I recently added another (yes) bag to my Marc Jacobs collection, and I thought it might be a good time to do another review. I previously did one for my MbMJ Totally Turnlock bags, so this time it’s the turn of my MJ Classic bags. Readers, meet Blake, Sophia, and Stella:

Generally speaking, I love these bags. All of mine date from around 2004-2006, and are still in amazing condition. The leather is soooo good, you guys – and each bag is lined in contrasting, rich suede, which feels incredibly luxurious. A lot of designer bags these days scrimp on details like that, and it’s too bad considering that retail prices keep going up and up and up. But, enough generalities. Let’s get down to the specifics.

Blake

The Blake is a top handle satchel of medium dimensions. For comparison, it’s about the same size as my LV Speedy 30; however, because of the Blake’s three compartments, it holds a little bit less.

At the same time, the division helps keep things organized, and avoids the “black hole” syndrome (which can have you digging for your keys for hours). Two of the compartments are zippered, and the middle one has a magnetic closure. I will say that the magnet used in both the Blake and the Sophia is quite powerful – that inner pocket doesn’t open fully easily. The back zippered compartment also has an inner pocket. And there are the two small front pockets with push lock closures (too small to be really functional, but I like the aesthetic). Lots of pockets all around.

The handles are just long enough to wear on the shoulder, but it’s definitely a very tight fit. Really, it’s a carry-in-your-hand-or-crook-of-arm bag. I know that’s definitely a big downside for a lot of people, but I don’t mind it in a work bag.

In terms of wear, the Blake has held up very well. I bought it secondhand on eBay for $***, and I think that’s a reasonable price for a bag of this quality and condition. There are minor signs of wear on the cream (!) suede lining, and some colour fading on the bottom corners of the bag and the handles; nothing super noticeable, though. The colour is still vibrant, and the leather supple after all these years.

Stella

The Stella is Blake’s tote cousin. This thing is HUGE. I can fit a couple of large binders, or a laptop, with room to spare, in addition to the usual stuff I carry (wallet, make-up bag, etc.). Because of the suede lining and the big hardware on the front pockets, it is not the lightest tote around, but it is very sturdy. This bag’s a workhorse, basically.

The colour of my bag is “Stone”, which is a sort of warm taupe – a very good neutral. The lining is my favourite: a deep, rich burgundy. It hides scuffs and pen marks very well, hah.

The handles are long enough that you can easily wear the Stella on your shoulder. There are no internal pockets, save for a small, inner zippered one. Did I mention that the bag holds a lot of stuff? Because it does. The bag does have a zipper, but I find that I rarely close it; I like having easy access to my stuff.

This bag came to me in a swap (and I am its third owner, at least), and it wasn’t in as good of a condition as the others, but even with a few extra scuff marks on the handles, it’s still holding up well (no colour transfer, for one thing). Some people shy away from buying lighter coloured bags because they’re afraid that the bags won’t weather wear as well, but I haven’t found that to be the case with Marc Jacobs bags.

Sophia

Finally, the Sophia – Stella’s baby sister. It’s about half the size of the Stella, with three inner compartments, very much like the Blake, which further limit its “volume”. Of the three, it’s definitely the smallest, though still quite functional – and I say that as someone who loves big bags.

I’ll be honest: although I certainly love its overall looks, I bought my Sophia mostly for the colour. I’ve been wanting a green bag for ages, and this particular shade (“Emerald”) is perfect. (The light green suede lining is also lovely.) My bag is in good condition, with only a bit of wear on the bottom corner edges.

I’ll be even more honest, and admit I overpaid for it. After shipping and customs (the seller didn’t mark it as a “used” bag, grrr!), it cost me a bit over $220. The exchange rate is killing my eBay mojo, you guys. That price is not terrible, given the quality, and I was happy to pay a little extra for the colour I really wanted but … damn you, weak Canadian dollar!

If you live in the U.S., you should have no problem finding these older MJ bags in good condition for well under $150 on eBay, and I would definitely recommend them. The quality is fantastic (just make sure you get good, clear photos of the bag you’re buying to verify the condition), the style is classic, and they are not bags you will see many other people carrying – probably a big reason why I always get a TON of compliments when I wear mine.

