To anyone who may watch this, I would like to amend something I said at 33:46 where I talked about one of the new Polene styles as "old lady-ish" - this is not only imprecise language but also unintentionally age-ist. Please forgive me and accept my apology for any offense possibly caused or feathers ruffled. I meant to say that the shape of this newer model strikes me as very classic, and for my taste, old-fashioned, NOT old-lady-ish. I sincerely hope to have the privilege to reach a ripe old age myself and I respect the unique tastes and experiences of all humans, regardless of age (or any other factor)! 🥰
As a 68-year old, I didn't take offense, but then in my mind, you have to be in your 80s to be an old lady :-) I'm certainly not one! Wonderful video. I predict your channel will be big. In the 90s when they were made in the US and had a minimal aesthetic, I was a Coach girl. I still have a couple of the big feed sacs and a hobo. I've always preferred big bags which is why of all your Polenes, only the large black tote appeals to me. I don't think about buying bags these days because a while ago, I bought the one bag I wanted for years, the Loewe Puzzle in Medium. (Before that, I never paid more than $400 for a bag.) It's my one bag and I'm not tempted by anything else. Anyway, thank you for completely de-influencing me -- any interest I might have had in Polene is completely gone!
I don't see why it is a problem. My mum is 65 and love a lady-ish look for some formal occasions and that look great on her. That's the fashion area she is in. I am 41 and I avoid this look at all. It does not suit me my lifestyle and personality and I know it won't either at 65 since I have never been into cladsic look. Not everyone who is old has a problem with being or looking old or oldish. That's just a fact not an insult and there is a look associated to it. Former queen Elisabeth also had a lady-ish look and everyone found her classy.
Thank you for this reassurance! I may have also been projecting some of MYSELF feeling offended, when I heard a 20-something whipper-snapper refer to women aged 30-35 as "middle-aged" 🤣 so it made me more sensitive to how that kind of comment might feel!!
I understand why you dont want videos to focus on "stuff" but I wanted to let you know that I find them very helpful! It reminds me of the rationalizations I make, how I justify purchases when I don't actually want to buy things, etc. Your thought process is relatable and I appreciate your content in whatever form it takes. :)
Thanks so much for this feedback. It helps me too, to do that processing, so I probably will continue to share as I go through "stuff." But hopefully the stuff content will ultimately fizzle out as I examine what's left and don't bring new things in. Or at least, the future "stuff" videos will emphasize that it is all things I previously featured, nothing new, and focus on enjoying what I have rather than "wanting" and shopping!
Nowadays, if you are rich and famous, owning a luxury bag is considered a sign of success. If you are just one of the masses who like luxury goods, your real bag may be the only end of your efforts. For me, who likes bags, *hotdups* bags are worth buying and using. I don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy the treatment of success.
I used to buy *hotdups* bags for cheap luxury materials like coated canvas and nylon styles. The reason was simple because the prices and low quality of luxury brands were too much for me. On one hand, I didn’t have to feel guilty about buying really expensive fashion junk…
So interesting! My choice is the *hotdups* , the small shoulder bag. I'm glad you give us all the options. I'd hate to carry a "designer" bag when I travel either, it's sturdy and the size is perfect.
This is the most honest review I've ever come across. Thank you for sharing your insights. I always admired Polene's cute and feminine designs, but your video made me realize that practicality might be an issue for my needs.
Thank you for de-influencing me to ever buy a Polene bag. They are quite lovely to look at, but because of the way you reviewed the bags, I knew I couldn't "invest" in a bag so impractical. The only one I'd consider is the black tote, but the disarray of those handles... I'd be looking for another bag in a week. Thank you for this video and also for your others. You've helped me understand my own shopping weak points and that I already have enough of certain things that aren't needed in my life.
I will show you my collection you said. And… you showed us a part of the collection and some boxes which you do not want to open for some reason. Quite a strange attitude 😂
You should remember that was the personal opinion and impression. The Lady was not totally happy with any of Polene bag, but for some reason bought them sll. Why? Because they are nice! I have two and very happy about both 😉
Today I would like to share a treasure store with you. The shopping experience is very strong. The store not only has a wide variety of bags, but also the customer service is very enthusiastic and will help me choose the bag suitable for me according to my needs *jklux*
Lol $7000 on a bag is ridiculous there are more important things in life than a $7000 bag. I’ll take the *jklux* in this case because I can’t afford the real thing.
I am French and live in Paris. I’ve seen Polene bags for so many years around me that even if I think they’re super pretty, I just find it so boring to have the same bag as everyone else 😂 And I am a practical person, I like designs but when I buy something I imagine using it and it was obvious for me that these bags are highly impractical ! So I appreciate your video here to make people come back to earth a bit
I ordered one Polene bag years ago when they didn’t have a store in US yet. It was white in pictures and arrived more grey than white. Then I had to pay 25$ return fee even though it wasn’t my fault they have bad color correction on their web-site. Never repurchased anything from them.
Oh this reminds me I didn't cover any of the "customer service" downsides, like this fact they do not do free returns or exchanges, and it's not an easy process...I never returned anything to them so I forgot about this 😑 But yes indeed the "white" they offer I would call grey, glad to hear it's not just me that thinks their colors are badly represented. I wasn't sure if anyone else would see this as true (I checked the website while filming and thought maybe it's just MY eyes?) so I almost thought I should leave that out of my "review" in case people disagree 😶🌫️
Very informative video. I've been hearing a lot about Polene lately, and I appreciate how you described each style you have in such detail. It is very important to know such specifics, such as how easy or difficult it is to adjust the straps and retrieve things from inside the bag when out and about, and how and where on the bag it may wear out in time with use. Well done!
Thank you! I feel like even in real life when someone comments on our stuff, the instinct is to just recommend and share the positives, not the full picture! I don't think it's wrong to want things even if they're impractical but I do think knowing what you're getting is important! 😁
Seeing this video highlighted for me how rare it seems to be nowadays to see a honest review of things… OR MAYBE we are rather being flooded with half-baked and shallow impressions of stuff creators have received from brands - and that just performs better in algorithmic sense. I wish we were able to see more reviews like this one, a truly deinfluencing ones (not the bastardized version of it we see, „buy this not that” with a novelty name) but also ones coming from real users of items in question.
I agree, I felt the same when making it! Even if it's "not sponsored" it feels like people often want to give favorable reviews, maybe because they don't want to look foolish for their purchase? or maybe they want the brand to notice them? or like you mentioned, for views or the algorithm? Anyway I did my best here and if I do more of this I'll continue to try and bring truly objective points and downsides of the "stuff" to the table.
I like to use a clutch in my daily life, but when I'm on vacation I like something fuss-free and hands-free so I use a *hotdups* , and when I'm working I use a variety of different styles of backpacks. I have a variety of backpacks. The one I use most is the *hotdups* .
One of my Cousins is very beautiful and she has a lot of luxury bags in her house. It was only in a conversation that I learned that these bags are imitation products. I was very shocked *jklux*
I saved up money for a few months to buy a ZP, but it got scratched on the third day. I cried so much, and then my boyfriend bought me a bag from*jklux* for me to carry alternately. Anyway, there are so many bags on the street, so as long as others can't see it, I think it's fine. The thought is there.
I watched this video because I enjoy you and your content, and wasn’t needing to be deinfluenced on this brand, but I found myself really interested and thinking of only we had more reviews like this! Brava!
Thank you! I was feeling pretty undecided about trying to do a "review" like this but I figure at the end of the day the only way I'll learn things is by putting it all out there, glad to hear it seemed helpful!
I'm glad I never pulled the trigger on the Polene bags. While I still admire them from afar, I know I'm one that requires the function as much as the form. Their designs are beautiful but I also know how much practicality I need when using bags, which was always why I hesitated on purchasing them in the first place. If I had purchased them prior to peak popularity and prices, I would've kept them, but really can't justify the price increases and quality decreases!
Yes! Luckily I don't live a life that demands a ton of "bag practicality" these days (when I was much more "out and about" for work or school I definitely did need a practical bag! Now I'm not in a walkable city so my bag takes me from car to work😐) so it "works" for me, but it's exactly like you said at the end, now they're at peak popularity and have had multiple price increases, I'm out!
For a long time, as the price of Chanel increased, I no longer thought I could afford it. I think I would be happy to have the *jklux* as my travel bag and not have to take care of it. By the way, I'm sure no one will have a hard time telling the difference. Thanks for the comparison.
