So happy to join the club! Here's a review of my Speedy B 25 in Damier Ebene (mine's made in France), for anyone on the internet who's searching for information!
I've had this bag for about 3 weeks now. I've used it constantly, and these are some things I've noticed.
CONS:
-Funtionally, I really think the DE is best suited to winter. In very hot, sunny weather the print absorbs sunlight and I feel like the bag itself gets really hot.
-Furthermore, the ebene treated leather strap is actually quite uncomfortable on bare shoulders. It digs in a ton and almost is abrasive with its rectangular shape and corners, but this is less of a problem when I'm not in a tank top/my shoulders are covered. The shape of the rolled handles does not cause the same pain on my arm/hand, which is good!
-my main complaint about this bag is there isn't an external pocket for easy phone/travel card access. It's a big design flaw, imo!
-The little piece that holds down the excess strap came off! Luckily I found it and will be bringing it into LV.
-it first came in a really gross smell that is hard to describe…chemical? Factory? So bad and strong that the smell came off in my hands every time I held it. Luckily three weeks of regular use has lessened the smell (and most of the folding creases)!
-there are some sloppy stitches in the canvas.
PROS:
-aesthetics! I know this is a bag that everyone and their mother has in some size or print or material, but I love it regardless. The red interior makes stuff easy to find!
-it's super versatile, from casual everyday up to semi formal
-you have all the strap options! Sometimes I even carry it like a clutch, by slipping my arms through the handles and holding the bottom of the bag in my hand.
-the canvas gets so smooshy!
-it's a bag that can seriously take a beating, especially in the DE print. 3 weeks of use that sometimes was abuse and it's doing great!
Addressing some common concerns I hear about this bag:
-I don't find the opening is too small. I organize in pouches and I don't think anything is hard to find or that my hand gets scratched going in or out.
-the new zipper pocket is super small, but I use it to store my lock and key in their tiny dustbag, and my chopstick which I cannot live without.
-I try to lighten my load as much as possible, and it fits all that and more! I packed it to the brim as I carried it on a plane, and fit a surprising amount although I wouldn't do that every day haha.
That's all I can think of! Pretty long post, but I hope this helped SOMEONE out in the internet haha.
