Review: Is the Loewe Slit Pochette bag the only bag you need for Summer?

review

14 Jun

Recently I got invited to the South of France for a long weekend (my boyfriends friend - how delightful), and when I say the South of France… I mean everything that immediately comes to mind, a beautiful villa nestled in the hillside, stunning french food, infinity pool…dressing for dinner…a weekend of dreams…which requires a wardrobe and a bag to match. But, I just didn’t have in my wardrobe *the* bag to accompany me.

I am a pre-loved girl through and through. Since, I was 16 years old working at Ralph Lauren and Michael Kor’s in Bicester Village, I have celebrated big moments in my life: pay rise, career milestones and birthdays with a preloved handbag (all paid for myself). But a few of my handbags represent pure, unadulterated, impulse purchases and fall into the “I just want it, because I want it” category. These handbags I have bought full price and the Loewe Slit Pochette falls into this category.

A quick note in my defence for not buying this bag preloved

In my defence, my problem with buying raffia bags preloved is a three point situation.

a) It is only when the sun comes out that I decide I want to add to my raffia/basket/straw collection. Unfortunately, this is when everyone else does - because of this you don’t really get that much of a discount on the preloved sites and it’s never the style you want. I think this is because raffia bags are such classics for summer that most people hang onto theirs for a long time OR they do come onto the sites but go so quickly I miss them (Sellier - I am looking at you).

b) A popular marketplace spooked me when I saw a huge volume from many, many different sellers of raffia bags being sold (under the name ‘basket, straw, raffia bags for women’) - all dupes of Celine, Loewe, Prada, Miu Miu etc and I just thought someone will buy these and try to pass them off as real - what if they slip through and I accidentally buy one etc etc I didn’t want the hassle of accidentally buying a fake.

c) I could not find it on any preloved site.

Why the Loewe Slit Pochette?

When it comes to a summer bag - you think Loewe.

Yes maybe your mind might go to the Prada Crochet Tote or the Miu Miu Wander…if you want a trend. But timeless, classic, not shouty logo and not hideously expensive you go Loewe.

Loewe wins when it comes to the best quality raffia/straw bags. Their bags are exceptionally well made and more importantly still HAND MADE. The brands identity is all about the highest quality materials, traditional technique, incredible artisans and superior craftsmanship, you only have to watch the youtube videos of how some of their bags are made - it is pure artistry. But, also you see the pure love and pride from the artisan making these bags.

In my opinion this style of weave is so much more durable than the palm. If you are debating between this or the palm basket tote. Please get this one! I regret getting the palm basket tote. A couple sheets of palm have already split.

Where did I buy it?

I bought this bag from Loewe in Selfridges Department Store, London. I did not get off to the best start… for those who have not read my blog before. I am a classic girl, I am not that fun. I like classic block colours (beige, black, brown, white, baby pink at a push) in classic styles, I do not like quirky fun things (on me - other peoples eclectic style looks amazing - I just can’t pull it off). So, I am in Selfridges and all the store assistants were unboxing the new charms and were really excited (which is great - store assistants repping the brand and being chatty, nice humans - so good to see!). They showed me the elephant, shrimp and I think beetroot? “Don’t you love?” do you want to add one to your bag?” - Firstly, for £375 - even if I liked them ….ummmm NO! are you mad? I said (very kindly) “Oh I’m not really a charm person”… the look that they gave me WOW. It was like I said I did not like their first born child. Ha - two of the sales assistants then proceeded to ignore me.

Whoops, anyway the sales assistant that did help me was so helpful. I was deciding between Loewe Slit Pochette bag vs Loewe Raffia Anagram Basket Drawstring Pochette bucket bag [Loewe no longer sells this one FYI] without even missing a beat the sales assistant recommended the Slit Pochette. Apparently Loewe had stopped making this style for a few years and customers were really really missing the zip! They had demanded it be brought back - she said the zip was just chicer and this bag laid better against the body. Easiest sale she ever made. [You could tell she just thought this was a much better bag - she was not wrong]

Why this bag?

What does it fit?

Ok, this bag fits a lot. It is a great run around the city bag, or the ideal take on holiday bag. It is also a bag that you could leave the house with at 9am not get home till after dinner and have everything with you that you need,

-Entire makeup bag

-Tangle Teezer

-Sunglasses and case

-AirPods

-Wallet

-Sunscreen