Review: Teen Celine Classic Panier in palm leaves and Calfskin
The Teen Celine Classic Panier is, let’s be honest, another take on the classic basket bag. Loewe, Celine, Miu Miu… at this point it’s basically pick your fighter. They’re all cut from ‘cloth’, palm leaf (literally), and it comes down to two things: price and which logo you want on the front of the bag.
Sizing: Where It Sits Between Loewe’s Versions
One of the most useful things to know: the Teen sits neatly in between Loewe’s small and medium basket bags.
Loewe Medium: H26.5 × W40 × D16 cm
Loewe Small: H17 × W33 × D13 cm
Celine Teen: H23 × W21 × D15 cm
That makes the Teen slightly more compact than the Loewe Medium, but a touch bigger and more practical than the Loewe Small. If you always find the Loewe Small too small but the Medium slightly oversized, this could be the sweet spot.
The Shoulder Strap (and Why It’s Better Than You Think)
The bonus feature here is the calfskin shoulder strap. At first glance, it looks like it’s been attached at a strange angle. But in practice? Genius. Instead of jutting out awkwardly in front of your stomach, the bag actually hangs neatly by your side. Small design decision, big win. (Beats my Chloe Marcie)
The Drawbacks
Of course, this is still a basket bag and that comes with the usual issues:
No Internal Pocket: Nothing at all to keep your essentials safe. Keys, phone, wallet, all loose unless you use a pouch/ cloth dust bag within in.
No Closure: Wide open. Great for the market, not so great for security.
Palm Will Split: This isn’t a forever bag. Like every raffia/palm basket, wear and tear shows quickly, especially if you overload it.
Verdict
The Teen Panier is a chic, logo-driven alternative to Loewe’s now-ubiquitous basket bag. The size is practical, the shoulder strap is surprisingly clever, and the Celine logo has its own understated appeal. But strip away the branding and you’re paying a premium for what is still a palm-leaf tote that will eventually split.
Buy it if: you’re a Celine devotee who wants something less common than Loewe. Personally, I actually prefer the look of the Celine to the Loewe, but if I were buying, I’d go for the Medium Basket Bag rather than the Teen. At RRP £520, it’s not cheap and here’s the cheeky bit always double-check the retail price before heading to resale platforms. I spotted one listed for £584… that’s £64 over retail. Outrageous. AND ITS GOT A PENDING OFFER!
But if I’m honest? My heart belongs to the Loewe slit raffia — a little more unique, a little more elevated, and for me, the ultimate summer raffia, I really want in my collection.
£690 on Vestiaire Collective £945 RRP