I have same problem with the brand, own 6of their bag. My pride and joy 😅. The purchase started when I was having hard time feeling postpartum depression. Really much relate to your comments on the brand and thought process. But I believe the retail therapy helped me to overcome that hard time. Generally really much enjoy your content ❤
Thank you! I think I was actually going through something similar - I recently had kids too, and was feeling like I couldn't accomplish anything and also pretty lonely in that life change, so I ended up shopping more. I still enjoy my "collection" but now I hope I can make more thoughtful decisions 😄
I was appalled at how bad quality is on their bags at the Paris boutique. Left in disappointment but glad I didn't get any online beforehand. Really have to see and feel these things in person. Thanks for the video! Xx
Yes! In my case I don't live anywhere near NYC, and travel to Paris or Tokyo (I think that's all the stores they have?) is kind of a "dream" activity and not sure I'd want to spend my time shopping...certainly not anymore! But I 100% agree that when shopping it is always better to see the item in person before you buy if possible, it can really change one's mind.
Hi, just found your channel while I was researching about the Polene Neuf, (I'm so late to the game), thank you so much for being frank about how you're liking (or disliking) these bags. Instant subscribe when I notice you referenced classical music a lot (and when you mentioned about some bags fit musics?? OMG I feel seen and heard
Welcome!! Music is my actual job, so it's pretty important to me haha. Also in a social-media-landscape where everyone tends to hype up the latest thing they get, I wanted to provide a more realistic "review," even if it is kind of contradictory to still prefer these styles of bags, but also see how they could be impractical in several scenarios or use cases!
@@Alexas.nobuyyear Ah right! I watched some other videos and only then got it that you're a professional musician! I didn't get to make it a career out of music training in my youth but would occasionally get together w/ other musicians to play in mass/ church events, so I found the commentary on which bag fits music very relatable!
Thank you very much for the review. I was really looking to buy one and you provided me all the info that made me realize it was not a brand for me! Appreciate your videos, keep it up!
I get the feeling that holidays are important to you! Christmas and birthdays must have been special times for gift giving in your family ( mine - not so much!😓)
I followed the review with a great interest and was impressed by this whole line of extremely impractical bags everyone’s supposedly obsessed over and all that, but in the end your mission of not drawing us into stuff was accomplished with Mozart, cause I’ve realized I don’t know which recording of the serenade is my favourite! So off to listening to all the allegros I go ))) Btw, funny thing I’m also 5”10, and my first thought was “ooh, convenient!” and then I laughed cause convenient for what? Shows how I’m also wired for taking reviews as my try-ons, even though I’m not really into shopping and certainly not into $500 bags (I was, but it somehow resolved itself long ago)
I'm happy to hear that the power of Mozart prevailed! What I'm very curious about is whether everyone who's "obsessed" over these bags genuinely likes them, or how much of it IS influence. Right now my own opinion is that my ACTUAL style is kind of "artistic" and that these fit in and I'm willing to not have a practical bag to carry one of these... whereas that may not be true of others who bought in for the hype. But, am I just deluded? Especially as I've acquired a big collection already? Hopefully time will tell (at least for me!) 😅
@@Alexas.nobuyyear No, I don’t think you’re deluded, it’d be really hard to just rationalize being under influence as a quirky style preference after this deep dive into how flawed the bags really are. So I believe you genuinely like them. But yeah, made me think how come these are many people’s dream. And you know, I hate all my ostensibly more wearable michael korses, coaches, marc jacobses for exactly that: the straps being uncomfortable, the shapes not that ergonomic, the openings too tight. And end up wearing a fanny pack across the chest and having a random cotton shopper do a lot of heavy lifting ))
I have a ton of bags, they just happen to be my favorite types of accessories to mix up my wardrobe but I do need to reel it in at times. I’m glad I swooped in on Polène before things changed. They were fair for the price when I purchased but I don’t think they’re worth what they’re selling for now
Honestly I feel pretty much the same - I'm grateful I got what I have even though it IS a lot and it more than one person needs, but they are favorite accessories for me too. I also wouldn't pay what they currently sell for!
Thank you for doing this video. I was considering getting 2 Polene bags for their beautiful designs(Mokki and Numero Sept) but kept back and forth about the decision due to its quality decline and poor customer service. After the news of LVMH stepping into the picture, I am seriously thinking about getting them now while traveling in Tokyo before the price goes up again. Yet, after watching your video, I estimated my daily needs and reviewed my acquired bags from Strathberry and Oleada, and I realized they already have met my everyday need for a bag, and Polene would only fulfill my desire to own a bag with special designs and might annoy me when I carry them out for lack of capacity and convenience. Yet, I may still check those bags when I am in Tokyo to see their quality and service in person. Thanks again for your thorough video.
I think seeing them in person is a great idea, especially if you take a favorite bag that you already own with you to compare brand qualities, and ask yourself if you'd really use the Polene as much 😊
Really appreciate this vid. I do love the way there bags look. Very chic and classy, not flashy, my kind of quiet luxury. Having said that function is still essential. If I were to purchase, I’d go for the number one in a medium-ish size. I usually don’t carry bags with flap opening but I think it’s really cute.
I am actually looking to buy Polene cyme mini, I saw kinda Zara dupe today and realized it was perfect shape for me. Thanks for honest reviews and would like to see more deinfluencing stuff videos!
Al least buy it from Zara on sale, cuz I saw it live and the quality ist .. well, to say very cheep is to say nothing. Sad that Polene get worse, I have cyme for years and that is a good quality bag, I like it a lot, but since they increase the prices and make it worse quality..
Hi, thank you for this video! I have always wanted a Polene bag being that I see them everywhere on Instagram (which make me think that there must be something very right about them). Apparently, that is not the case, and I am glad that I did not spend any money to try that out!
Not necessary I have Polene Beri, it's a perfect bag! I have luxury brand bags too, it is almost same quality as my Givenchy Antigona bag! I think it is a different experience for everyone! About colors i always buy bags from stores as image never justifies the real thing for anything!
Very interesting viewpoint to do reviews from. I appreciate it. I’m a fan of Polene as a concept, but as you say, they are more form over function. I need practical bags, for the most part, so I have only the full size Nuef, which is beautiful and I don’t regret. I have more Coach, because they have more practical bags. I have two leather designer bags too, LV and Gucci, and while the quality might be a wee bit better, hardly justifies the price difference. Those brands are primarily for status. Your Mulberry is probably better quality, to be honest.
I kind of felt the same when I went to a department store to look at YSL bags, I felt like the quality really wasn't better than even the Polenes and certainly not the Mulberry. I've never really looked into LV and Gucci! (and didn't end up buying or continuing to want YSL eitehr!)
I do love genuine review videos. It’s the “corruption “ of the honesty that becomes a problem with the influencers. Having a real life-ish look at a product is helpful. 👍 I’m a huge leather bag fan, I have certain checkboxes for needs, and am usually pretty open to brands. Currently I wear a Dooney and Bourke in a textured bright red. I carry a ton of things so it’s perfect and has feet. ❤ I’ve used it now 7 years(?🤔)-ish. I have all my past nice leather purses too. 😂 I do have those posted for sale but have had no interest.🤷🏼♀️ I think my most expensive was $300. Much more than that and I’m out of my comfort zone. I’ve had several cheap ones I loved to death and wore out so for me, it’s function first. (Mostly) Great video!
Thank you! A bright red everyday bag sounds super fun and Dooney and Bourke has been around for awhile so I imagine that must be pretty trend-proof! Sounds like a great choice!
It’s more like a wearing a SCULPTURE not a real bag! It’s a nice idea from the architecture/design perspective. Put sooooo low practical brand. Even to store them you need a shelf, you can’t put them into a luggage etc. it is a short trend until you try to put them in a storage. I am fine with more traditional shares they will last decades and I can actually hide them without worrying to damage the “stiff softy” shape.
It really is! Luckily for my "style goals" I'm ok with wearing and displaying "small leather sculptures" on my shelves, but it is certainly NOT practical 😆
I subscribed to your channel way before I thought of getting a Polene Cyme. Had to dig out this video today to hear what you think about the bags. Thank you for your reviews (I know it's funny that I'm on a conscious consumerism channel yet thinking of getting a new bag, but that's really because I don't have a proper leather tote for work, and I'm looking for that one fashionable, classic tote)
It's funny that I'm MAKING a conscious consumerism channel and have spent a fair amount of time talking about bags that I've purchased as recently as last year before the no buy, so don't worry about that! And hopefully you got what you needed from the video! If you actually have a commute to work or need/prefer a bag that's organized and secure, I would caution against the Cyme, as you probably saw! (And also the fact that my Cyme mini is by far the worst quality Polene I've ever encountered 🫠).
