring traveling, running errands, going out to bars, potentially going clubbing with it, etc, hanging out with my small dog, without having to worry about any scratches accumulating.
I received my textured black Nano today and I am in love!
I love the size of the bag, it is exactly what I was looking for. It fits my iPhone XS Max, card holder, small pouch, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses in a soft case. It could definitely fit a few more small items, like a portable battery pack or something.
I personally don't think the leather feels "plasticky" or cheap at all. I'm happy that I went with the textured now since I plan on using this a lot and in crowded environments. I know I won't have to stress about this bag as the leather seems very durable; I also won't have to worry so much about the front clasp showing wear and tear with getting in and out of the bag. I love that the bag itself is extremely lightweight for when I take it out all day.
I am 5'6" and crossbody, it sits above my hip (similar to the Chanel boy bag length at crossbody for me).
I've added a shot of the Polene Nano next to a couple of Madewell bags I have - the mini abroad and a camera bag for comparison. They all hold similar amounts of items for me.
So excited to start using this! Hope my review helps.
I love the size of the bag, it is exactly what I was looking for. It fits my iPhone XS Max, card holder, small pouch, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses in a soft case. It could definitely fit a few more small items, like a portable battery pack or something.
I personally don't think the leather feels "plasticky" or cheap at all. I'm happy that I went with the textured now since I plan on using this a lot and in crowded environments. I know I won't have to stress about this bag as the leather seems very durable; I also won't have to worry so much about the front clasp showing wear and tear with getting in and out of the bag. I love that the bag itself is extremely lightweight for when I take it out all day.
I am 5'6" and crossbody, it sits above my hip (similar to the Chanel boy bag length at crossbody for me).
I've added a shot of the Polene Nano next to a couple of Madewell bags I have - the mini abroad and a camera bag for comparison. They all hold similar amounts of items for me.
So excited to start using this! Hope my review helps.
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I’ve been using my numero deux bag since I got it and I’m obsessed with it. Such a beautiful bag.
I wish I had purchased the mini with the giftfromparis code but I got carried away with time yesterday
I wish I had purchased the mini with the giftfromparis code but I got carried away with time yesterday
I'd been hunting for a Numero Un Mini for quite some time now, and finally was able to purchase the Burgundy Duo (one of my preferred colorways) preloved on eBay for just over $200 after shipping, thanks to a well-timed discount promotion on eBay. I received this last Friday and haven't really had a chance to open it up and inspect it until today.
I'm super pleased with the Numero Un Mini and I can see why so many people really like Polene. For such a low price (especially relative to some of the other luxury brands that are well known) the leather feels supple and luxurious. Even though I purchased mine used, it came in excellent condition, with only one minor scuff on one corner and some light scratches on the clasp. The leather is MUCH thicker than I expected, and though it carries the corresponding weight it definitely feels much more substantial and beautiful than leathers I've seen on other brands in this price range (low to mid hundreds). I do see what others mean when they say that the chain adds substantial weight to the bag, but I am happy to report that after taking the Numero Un Mini out today for quick errands, I didn't dislike the chain strap and it didn't dig into my shoulder noticeably. I was able to carry it comfortably crossbody and after shortening the chain strap by modifying which holes the ends went through (see the picture), this was also a comfortable shoulder carry as well.
I think over time I would be a little concerned about how well the suede flap will hold up - I had to touch the suede to get my wallet out for groceries, to get my keys, etc, so that is something to watch out for. The lining feels thick to the touch and the red color is lovely. Both pockets are well placed and also quite practical - I was able to use the back pocket for my phone (Pixel 3 + case) and used the interior slip pocket for my card holder, portable chopsticks, purse hook. I think if I had been minded, I could have used the interior pocket for my phone instead and the card holder would easily have fit with the rest of the items...
