I’m still trying to sum up all my thoughts on my 30 day spring capsule, but one thing I know for sure, it was so much easier to get through as I allowed myself free reign over which bags I could wear. Which can have a huge impact on your outfit. And the bag I wore the most across the entire month? My Everlane Studio Bag.
Wearing Everlane alpaca sweater*; Assembly Label linen trousers; Golden Goose sneakers; Mute by JL coat*; Everlane Studio bag*; Rosefield watch
The first thing I thought when I spotted this bag, was its striking similarity in shape to the Celine Sangle Seau Bag. Which, I might add, is a bag I’ve had on my wishlist for many years now. But I do love a good dupe, and felt that the Studio Bag would be a good alternative, and give me that same look (without the designer price tag). So let’s take a closer look at Everlane’s Studio Bag…
QUICK FACTS
Price: $198 USD or $285 AUD
Available in two colours: black and cognac
Made in: Italy
Fabric: 100% Italian leather
SIZE
There’s a couple things I look for in a bag as a new mum. It either has to be a small crossbody which fits my essentials. Or, I want a larger style bag which sits on the shoulder, can be a catch-all for baby bits, but also looks cute. I don’t think I’m asking for much here…
The Everlane Studio Bag definitely ticks those boxes. It’s quite a large-sized bag, but the way it tucks under the arm, it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly so. The height is 13 inches, it has a width of 9.75 inches, and the depth is 6.25 inches.
It’s big enough to fit a 13 inch laptop – though the snap closure at the top won’t clasp shut with one in there, so that’s worth noting. I find that I can get all my baby necessities in there, plus still have room for a sweater or scarf for me.
QUALITY & DESIGN
The thing that drew me to this bag was its likeness to the Celine Sangle Seau. I’ve always thought that style was a thing of beauty, and I liked that this incorporated elements of that classic style, while still feeling fresh.
Wearing Alex Mill stripe tee and H&M linen trousers
The folded pocket at the front is not only functional, but also adds an interesting element. The way the bag has been designed, you can easily hide this at the back if you’d prefer a simple smooth surface. It feels a little like two bags in one.
As with all other Everlane bags, there’s a small debossed logo at the base which is barely visible. The interior is one large compartment, with a generous slip pocket to one side. It has a zippered pouch at the front of the pocket where you could put small valuables. It shuts with a simple snap closure, so the bag is relatively “open”. Then the strap is a wide leather strap that is adjustable.
I love the way the bag tucks effortlessly under the arm, fitting snug against the body.
On the quality, it’s on par with all my other leather goods from the brand. Well made, straight stitching, with minimal design details. The leather is the same used for the market tote. A smooth calf leather which has a stiffness at first, slowly softening over time. I’ve used this plenty already, and you can already see that it’s getting quite slouchy. This will become more pronounced over time. The interior is a treaded raw leather.
Despite being made from a smooth leather, I haven’t gotten a single scratch. Something of a miracle, as I’ve been a little more rough with this bag than usual. To me, that’s a total win – I know it’ll hold up and grateful that it’s not going to quickly show signs of wear.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THE EVERLANE STUDIO BAG?
If you’re looking for a dupe for the Celine Sangle Seau; absolutely. This is your bag. It’s well made, and will only set you back a fraction of the $3,500 AUD price point of the designer version.
As a baby bag, the Everlane Studio bag is also excellent. The large open pocket means there’s heaps of space to pop in all your essentials. And even then, it still fits nicely under the arm.
It’s also a great casual option, if you’re after something a little different in a larger size. And, you can use it as a work bag – perhaps for less corporate settings. Just keep in mind that while it does fit a 13 inch laptop, you won’t be able to snap it shut.
For me and my lifestyle, the Everlane Studio Bag is well… kinda perfect. The minimal exterior and smooth black leather nicely elevate my outfits. And as a working mum, I love that it’s practical enough to fit everything I need day-to-day.
The quality of the leather stands up against their other styles. The fact that it doesn’t seem to mark up or scratch easily is a boon – makes it even more appealing to me. There’s no issues with colour transfer either.
I think the only strike(s) against it – and this is a very personal thing – might be the length of the strap, and the closure. The strap is adjustable, however it doesn’t go so long as to be worn as a crossbody bag. Not that I think that would be comfortable or look flattering considering the width of the bag. And the closure; well, again, another personal preference here. I find that when it’s worn under my arm, it tucks in neatly next to my body, reducing any concern I might have about sticky fingers. But there are those open sections, so something worth keeping in mind.
Ultimately, I feel like the Everlane Studio bag is a good all rounder. It serves the purpose of getting that designer look for less (which you know, I’m all about) if that’s what you’re after. The design is pretty timeless. To me, I don’t feel like it’s going to look dated in the next few years. The quality is top notch, and is going to continue to look good even if you’re not precious with it. And I think it’s practical, too.
For those of you who may have had this on your wishlist, I hope you found this mini-review helpful! If there’s anything I might have missed, I’d love if you could leave your questions in the comments below.
Please note that while this bag was gifted to me by Everlane, this post is not sponsored. All thoughts are my own.