I love this deep dive! As a consumer, but also as a bag maker, haha. Hearing what you have to say about these actually makes me wonder why anyone would get these for daily use, but I do have to admit I like the sculptural look of some of these models. I think going into why you WOULDN'T recommend these - while also talking about the things you DO like, is super interesting :)
Geez😅thank you for this honest review. You’ve just convinced me not to buy the tote. As a mom I’m looking for a purse, tote that is beautiful and functional.
Yeah the other concern for me as a mom is that I think current price points make these not the most parent-friendly choice...seeing as kids' snacks, liquids, and toys etc. (or even just them getting hold of a pen or marker and marking up things!) could easily make the interior of any "mom bag" dirty, I would personally go with something more "practical" both to carry (like something that zips closed and can be worn hands-free, doesn't slide off shoulder) and to leave lying around with kids!
Same! I also think I preferred it when they were a little less popular than they currently are... for me they're really not a "status symbol" kind of thing (I just like the shapes, mostly) and I don't want/need them to be recognized out and about😅
Sometimes there are no flaps inside cause they interfere with the shape of the bag. I saw it once in Q&A post office a small bag brand. People were asking why there are no compartments in one of their totes and the creator said she could add any pockets or compartments inside without messing up the shape of the bag…
Very helpful video. Thank you. I've seen many videos on cyme reviews but none mentioned that the bag is so soft that when you wear it on your shoulder, and you want to take something out, it opens up so wide the items inside may fall out. This is a real issue.
Fascinating! Thank you for the review. As a minimalist I cannot fathom why anyone would need more than 3 or 4 bags. I've bought one good quality bag per decade. I am however looking for a cross-body bag (I also cannot stand actually holding a bag / being weighed down by a thing, and am more of a pockets person). I also don't understand why other women carry so much 'stuff' other than for work/children. I have been considering Numero Dix, since the max I ever carry is phone, keys, 2 cards and hand sanitiser. None of the other cr4p. Thanks once again for the review, I will reconsider. 59 year-old Brit.
The Dix might work for you in that case! But hey, now you know some of the downsides maybe. And I certainly don't NEED more than 3 or 4 bags, I admit that freely and with some amount of chagrin - just a bit of evidence of my "overbuying" habit before trying a "no buy" this year 😆
In that case, the Dix may work out for you! But perhaps now you know some of the downsides to consider as well. I also totally agree that no one NEEDS more than 3-4 bags, and I admit with some chagrin that it's just further evidence of my "overbuying" habit before I chose to go on this "No buy" year to recalibrate! 😅
Go for it! Decluttering is cathartic in many ways. I have 4 Polene bags and I do not really use any of them, unfortunately. Similar issues. Chopping block soon. Good video!
It is! I'm not sure if any of my Polenes will be decluttered anytime soon as they are currently a part of my "decor" - and despite their many impracticalities, I do actually use pretty much all of them, so time will tell whether they'll be worth hanging on to.
Great video, thank you. New to your channel, I have interests in bags and in mindful consumerism, so TH-cam's algorithm got it right for once. Bags are one of the categories that lure many of us into shopping for our "fantasy self" instead of our real life. I'm fascinated by that phenomenon. As for Polene, I spent many hours researching their bags in the days before the price went up and quality went down. I have a different perspective on the dressiness/casualness of the bags. I had considered the Sept as a dressy bag, but in the end the pebbled leather and the large, fixed leather strap took it out of the running. And as much as I appreciate the sculptural look of Polene bags, I am a vintage Coach/Dooney person, and I can tell you that extreme folding leads to cracking in the long term, so, sadly, I tend to think of Polene in the fast fashion category.
Aw welcome! I've heard great things about vintage Coach and you're not the first one to say they use Dooney bags either, they must be doing something right! That's a great point about leather folding leading to cracking! I might have to look into how to maintain folded leather longer term because I definitely don't want these to become "fast fashion" in my wardrobe. And at least as far as my collection is concerned, it's actually kind of a good thing that the prices have gone up to the point where I'm no longer interested on that basis alone! 😅
@@Alexas.nobuyyear - Keeping the leather conditioned should help keep cracking to a minimum. Definitely follow Polene's recommendations as far as product compatibility. I've had good results with Leather CPR, if that happens to be ok per Polene.
I've listened to Eine Kline Nachtmusik on a loop this morning - thank you for influencing me in the most positive way possible! Keep up the great work. I love the music that you include in your videos :)
No I don't! Since you mentioned the brand - I will say that there are details about the Songmont bags that I don't like the look of, the edges of some of the bag designs look a little less-finished to me, I don't like the logo font and how it's sometimes on another tab of leather so it stands out more (relatively speaking), and also their designs tend to be a little "less structured". The Luna bag with its "multi conversions" also strikes me as more inconvenient than helpful. But - as I've never owned one I can't really give a proper review, these are just the reasons why I was never really interested in buying one.
Something I just notice is, that I love that you didn‘t include links in your bio! I asked myself: if there had been links, I would have clicked on them while watching your content (it’s a rather bad habit) and furthermore because of the cookie settings on each side I would have seen advertisment on other Plattforms Like Pinterest. Even if you grow up with the Internet it took me til today to notice it. Something I will keep in mind when i See links the next time. I love your Channel! 💕
Haha never! My firm belief is that if someone is going to want something you're showing, they can/should do the "work" of looking it up for themselves... since then at least they'll have chances to pause and think whether they really want to be looking. And you are so right about the cookies thing, I didn't even think about that either! The brands/products start following you after clicking links! 🫣 Thanks for mentioning!!!
I dont have a ''lot'' of bags (thank god!!) and like shoes i will always prioritize fonction over looks. Doesnt say i didnt splurge (i have 3 see by Chloe, 2 COACH) all those splurge cost me on average 300$ per bag which is for me the just enough ''luxury meet quality''. Because that is it. i just want good leather (vegan leather just crack and doesnt last as long) and I dont want to be precious about my bag, and i know I'm not careful with them. What made me purchase my first new COACH purse was because I purchased in 2005 a COACH bucket bag on EBAY (pre-loved), that bag finally gave up in 2018-2019 and I wasn't careful with it, went everywhere it was my only purse for the longest time. It was the perfect size (in fact it was even on the small(ish) side) but still can carry 2 bottles of water, keys, wallet and phone. And I had such a good experience with that bag, who cost me 50$ (2005) that for me made it worth to purchased a new one even if new it was way more then my preloved one. Just to say, for me, bags are like cars : never a good investment if you dont have the money. but I think it is worth spending a good 200$ if you can keep it for 10 years instead of 50$ for a bag that wont last you more then 2 years. See what your normal wear and tear with your bags and just calculate the cost to replace that bag over time. Unpopular opinion: I'm not vegan so unless it's really a value of yours ... leather will always win and a good cobbler will be able to fix your bag. (zippers, handle ect) so it will also be possible if you are willing to pay a small amount to repare your bag to added years to it.
You're right about things never being a good investment if you dint have the money!! Thanks for sharing. I actually was on a plant-based diet for a long time but I also tend to agree also that real leather wears better than most of the plastic vegan leather alternatives, so ultimately it can be more sustainable to buy less, as long as using an animal product doesn't bother the wearer.
I was thinking of getting polene, thanks for the extensive review! I had various Dior and Mulberry but the quality are just terrible for the price. Most of my dior leather are scratchted after a few years or the colour would have transferred. My mulberry metal parts were scratched so bad that is not wearable and it became very flimsy. I have some good micheal kors and coach but agreed with you that it is not consistent across all the bags.
I like them all for different reasons! The regular size neuf is my favorite overall for the unique squishy shape, and the grayish white goes well with my wardrobe. The un nano I think holds more than the dix because it's not as flat in shape. However the dix may be better for travel because it can be worn closer to the body (I like to wear it crossbody, like on the chest, on a shorter strap, kind of like the "belt bag" trend) and feels very secure that way with the zip as well. So just depends on what your travel needs are! 😊
Thank you so much for this truly honest review 😊😊. I was seriously considering the regular size Cyme because it is so beautiful but the fact that it loses its shape when carrying is very disappointing. I've watched other honest reviews and nobody mentions this. I think I've heard about the Dix's narrow opening once before and it was also an immediate turn-off for me. I already have a bag that scratches my hand when I reach inside it 😂 Again thank you for deinfluencing me. Becoming a mom pushed me to buy more things than usual and I'm trying to make less impulse purchases and to be more conscious about my budget.