Which were a surprising amount! I was able to fit my Kindle (plus case) inside the main compartment, along with my Minnie Mouse coin purse (which holds a compact mirror, charging cable, and microfiber cloth), my Pac-Man coin purse (which holds my keys; not pictured here), and a reusable shopping bag. I probably could have slipped in another small pouch with lip balm / mini moisturizer / sunblock, as well as a small portable battery. If I'd gone without my Kindle it definitely would have been a comfortable fit for my essentials. I did not find it challenging to locate my items inside the bag but did notice that with the metal clasp, it almost definitely required two hands to close securely if I didn't want to leave the flap open.
All in all extremely pleased with the Numero Un Mini from Polene upon first impression. As I suspected it is the perfect size for me, especially when I don't need to carry a lot and want to stick to essentials. As far as aesthetics I think the Mini looks so lovely, especially with the suede flap, and the lines and curves are simple but beautiful. I could definitely see myself going out with this dressed up for a musical or even a wedding, with the added bonus (in my personal opinion, anyway!) that Polene is not something I see commonly carried. I don't consider myself very trendy or fashion forward, but I do like discovering new or under-the-radar brands that are praiseworthy. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for new designs from Polene or perhaps give another style a go, like the Numero Deux.
Pictures are in direct indoor lighting, edited/adjusted to be a little more color accurate.
I'm super pleased with the Numero Un Mini and I can see why so many people really like Polene. For such a low price (especially relative to some of the other luxury brands that are well known) the leather feels supple and luxurious. Even though I purchased mine used, it came in excellent condition, with only one minor scuff on one corner and some light scratches on the clasp. The leather is MUCH thicker than I expected, and though it carries the corresponding weight it definitely feels much more substantial and beautiful than leathers I've seen on other brands in this price range (low to mid hundreds). I do see what others mean when they say that the chain adds substantial weight to the bag, but I am happy to report that after taking the Numero Un Mini out today for quick errands, I didn't dislike the chain strap and it didn't dig into my shoulder noticeably. I was able to carry it comfortably crossbody and after shortening the chain strap by modifying which holes the ends went through (see the picture), this was also a comfortable shoulder carry as well.
I think over time I would be a little concerned about how well the suede flap will hold up - I had to touch the suede to get my wallet out for groceries, to get my keys, etc, so that is something to watch out for. The lining feels thick to the touch and the red color is lovely. Both pockets are well placed and also quite practical - I was able to use the back pocket for my phone (Pixel 3 + case) and used the interior slip pocket for my card holder, portable chopsticks, purse hook. I think if I had been minded, I could have used the interior pocket for my phone instead and the card holder would easily have fit with the rest of the items...
Which were a surprising amount! I was able to fit my Kindle (plus case) inside the main compartment, along with my Minnie Mouse coin purse (which holds a compact mirror, charging cable, and microfiber cloth), my Pac-Man coin purse (which holds my keys; not pictured here), and a reusable shopping bag. I probably could have slipped in another small pouch with lip balm / mini moisturizer / sunblock, as well as a small portable battery. If I'd gone without my Kindle it definitely would have been a comfortable fit for my essentials. I did not find it challenging to locate my items inside the bag but did notice that with the metal clasp, it almost definitely required two hands to close securely if I didn't want to leave the flap open.
All in all extremely pleased with the Numero Un Mini from Polene upon first impression. As I suspected it is the perfect size for me, especially when I don't need to carry a lot and want to stick to essentials. As far as aesthetics I think the Mini looks so lovely, especially with the suede flap, and the lines and curves are simple but beautiful. I could definitely see myself going out with this dressed up for a musical or even a wedding, with the added bonus (in my personal opinion, anyway!) that Polene is not something I see commonly carried. I don't consider myself very trendy or fashion forward, but I do like discovering new or under-the-radar brands that are praiseworthy. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for new designs from Polene or perhaps give another style a go, like the Numero Deux.
Pictures are in direct indoor lighting, edited/adjusted to be a little more color accurate.
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