Got question? Hit me up in the comments.

As promised, here is my review of the Gucci Britt tote, which I recently purchased from My Favourite Aunt’s, a local consignment store.

First, a bit of background. I’ve never really been interested in Gucci bags before, with the exception of the reissue bamboo handle ones. I especially dislike the interlocking Gs canvas print (i.e. the Gucci equivalent of the LV monogram). So it was interesting when a similar Britt tote (the “dialux” version, I believe) turned up on the IG account of a re-seller I follow, and my first reaction was “ooh, I kinda like that hardware”. I know, it’s big and in-your-face but … I still kinda like it. The bag on IG was too expensive for what was essentially a whim, so I forgot about it.

And then!

I popped into MFA one day and there was the almost exact same bag – except in a larger size, and for a cheaper price. (That, by the way, is one of the reasons that MFA is one of my fave consignment stores – not just in Edmonton, but anywhere. In addition to mid-range brands like J. Crew and Anthro, they get the occasional top end designer stuff, and it’s always very reasonably priced.) I hemmed and hawed – more on that later – but ultimately bought it; at $200 for a pristine looking leather bag of generous proportions, it was just too good a deal to pass up for a bag addict like me. So how does it stack up?

It’s amazing!

Let’s start with looks. Obviously, this is very subjective, so take this as my 2 cents. Other than the hardware – which, as I’ve already said, I like despite its in-your-faceness – the bag is very plain and classic. If you turn it around, so people can’t see the logo, no one would necessarily recognize it for OMGdesigner. It has nice lines, and it’s right on the border between structured tote and slouchy hobo bag. The lining is an added nice touch – it’s a beautiful striped fabric. Looks-wise, I’d give it an 8.5/10.

The Britt really shines when it comes to functionality. If you love big bags, and don’t need very rigidly structured ones, this one’s for you. It has a LOT of room. There are no inside dividers, so it’s a bit of a “black hole”, but you would have no problem fitting a laptop in there. (The bag might get very heavy, though, and the straps would probably start to hurt.) It has the usual complement of small inner pockets, though. The straps are adjustable, and fit comfortably on the shoulder. If you don’t weigh down the bag with rocks, they don’t cut into you. There are feet on the bottom of the bag, which is always handy.

The only downside is that there is no zipper closure. The Britt is basically a clone of the LV Neverfull but slouchier because of the leather. This isn’t something that bothers me too much (I often leave my bags unzipped for easier access) but YMMV. For function, I give the Britt a 9/10.

As far as quality goes, it’s early days yet. However, the leather is soft and lovely to the touch. There are no scuffs, even in the spots that typically get the most wear (bottom corners, etc.), and no discolouration of the leather. This is no small feat since this is likely a 2007 bag – 8 years old. (Its former owner either didn’t use it much, or babied it a lot.) As I mentioned, the fabric lining is delightful. I would give it a 9/10 (so far).

[Edited to add: after about a week, I eventually noticed that the handles do show a little bit of cracking in the leather on the edges. Not very noticeable – obviously – but it’s there, so in the interests of full disclosure, I thought I’d mention it. Also, the gold of the hardware has either faded or rubbed off, so it almost looks silver in some lights. For an 8 year old bag, I still think it’s pretty darn impressive.]

For the price I paid for it, the Britt was a great deal (it originally retailed for around US$1800). I can see it becoming one of my everyday go-to bags. But it has created a bit of a dilemma for me. See, I already had 4 black bags, and now have 5 … which is at least one black bag too many. Two of them are special occasion bags, and I don’t mind holding on to them for reasons other than practicality. I love the Longchamp bag I recently thrifted as a “smaller black bag” option (especially for weekends), which leaves my MbMJ Aidan bag – a perfectly lovely bag, still in excellent condition. It’s not as roomy as the Britt, and for that reason, it’s less useful in my day-to-day life. Still, I’m loath to sell it, and take the risk that I’ll end up with seller’s regret, which has happened before. I also know I probably won’t use it often in the foreseeable future. Then again, it’s not exactly costing me much in terms of closet space. See what I mean? Wardrobe dilemma!

Should it stay or should it go?