Totally relate to the "being a mom" and "buying more things" conundrum - so happy to join you in this endeavor of working on impulse purchasing - we can do it! Also yeah you definitely don't need TWO bags that scratch your hand reaching in 😅
The value that I find in Kate Spade is that if you like the idea of novelty or "fun" pieces but want them made out of leather instead of PVC/pleather then, THEN, Kate Spade is nice. I use to wear Harajuku / Japanese street fashion when I was younger and it gave me a taste for "why is your bag a giant rubber ducky?" but sadly over the years those original pieces have rotted and peeled because of what they were made out of (PVC/pleather). So now in mid-life mode I drip into Kate Spade sometimes when I see a piece that reminds me of something I use to have, but died a long time ago. My one warning about the brand though is that at their Outlet stores they do sell pleather-bags that are pattern-copies of their leather bags in the actual store. Read the label and double-check online; don't trust the word of the salesperson because the people they hire to work at the Outlet are kind but not well briefed on the inventory they carry.
I bought 4pcs from Polene with in a year, this was in Fall 2021-Summer2022… the quality was impeccable. I bought one that just came in yesterday actually(Dec2024), my second mini Cyme and the quality has gone really low comparing it to my first Cyme mini bought in 2021. The feel of the canvas and the interior micro suade feels thinner or flimsy. I can't help but notice how different the quality is from 3yrs ago it is sad. Considering another price increase is in the way for sure and that LVMH bought part of the company. Idk if I will be adding more in the future :(
That's so interesting to hear your direct comparison of the same bag! Yeah I'm really not optimistic about the direction of the brand, with the LVMH thing. I'm not sure I'd even want to support them now
I got recommended this video on my home page! I appreciate your honesty and approach to reviews. You helped to settle my impulses lol. You mentioned standard sized music at the beginning and through some context clues, could you be a violinist?
Hi from Japan Almost every influencer in Japan has Polene bag and their review is very positive. But thanks to your review I learned there are negative reviews. But you know, so many Chinese copy has been found in Japan and I doubt that those very low quality is real or not. I will make sure to check the quality because Polene has store in Tokyo
Have been binge-watching your videos for the past week and love your thoughts and perseptions. I am on a low buy journey myself since november and it has taught me a lot on so many levels! And now I real understand that I HAD a shopping problem - (Also you remind me a little bit of Justine Leconte - (love her chanel) :):) Maybe its your hairstyle :) Designer bags are not my thing, but you have so many interesting side notes.
Haha I've seen that the plushies seem to be a "love it" or "hate it", so nice to hear someone who doesn't think they "ruin" the bag 😂 I will get to the books! Might be awhile, but I will eventually!
@@Alexas.nobuyyear take your time with books I will wait patiently. :D About the plushies, yea I can understand it can be love or hate but still they look cute and if you like them that's all that matters. :D
This was super helpful - even though I skimmed a bit. I was about to buy a Polene but could not decide which one because they all seemed not practical. Of any bag, designer or not, what do you like best for carrying laptop by the way?
Honestly if I have to carry a laptop I'm going to bring a regular old school backpack - not the most glamorous option, but I just can't bring myself to use a purse or tote bag for something that heavy😅
These types of videos are useful, it definitely helped me realize Polene is not for me. I do like the numero uno because it reminds me of an owl and I'm a big bird fan, but I think the micro would scratch that itch if I think of it as a little soft sculpture to put on the shelf. Won't be buying anything anytime soon tho
I also love polene but my style tends towards casual & sporty so it was funny hearing that. I've sold the Beri sometime ago, but can't seem to let go of the Un even though I had a harder time using it. Given the poor QC record they have going, I really hope the unboxed bags are spared from that fate 😅
Same! Luckily the unboxed ones are from quite awhile ago (one or two are from over 2 years ago I think? which is also crazy 😅). I do think they can work with casual/sporty styles as a kind of intentional contrast but depending on how one likes to put outfits together, in my opinion it can be more challenging than a more "classic" or more "casual" style! But once again style is so personal so who's to say, really...
I’ve had my eye on the Cyme for a long while now. Not really sure if I want it in Camel or Cognac, but the bag sure does looks interesting. It looks like it goes with casual and stylish outing, but I’m someone who values quality over quantity, so I’m not sure if I’ll end up getting a bag from Polene… I have my Valentino Garavani tote that is made from amazing leather! I have the Bayswater from Mulberry that I absolutely adore and has the most beautiful leather! I have the Tory Burch tote which I love and a Rebecca Minkoff Megan tote… and I also have a Marc Jacobs bag, and a Pandora and Nightingale both from Givenchy -again, amazing quality!! So do I really need a new bag? Definitely not. Although the Cyme is something that I don’t have in my collection… but it’s stupid and those stitches you showed us are really bad… so I’ll probably pass on the Polene.
how do you think about whether it's still "worth it" at the current price? do you think there's some cut-off in your mind (eg $500)? Is it relative to other brands like mulberry?
So this is almost another whole discussion because everyone's idea of "worth it" or "value for money" etc. is so personal but I can say that yes, for me, it IS kind of a $500 cut-off for anything "fashion/wardrobe/accessory-related" and if anything, I want to kind of lower that threshold (or just buy so much less that price is less important). I think Mulberry is actually way more expensive new, right? But I guess also "higher-end" designers can be found secondhand at similar prices to Polene's current rates, so to me that kind of means it might not be "worth it" anymore to either!
I was thinking of buying the polene dix but you just changed my mind because im a mom of 5 and i know im gonna need space in my bags someway- somehow lol. Ty !
I have the number 1, the big one, which I love. It's very big so it's a good everyday bag for me. However, the glue on the strap kinds of gets loose ? I was a bit shocked by that, I must say. I just peal at the little bits that stick out and then it's ok. Still find it very practical for my needs though. I can fit my umbrella in there and I put my metro pass in the pocket at the back. I hesitated with the numero 7, I find it very classy.
Did you get yours more recently? I've noticed quality issues (like the glue spots, etc) more on the ones I got more recently, no issues with the ones I got years ago, so I just wonder if the quality really is going down like some other reviews say.
This does show how the brand name affects people's opinion on the bag, I like how chanel can be roasted for it's craftmanship (wonky alignment on the front) and people still buy it 20x the price of polene, whereas polene is such an up and coming brand that people are losing interest once they fall back a bit on quality/price ratio.
Absolutely! I don't think Polene's at the point where it's a "status" symbol, even if it is/was a "trend" symbol for awhile. It does feel like there are reasons, beyond just liking the designs, that people buy this stuff!
Ok, I was peeking on your no buy videos for a while, after finding this one I felt really bad not being subscribed :D Thank you for this. I fell in love with this brand thanks to watching HLP, I planned to save for one before the prices raised. I gave up after the rise and with some of the controversies popping up. In the meantime I run into Furla Ginevra Medium bag in Secondhand shop for really cheeeeeeeeap price and fall in love with it. I started to write this to let you know that I really love the clasps on Furla bags and I agree that most of those components are really ugly :) And I just got lucky second time and run into 3 Furla bags in the same secondhand shop yesterday. And left with two of them after careful consideration of their utility for my wardrobe. For 130 USD for both of them I am very happy and my account is not crying. This is not to promote more spending. I was genuinely trying to find the first bag in different colours for several months and was happy to find out different models but working for my needs just as well with more variety. I need to calm down my spending and start selling what I do not use, I am just finally finding what works for me both in quality and in price and not attempting no buy year, but definitely having it on my mind often and your videos help with that. Its the topic I started to watch HLP for anyways (where are those times :D )
Yes! I really loved that series of content from HLP and enjoy watching when she occasionally still talks about consuming, but have really had to be careful clicking on any of her other content after the no-buy and year of less. It's one of the areas - no buy, conscious consuming - that I'm trying to add content to here on TH-cam, so, welcome!😊
I was always a bit suspicious and sceptical about Polene, especially about the way they burst onto the scene. I looked at each of their products/bags online and kept wondering about the practicalities of wearing one, the wear and tear, the leather, the hardware. You have confirmed what I had deduced, and I can't thank you enough for your honesty.
Just found your channel! I did an 8mo no buy last year, with strict budget this year (also no buy August so I can save a month’s budget for a larger $ item) thanks for sharing all your polene bags! Would you declutter any of your less used bags? (Minus the dior 😂)
I don't know yet! Right now they are kind of doubling as bedroom decor, so I'm tempted to say that I'm ok with keeping this collection. BUT I am finding the more "no buy" time passes, I get less and less attached to the stuff I already have. So who knows?
I have about 5 bags that I haven’t worn that still have the tags on them, but I’ve never not opened the box… thats different. So you don’t know if there’s a quality issue that might warrant a return? Thanks for the honest review. Despite the price increase I’m still going to purchase 😊
Haha well since they're being "saved" for like Christmas or birthday, the unboxing is part of the surprise. And needless to say these decisions were made way in the past now so any return windows have closed...I wouldn't recommend this kind of shopping! My husband did check and make sure each of them is the right product at least 🤣 And hey if you saw all the "possible downsides" here and it's still a good fit for you, by all means go ahead and I hope you enjoy! I personally like the designs and would still call them my "favorite bag brand" even if it's not practical for everyone. 🥰
Late to the party on this one as I only discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and am just watching some of your hideous. I love the concept of doing an honest review of bags you like but can now see the flaws with it. I could go on for hours about mine 😂 none of mine are quite so expensive but I have had a few designer ones in the past and do have some lower end designer bags which honestly I seldom use! I’m more of a Kipling or Eastpak girl now. I’m in the UK and do have a couple of coach bags, a couple of Lulu Guinness ones and a leather radley but they were pretty much all sale buys!
Thank you! At the end of the day these still are my favorites because I do value the aesthetics more than the practicality, but for the "average user" it's definitely something to know about before committing especially at current prices, yikes. I've also just had enough of consumer culture online, of hyping up every new purchase, or hyping things up and then having affiliate links or direct sponsorships where the creator benefits. It's hard not to talk about "stuff" at all, but at the very least I want to be able to catch myself if I ever start falling into this pattern. (And have consciously decided against links, sponsorships, PR, not just going to "fall into" that!)
Thank you. This video was SO helpful to me. I will definitely not be buying a Polene bag! Recently been loving Portland Leather but none of their bags are lined. I think I’m going to invest in some leather cleaning products and rehab the bags I already have!
I still want their Beri bag but they didn't release it in Cognac. I got the Camel and immediate resold because as you said, it's very 2D. None of the other colors are speaking to me. I actually want the Cognac Mini Cyme but there are too many drawbacks
Yes I really don't understand why it seems like Camel is such a popular color, not knocking other people's taste but it just feels less "special" to me! And yes - I would caution against the Cymes right now just because of quality inconsistencies!!
So I think there have been dedicated videos on this, but I believe the latest increase happened in January 2024. Depending on the model they're $80-120 more than they used to be. So the Dix for example was $460, and is now $580 in Oct 2024. There have been increases before this year as well! The Huit mini was at $280 I believe in 2020? And it's now $470 after multiple increases.
I’m so glad to have found your channel. I love your honesty. I don’t own any Polene bags, but I think they are beautiful and in the past I kind of wanted one for awhile so this review was interesting to me. I look forward to watching more of your videos- thanks!
thank you for the review. I’ve been eyeing the cyme mini for a while now and was thinking about buying it to take advantage of the exchange rate in my country (the bag would come out to around $400 usd after tax). i wasn’t considering buying it for $460 pretax but now im considering just not buying it at all.
I think it's just super important to have an idea whether it'll get the use it needs to get, in order to be worth it for you! The cyme mini is perhaps the least used out of all of mine, I do have the larger one and use that daily, but when I want a mid-size or smaller one I NEVER choose the cyme mini.
@ true! i dont have any tan colored medium sized bags.. i actually really do love the design but i also know its not completely practical because of the narrower base since i do tend to carry a lot of papers 😭 and the leather isn’t my favorite.. it looks like the leather has been going downhill to keep up with demand… so we’ll see. anyways, you reminded me to be more conscious of my spending, so i thank you for that 🫶🏻
At first i thought you're justine leconte. That signature polene shape, the one on you shelf, is like men's underpants, the tighty whitey one. The first time i saw that bag, Captain Underpant's underpant flashed before my eyes and i really can't unsee it.
Kind of! I tend to use the same one for a few weeks before switching but if I have an outfit that the bag I'm currently on doesn't "go" with I will switch more often (that is, if I have time before having to run out the door, which isn't always the case and that day I'll just have "mismatched" outfit and bag 😅)
I am French and live in Paris. I’ve seen Polene bags for so many years around me that even if I think they’re super pretty, I just find it so boring to have the same bag as everyone else 😂 And I am a practical person, I like designs but when I buy something I imagine using it and it was obvious for me that these bags are highly impractical ! For one: the bag not closing is a big no for me: I take the metro, I’m in Paris, i let you do the math if you have an open bag 😂 So I appreciate your video here to make people come back to earth a bit.
Thank you! I agree that if I lived somewhere where many others had these bags, I would probably not want to wear them either and they wouldn't feel interesting anymore. But, at least my small city does not have a busy metro, so an open bag is actually okay for me, even if it is not my recommended choice 😅
Haha yes it's like a mini stuffed rabbit! I know not everyone's a fan but they have sentimental meaning to me and add a playful/whimsical touch to otherwise "elegant" bags 🤭
I'd enjoy the declutters. The Polen bags are gorgeous, but the annoyance of getting in and out makes them a no for me. To be honest the modeling section made it feel more like a "buy this" review.
Thanks for that feedback! I was debating including the "modeling section" because I've seen comments on other "bag reviews" that are annoyed people DIDN'T do a "try-on" and ultimately decided it would make a more helpful "review" but I do understand how that part might seem kind of "influencey". Hopefully I managed to turn off the urge to buy with Mozart instead of trendy pop music 😆
I liked the model section. For one thing I think it is fun for Alexa! Her channel should be fun for her or she might stop doing all the work! This channel has become important to me so the more fun she has the better! 😏
I have a Polene number Un ( big ) camel color. The quality is wonderful, but it's a bit heavy, that makes me stop using it daily. That's the only bad thing about it.
I love your review!! Here in France there are so many influencers that have been gifted these bags that it is very hard to resist being influenced. They are everywhere. And yes their shapes are beautiful but practically is a no go for me. Straps are too fine or useless, access is complicated, or the leather looks plasticky… so many issues for a price tag that keep growing and growing because of the « hype ». So thanks for your review. It will hopefully help a few potential buyers to make a enlightened choice ;)
i do appreciate this video, i had heard about polene as an example of "affordable" bags that are made with the same leather as some of the big brands, and they are really unique and i think beautiful... but i see from your descriptions this just doesn't work with my life. you can't really put stuff in them and they will be easily damaged. maybe as a nice bag for special but then almost what's the point? maybe second hand. this was refreshing and helpful, thanks.
So much of what we hear about products online is just the "good" stuff, or the things we can use to "justify" a purchase, so I love it when reviews focus on the opposite of those, glad to hear I was able to provide info that helped make a practical decision 😄
That's great! And yes 100%, tastes are subjective. While the focus of the "review" component of this video is why people may want to reconsider buying one of these, I actually do still enjoy and use all of mine...I think I briefly mentioned at the beginning here that I did buy all of these and still use them all, so in a way I do kind of "endorse" them despite sharing their downsides 😄
I only ever bought 1 Polene bag, the nuef. I should have returned it years ago when I bought it. It’s cute and I can’t stand it. The opening is awful, the handle isn’t comfortable and like you said the strap is ridiculously thin and cheap looking.
To anyone who may watch this, I would like to amend something I said at 33:46 where I talked about one of the new Polene styles as "old lady-ish" - this is not only imprecise language but also unintentionally age-ist. Please forgive me and accept my apology for any offense possibly caused or feathers ruffled. I meant to say that the shape of this newer model strikes me as very classic, and for my taste, old-fashioned, NOT old-lady-ish.
I sincerely hope to have the privilege to reach a ripe old age myself and I respect the unique tastes and experiences of all humans, regardless of age (or any other factor)! 🥰
Hopefully ladies of a certain age are over being so thin skinned as to take any offence! We know none was meant!
As a 68-year old, I didn't take offense, but then in my mind, you have to be in your 80s to be an old lady :-) I'm certainly not one! Wonderful video. I predict your channel will be big. In the 90s when they were made in the US and had a minimal aesthetic, I was a Coach girl. I still have a couple of the big feed sacs and a hobo. I've always preferred big bags which is why of all your Polenes, only the large black tote appeals to me. I don't think about buying bags these days because a while ago, I bought the one bag I wanted for years, the Loewe Puzzle in Medium. (Before that, I never paid more than $400 for a bag.) It's my one bag and I'm not tempted by anything else. Anyway, thank you for completely de-influencing me -- any interest I might have had in Polene is completely gone!