When I wrote about my recent dream bag purchase, a few of you expressed interest in more bag reviews. Well, I aim to please. No one nominated a specific bag(s), but there was general interest in my Marc Jacobs lovelies, so I decided to start a new series by tackling one of my most used bags, the MbMJ Magazine (or Mag) bag.

Let me start by saying that I have not one, not two, but three Mag bags.

I was introduced to them by Adrien, who is like a soul sister when it comes to purses. I immediately loved the look of the Mag bag, and thought they would be practical as well … and I was right. So, basically, the rest of this review will consist of me telling you all the reasons why you need a Mag bag in your life. You’ve been warned.

Let’s start with looks. This is, obviously, the most subjective category for review, but here are the reasons why I like the Mag anyway. One, it’s pretty much logo-free. The pushlock is engraved with the MbMJ lettering, but it’s not very noticeable unless you’re looking at it closely.

The fabric lining also has the distinctive MbMJ lettering, but again, it’s not immediately visible. Two, the leather looks (and is) soft and thick and just amazing. Three, the style is simple and classic, and works with both casual outfits and dressier ones. I mean, I wouldn’t necessarily take this bag out to a cocktail party or ball, but it can work in pretty much every other situation.

Let’s move on to functionality. This is where I feel that the Mag bag really shines. The cross-body strap option is fantastic for anyone with kids. The handles are long enough to be worn on the shoulder as well. The front pocket is great for easy access to essentials, and you don’t need to actually unlock it – just stick your hand in and grab what you need.

The inside of the bag is quite roomy. You probably can’t cram the kitchen sink in there (or legal sized files, for the record), but you can easily fit a wallet, make-up bag, phone, keys, book, and extra pair of shoes (ahem, just an example). It has a small zippered inside pocket, and two even smaller open pockets for (I assume) things like phones. I rarely bother to use them, so I can’t say anything more about them … they’re the basic type of inside pockets you get in most bags.

I will say that the bag is not very heavy on its own, but if you do end up cramming it full of stuff, the cross-body strap can become a little uncomfortable because it is on the thinner side. I find the shoulder handles more comfortable, because they are wider and made out of that thick, soft leather, which offers a little bit of cushioning.

So, quality. As I mentioned above, the quality of the leather of all MJ bags I’ve ever owned has been fantastic, and the Mag bag is no exception. The fabric lining is decent, and the pattern helps to conceal stains. (Hey, real life happens.) The only downside to the Mag bag (and MbMJ bags generally) is colour wear. Now, some colours are more prone to fading and discoloration than others. I have a black MbMJ Aidan and the colour looks as fresh as the day it came out of the factory. Similarly, I had a red MbMJ Teri bag, and it also held up pretty well. On the other hand, two of my Mag bags are burgundy (Elderberry in Marc speak). Or, rather, were. One is, one is not.

I got the one on the right off eBay, without realizing how much the leather was discolored and faded. It’s basically a brown bag at this point, with some water spots to boot. The one on the left came to me from Adrien, and it’s still in pretty great shape. But there is some wear on the corners, and it is more visible in this colour than, say, my other Mag bag, a Fool’s Gold version (see above). The Fool’s Gold is also prone to discoloration, but it’s less visible because of the silvery gold colour.

Now, both the burgundy and the Fool’s Gold colours are incredible versatile, so you won’t go wrong with either if you find one on eBay in good condition. Not that a black or red version – or, really, any other colour you can get your hands on – will be a bad investment. [I’ve also seen patent leather Mag bags on eBay, but I don’t know how their quality stacks up.]

And speaking of cost: the most I’ve paid for one of my Mag bags was around $140, including shipping. I think that’s a very reasonable price for a bag of this overall quality, and it’s possible to find it for less. They don’t pop up on eBay all the time, but they’re not impossible to find. Ebay stalking tip: it seems that a lot of sellers don’t know the name of this bag, so searching by “Mag bag” or “Magazine bag” won’t always be helpful; always try a broader search and display results from cheapest to most expensive – that way, you’ll be sure to find the good bargains.

If you’ve got any questions about the Mag bag, or want to nominate another bag for the next Bag Style installment, hit me up in the comments!