I don't see why it is a problem. My mum is 65 and love a lady-ish look for some formal occasions and that look great on her. That's the fashion area she is in. I am 41 and I avoid this look at all. It does not suit me my lifestyle and personality and I know it won't either at 65 since I have never been into cladsic look. Not everyone who is old has a problem with being or looking old or oldish. That's just a fact not an insult and there is a look associated to it. Former queen Elisabeth also had a lady-ish look and everyone found her classy.
Thank you for this reassurance! I may have also been projecting some of MYSELF feeling offended, when I heard a 20-something whipper-snapper refer to women aged 30-35 as "middle-aged" 🤣 so it made me more sensitive to how that kind of comment might feel!!
@@joannegodwin5238what color did you get the Loewe?
I understand why you dont want videos to focus on "stuff" but I wanted to let you know that I find them very helpful! It reminds me of the rationalizations I make, how I justify purchases when I don't actually want to buy things, etc. Your thought process is relatable and I appreciate your content in whatever form it takes. :)
Thanks so much for this feedback. It helps me too, to do that processing, so I probably will continue to share as I go through "stuff." But hopefully the stuff content will ultimately fizzle out as I examine what's left and don't bring new things in. Or at least, the future "stuff" videos will emphasize that it is all things I previously featured, nothing new, and focus on enjoying what I have rather than "wanting" and shopping!
Nowadays, if you are rich and famous, owning a luxury bag is considered a sign of success. If you are just one of the masses who like luxury goods, your real bag may be the only end of your efforts. For me, who likes bags, *hotdups* bags are worth buying and using. I don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy the treatment of success.
*hotdups* Bolsa réplica 1:1 con imagen reflejada, resistente y resistente al desgaste. Me gusta mucho.
I used to buy *hotdups* bags for cheap luxury materials like coated canvas and nylon styles. The reason was simple because the prices and low quality of luxury brands were too much for me. On one hand, I didn’t have to feel guilty about buying really expensive fashion junk…
So interesting! My choice is the *hotdups* , the small shoulder bag. I'm glad you give us all the options. I'd hate to carry a "designer" bag when I travel either, it's sturdy and the size is perfect.
This is the most honest review I've ever come across. Thank you for sharing your insights. I always admired Polene's cute and feminine designs, but your video made me realize that practicality might be an issue for my needs.
Thank you for de-influencing me to ever buy a Polene bag. They are quite lovely to look at, but because of the way you reviewed the bags, I knew I couldn't "invest" in a bag so impractical. The only one I'd consider is the black tote, but the disarray of those handles... I'd be looking for another bag in a week. Thank you for this video and also for your others. You've helped me understand my own shopping weak points and that I already have enough of certain things that aren't needed in my life.
Me too
I'm glad this was helpful!
I will show you my collection you said. And… you showed us a part of the collection and some boxes which you do not want to open for some reason. Quite a strange attitude 😂
You should remember that was the personal opinion and impression. The Lady was not totally happy with any of Polene bag, but for some reason bought them sll. Why?
Because they are nice! I have two and very happy about both 😉
@ellenanew3552 well I never claimed to be normal after all 😅
I LOVE this video. I think you are a rare person to give such an honest review. I really appreciate your effort. Thank you so much.
Aw thank you! I hope it helps 😊
Before I could afford luxury goods, the only bag I owned and purchased was a *hotdups* LV, which I used every day.
Today I would like to share a treasure store with you. The shopping experience is very strong. The store not only has a wide variety of bags, but also the customer service is very enthusiastic and will help me choose the bag suitable for me according to my needs *jklux*
Lol $7000 on a bag is ridiculous there are more important things in life than a $7000 bag. I’ll take the *jklux* in this case because I can’t afford the real thing.
If I had $1,000, I would choose to spend $100 on a bag to store my $900 instead of spending $1,000 on an empty bag *jklux*
OMG, that's some honest review right here. You should do this for all brands!!
Haha I'm thinking of doing a few more of the more "influenced" brands, we'll see!
I am French and live in Paris. I’ve seen Polene bags for so many years around me that even if I think they’re super pretty, I just find it so boring to have the same bag as everyone else 😂
And I am a practical person, I like designs but when I buy something I imagine using it and it was obvious for me that these bags are highly impractical !
So I appreciate your video here to make people come back to earth a bit
I ordered one Polene bag years ago when they didn’t have a store in US yet. It was white in pictures and arrived more grey than white. Then I had to pay 25$ return fee even though it wasn’t my fault they have bad color correction on their web-site. Never repurchased anything from them.
Oh this reminds me I didn't cover any of the "customer service" downsides, like this fact they do not do free returns or exchanges, and it's not an easy process...I never returned anything to them so I forgot about this 😑
But yes indeed the "white" they offer I would call grey, glad to hear it's not just me that thinks their colors are badly represented. I wasn't sure if anyone else would see this as true (I checked the website while filming and thought maybe it's just MY eyes?) so I almost thought I should leave that out of my "review" in case people disagree 😶🌫️
I love Polene and have 5 bags and this is the most honest extensive review I have seen! Well done! Thank you for this vid!
😊
Which ones do you have and which one is your favorite?
@@lovealwaysjasmine Neuf, Neuf mini, beri, un nano, and dix. The Neuf is my fav with un nano is close second
@@jenniferhusted48 which one is best for travel?
I love the steam lighting in this video! Now, focus on *hotdups* !
Very informative video. I've been hearing a lot about Polene lately, and I appreciate how you described each style you have in such detail. It is very important to know such specifics, such as how easy or difficult it is to adjust the straps and retrieve things from inside the bag when out and about, and how and where on the bag it may wear out in time with use. Well done!
Thank you! I feel like even in real life when someone comments on our stuff, the instinct is to just recommend and share the positives, not the full picture! I don't think it's wrong to want things even if they're impractical but I do think knowing what you're getting is important! 😁
Buy yourself a plane ticket to Bangkok...and enjoy the perfect beach holiday in Pattaya with *jklux* Company Bags
Seeing this video highlighted for me how rare it seems to be nowadays to see a honest review of things… OR MAYBE we are rather being flooded with half-baked and shallow impressions of stuff creators have received from brands - and that just performs better in algorithmic sense. I wish we were able to see more reviews like this one, a truly deinfluencing ones (not the bastardized version of it we see, „buy this not that” with a novelty name) but also ones coming from real users of items in question.
I agree, I felt the same when making it! Even if it's "not sponsored" it feels like people often want to give favorable reviews, maybe because they don't want to look foolish for their purchase? or maybe they want the brand to notice them? or like you mentioned, for views or the algorithm? Anyway I did my best here and if I do more of this I'll continue to try and bring truly objective points and downsides of the "stuff" to the table.
I like to use a clutch in my daily life, but when I'm on vacation I like something fuss-free and hands-free so I use a *hotdups* , and when I'm working I use a variety of different styles of backpacks. I have a variety of backpacks. The one I use most is the *hotdups* .
One of my Cousins is very beautiful and she has a lot of luxury bags in her house. It was only in a conversation that I learned that these bags are imitation products. I was very shocked *jklux*
I saved up money for a few months to buy a ZP, but it got scratched on the third day. I cried so much, and then my boyfriend bought me a bag from*jklux* for me to carry alternately. Anyway, there are so many bags on the street, so as long as others can't see it, I think it's fine. The thought is there.
Thank you for your honest review. We need this in this day. Please keep do what you are doing. I am appreciated it very much!❤
I watched this video because I enjoy you and your content, and wasn’t needing to be deinfluenced on this brand, but I found myself really interested and thinking of only we had more reviews like this! Brava!
Thank you! I was feeling pretty undecided about trying to do a "review" like this but I figure at the end of the day the only way I'll learn things is by putting it all out there, glad to hear it seemed helpful!
I'm glad I never pulled the trigger on the Polene bags. While I still admire them from afar, I know I'm one that requires the function as much as the form. Their designs are beautiful but I also know how much practicality I need when using bags, which was always why I hesitated on purchasing them in the first place. If I had purchased them prior to peak popularity and prices, I would've kept them, but really can't justify the price increases and quality decreases!
Yes! Luckily I don't live a life that demands a ton of "bag practicality" these days (when I was much more "out and about" for work or school I definitely did need a practical bag! Now I'm not in a walkable city so my bag takes me from car to work😐) so it "works" for me, but it's exactly like you said at the end, now they're at peak popularity and have had multiple price increases, I'm out!
For a long time, as the price of Chanel increased, I no longer thought I could afford it. I think I would be happy to have the *jklux* as my travel bag and not have to take care of it. By the way, I'm sure no one will have a hard time telling the difference. Thanks for the comparison.
Loving your honesty and in depth analysis ❤
I have same problem with the brand, own 6of their bag. My pride and joy 😅. The purchase started when I was having hard time feeling postpartum depression. Really much relate to your comments on the brand and thought process. But I believe the retail therapy helped me to overcome that hard time.
Generally really much enjoy your content ❤
Thank you!
I think I was actually going through something similar - I recently had kids too, and was feeling like I couldn't accomplish anything and also pretty lonely in that life change, so I ended up shopping more. I still enjoy my "collection" but now I hope I can make more thoughtful decisions 😄
A jewelry & book declutter sounds great to me.
Thank you for the feedback! It might be awhile but I will share eventually 😊
I was appalled at how bad quality is on their bags at the Paris boutique. Left in disappointment but glad I didn't get any online beforehand. Really have to see and feel these things in person. Thanks for the video! Xx
Yes! In my case I don't live anywhere near NYC, and travel to Paris or Tokyo (I think that's all the stores they have?) is kind of a "dream" activity and not sure I'd want to spend my time shopping...certainly not anymore! But I 100% agree that when shopping it is always better to see the item in person before you buy if possible, it can really change one's mind.
Hi, just found your channel while I was researching about the Polene Neuf, (I'm so late to the game), thank you so much for being frank about how you're liking (or disliking) these bags. Instant subscribe when I notice you referenced classical music a lot (and when you mentioned about some bags fit musics?? OMG I feel seen and heard
Welcome!! Music is my actual job, so it's pretty important to me haha.
Also in a social-media-landscape where everyone tends to hype up the latest thing they get, I wanted to provide a more realistic "review," even if it is kind of contradictory to still prefer these styles of bags, but also see how they could be impractical in several scenarios or use cases!
@@Alexas.nobuyyear Ah right! I watched some other videos and only then got it that you're a professional musician! I didn't get to make it a career out of music training in my youth but would occasionally get together w/ other musicians to play in mass/ church events, so I found the commentary on which bag fits music very relatable!
Thank you very much for the review. I was really looking to buy one and you provided me all the info that made me realize it was not a brand for me! Appreciate your videos, keep it up!
Yes! Mission accomplished? haha
you definitely have self control not opening those boxes! Also id love a jewelry declutter
Haha self control, and/or the way to justify buying too many of these things 😅
I get the feeling that holidays are important to you! Christmas and birthdays must have been special times for gift giving in your family ( mine - not so much!😓)
I followed the review with a great interest and was impressed by this whole line of extremely impractical bags everyone’s supposedly obsessed over and all that, but in the end your mission of not drawing us into stuff was accomplished with Mozart, cause I’ve realized I don’t know which recording of the serenade is my favourite! So off to listening to all the allegros I go ))) Btw, funny thing I’m also 5”10, and my first thought was “ooh, convenient!” and then I laughed cause convenient for what? Shows how I’m also wired for taking reviews as my try-ons, even though I’m not really into shopping and certainly not into $500 bags (I was, but it somehow resolved itself long ago)
I'm happy to hear that the power of Mozart prevailed!
What I'm very curious about is whether everyone who's "obsessed" over these bags genuinely likes them, or how much of it IS influence. Right now my own opinion is that my ACTUAL style is kind of "artistic" and that these fit in and I'm willing to not have a practical bag to carry one of these... whereas that may not be true of others who bought in for the hype. But, am I just deluded? Especially as I've acquired a big collection already? Hopefully time will tell (at least for me!) 😅
@@Alexas.nobuyyear No, I don’t think you’re deluded, it’d be really hard to just rationalize being under influence as a quirky style preference after this deep dive into how flawed the bags really are. So I believe you genuinely like them. But yeah, made me think how come these are many people’s dream. And you know, I hate all my ostensibly more wearable michael korses, coaches, marc jacobses for exactly that: the straps being uncomfortable, the shapes not that ergonomic, the openings too tight. And end up wearing a fanny pack across the chest and having a random cotton shopper do a lot of heavy lifting ))
I had 3 Polene bags because I love their design but I resold all 3 of them because they were just not practical and that really annoyed me !
Hopefully anyone thinking of buying in the future might see reviews and comments like this that warn of how impractical they are before they buy!
I have a ton of bags, they just happen to be my favorite types of accessories to mix up my wardrobe but I do need to reel it in at times. I’m glad I swooped in on Polène before things changed. They were fair for the price when I purchased but I don’t think they’re worth what they’re selling for now
Honestly I feel pretty much the same - I'm grateful I got what I have even though it IS a lot and it more than one person needs, but they are favorite accessories for me too.
I also wouldn't pay what they currently sell for!
Thank you for doing this video.
I was considering getting 2 Polene bags for their beautiful designs(Mokki and Numero Sept) but kept back and forth about the decision due to its quality decline and poor customer service. After the news of LVMH stepping into the picture, I am seriously thinking about getting them now while traveling in Tokyo before the price goes up again.
Yet, after watching your video, I estimated my daily needs and reviewed my acquired bags from Strathberry and Oleada, and I realized they already have met my everyday need for a bag, and Polene would only fulfill my desire to own a bag with special designs and might annoy me when I carry them out for lack of capacity and convenience.
Yet, I may still check those bags when I am in Tokyo to see their quality and service in person.
Thanks again for your thorough video.
I think seeing them in person is a great idea, especially if you take a favorite bag that you already own with you to compare brand qualities, and ask yourself if you'd really use the Polene as much 😊
Thanks for your honest review! Now I understand I should forget this brand 😅
Yes! Thanks for showing your review on caraway, print fresh, and polenta, totally helped me to get uninfluenced!
😁
Really appreciate this vid. I do love the way there bags look. Very chic and classy, not flashy, my kind of quiet luxury. Having said that function is still essential. If I were to purchase, I’d go for the number one in a medium-ish size. I usually don’t carry bags with flap opening but I think it’s really cute.
Thank you so much for being honest and objective. That helps to make a right decision .
I am actually looking to buy Polene cyme mini, I saw kinda Zara dupe today and realized it was perfect shape for me.
Thanks for honest reviews and would like to see more deinfluencing stuff videos!
Al least buy it from Zara on sale, cuz I saw it live and the quality ist .. well, to say very cheep is to say nothing. Sad that Polene get worse, I have cyme for years and that is a good quality bag, I like it a lot, but since they increase the prices and make it worse quality..
Hi, thank you for this video! I have always wanted a Polene bag being that I see them everywhere on Instagram (which make me think that there must be something very right about them). Apparently, that is not the case, and I am glad that I did not spend any money to try that out!
Not necessary I have Polene Beri, it's a perfect bag! I have luxury brand bags too, it is almost same quality as my Givenchy Antigona bag! I think it is a different experience for everyone! About colors i always buy bags from stores as image never justifies the real thing for anything!
I think they are beautiful little sculptures. I totally get the aesthetic hype! Modern, simple, sharp.. 🥰
Very interesting viewpoint to do reviews from. I appreciate it. I’m a fan of Polene as a concept, but as you say, they are more form over function. I need practical bags, for the most part, so I have only the full size Nuef, which is beautiful and I don’t regret. I have more Coach, because they have more practical bags. I have two leather designer bags too, LV and Gucci, and while the quality might be a wee bit better, hardly justifies the price difference. Those brands are primarily for status. Your Mulberry is probably better quality, to be honest.
I kind of felt the same when I went to a department store to look at YSL bags, I felt like the quality really wasn't better than even the Polenes and certainly not the Mulberry. I've never really looked into LV and Gucci! (and didn't end up buying or continuing to want YSL eitehr!)
I do love genuine review videos. It’s the “corruption “ of the honesty that becomes a problem with the influencers. Having a real life-ish look at a product is helpful. 👍
I’m a huge leather bag fan, I have certain checkboxes for needs, and am usually pretty open to brands. Currently I wear a Dooney and Bourke in a textured bright red. I carry a ton of things so it’s perfect and has feet. ❤ I’ve used it now 7 years(?🤔)-ish. I have all my past nice leather purses too. 😂 I do have those posted for sale but have had no interest.🤷🏼♀️ I think my most expensive was $300. Much more than that and I’m out of my comfort zone. I’ve had several cheap ones I loved to death and wore out so for me, it’s function first. (Mostly)
Great video!
Thank you! A bright red everyday bag sounds super fun and Dooney and Bourke has been around for awhile so I imagine that must be pretty trend-proof! Sounds like a great choice!
It’s more like a wearing a SCULPTURE not a real bag!
It’s a nice idea from the architecture/design perspective. Put sooooo low practical brand. Even to store them you need a shelf, you can’t put them into a luggage etc. it is a short trend until you try to put them in a storage.
I am fine with more traditional shares they will last decades and I can actually hide them without worrying to damage the “stiff softy” shape.
It really is!
Luckily for my "style goals" I'm ok with wearing and displaying "small leather sculptures" on my shelves, but it is certainly NOT practical 😆
I subscribed to your channel way before I thought of getting a Polene Cyme. Had to dig out this video today to hear what you think about the bags. Thank you for your reviews (I know it's funny that I'm on a conscious consumerism channel yet thinking of getting a new bag, but that's really because I don't have a proper leather tote for work, and I'm looking for that one fashionable, classic tote)
It's funny that I'm MAKING a conscious consumerism channel and have spent a fair amount of time talking about bags that I've purchased as recently as last year before the no buy, so don't worry about that!
And hopefully you got what you needed from the video! If you actually have a commute to work or need/prefer a bag that's organized and secure, I would caution against the Cyme, as you probably saw! (And also the fact that my Cyme mini is by far the worst quality Polene I've ever encountered 🫠).
I love this deep dive! As a consumer, but also as a bag maker, haha. Hearing what you have to say about these actually makes me wonder why anyone would get these for daily use, but I do have to admit I like the sculptural look of some of these models.
I think going into why you WOULDN'T recommend these - while also talking about the things you DO like, is super interesting :)
Geez😅thank you for this honest review. You’ve just convinced me not to buy the tote. As a mom I’m looking for a purse, tote that is beautiful and functional.
Yeah the other concern for me as a mom is that I think current price points make these not the most parent-friendly choice...seeing as kids' snacks, liquids, and toys etc. (or even just them getting hold of a pen or marker and marking up things!) could easily make the interior of any "mom bag" dirty, I would personally go with something more "practical" both to carry (like something that zips closed and can be worn hands-free, doesn't slide off shoulder) and to leave lying around with kids!
The one thing I really like about these bags is how understated the logo is. I’m not an everyone needs to know who made my bag girl.
Same! I also think I preferred it when they were a little less popular than they currently are... for me they're really not a "status symbol" kind of thing (I just like the shapes, mostly) and I don't want/need them to be recognized out and about😅
Sometimes there are no flaps inside cause they interfere with the shape of the bag. I saw it once in Q&A post office a small bag brand. People were asking why there are no compartments in one of their totes and the creator said she could add any pockets or compartments inside without messing up the shape of the bag…
Makes sense! I guess it kind of supports what I said how they are "form over function", focus is on shape instead of being practical!
Very helpful video. Thank you.
I've seen many videos on cyme reviews but none mentioned that the bag is so soft that when you wear it on your shoulder, and you want to take something out, it opens up so wide the items inside may fall out. This is a real issue.
Fascinating! Thank you for the review. As a minimalist I cannot fathom why anyone would need more than 3 or 4 bags. I've bought one good quality bag per decade. I am however looking for a cross-body bag (I also cannot stand actually holding a bag / being weighed down by a thing, and am more of a pockets person). I also don't understand why other women carry so much 'stuff' other than for work/children. I have been considering Numero Dix, since the max I ever carry is phone, keys, 2 cards and hand sanitiser. None of the other cr4p. Thanks once again for the review, I will reconsider. 59 year-old Brit.
The Dix might work for you in that case! But hey, now you know some of the downsides maybe.
And I certainly don't NEED more than 3 or 4 bags, I admit that freely and with some amount of chagrin - just a bit of evidence of my "overbuying" habit before trying a "no buy" this year 😆
In that case, the Dix may work out for you! But perhaps now you know some of the downsides to consider as well.
I also totally agree that no one NEEDS more than 3-4 bags, and I admit with some chagrin that it's just further evidence of my "overbuying" habit before I chose to go on this "No buy" year to recalibrate! 😅
Go for it! Decluttering is cathartic in many ways. I have 4 Polene bags and I do not really use any of them, unfortunately. Similar issues. Chopping block soon. Good video!
It is! I'm not sure if any of my Polenes will be decluttered anytime soon as they are currently a part of my "decor" - and despite their many impracticalities, I do actually use pretty much all of them, so time will tell whether they'll be worth hanging on to.
Great video, thank you. New to your channel, I have interests in bags and in mindful consumerism, so TH-cam's algorithm got it right for once.
Bags are one of the categories that lure many of us into shopping for our "fantasy self" instead of our real life. I'm fascinated by that phenomenon.
As for Polene, I spent many hours researching their bags in the days before the price went up and quality went down. I have a different perspective on the dressiness/casualness of the bags. I had considered the Sept as a dressy bag, but in the end the pebbled leather and the large, fixed leather strap took it out of the running.
And as much as I appreciate the sculptural look of Polene bags, I am a vintage Coach/Dooney person, and I can tell you that extreme folding leads to cracking in the long term, so, sadly, I tend to think of Polene in the fast fashion category.
Aw welcome! I've heard great things about vintage Coach and you're not the first one to say they use Dooney bags either, they must be doing something right!
That's a great point about leather folding leading to cracking! I might have to look into how to maintain folded leather longer term because I definitely don't want these to become "fast fashion" in my wardrobe.
And at least as far as my collection is concerned, it's actually kind of a good thing that the prices have gone up to the point where I'm no longer interested on that basis alone! 😅
@@Alexas.nobuyyear - Keeping the leather conditioned should help keep cracking to a minimum. Definitely follow Polene's recommendations as far as product compatibility. I've had good results with Leather CPR, if that happens to be ok per Polene.
I've listened to Eine Kline Nachtmusik on a loop this morning - thank you for influencing me in the most positive way possible! Keep up the great work. I love the music that you include in your videos :)
Aw thank you - the 3rd movement is my favorite one of that piece!
I love this content❤ Keeping it real 🔥😎
Thank you for review. Do you have any of Songmont bags?
No I don't! Since you mentioned the brand - I will say that there are details about the Songmont bags that I don't like the look of, the edges of some of the bag designs look a little less-finished to me, I don't like the logo font and how it's sometimes on another tab of leather so it stands out more (relatively speaking), and also their designs tend to be a little "less structured".
The Luna bag with its "multi conversions" also strikes me as more inconvenient than helpful. But - as I've never owned one I can't really give a proper review, these are just the reasons why I was never really interested in buying one.
Something I just notice is, that I love that you didn‘t include links in your bio! I asked myself: if there had been links, I would have clicked on them while watching your content (it’s a rather bad habit) and furthermore because of the cookie settings on each side I would have seen advertisment on other Plattforms Like Pinterest. Even if you grow up with the Internet it took me til today to notice it. Something I will keep in mind when i See links the next time. I love your Channel! 💕
Haha never! My firm belief is that if someone is going to want something you're showing, they can/should do the "work" of looking it up for themselves... since then at least they'll have chances to pause and think whether they really want to be looking.
And you are so right about the cookies thing, I didn't even think about that either! The brands/products start following you after clicking links! 🫣 Thanks for mentioning!!!
I dont have a ''lot'' of bags (thank god!!) and like shoes i will always prioritize fonction over looks. Doesnt say i didnt splurge (i have 3 see by Chloe, 2 COACH) all those splurge cost me on average 300$ per bag which is for me the just enough ''luxury meet quality''. Because that is it. i just want good leather (vegan leather just crack and doesnt last as long) and I dont want to be precious about my bag, and i know I'm not careful with them. What made me purchase my first new COACH purse was because I purchased in 2005 a COACH bucket bag on EBAY (pre-loved), that bag finally gave up in 2018-2019 and I wasn't careful with it, went everywhere it was my only purse for the longest time. It was the perfect size (in fact it was even on the small(ish) side) but still can carry 2 bottles of water, keys, wallet and phone. And I had such a good experience with that bag, who cost me 50$ (2005) that for me made it worth to purchased a new one even if new it was way more then my preloved one. Just to say, for me, bags are like cars : never a good investment if you dont have the money. but I think it is worth spending a good 200$ if you can keep it for 10 years instead of 50$ for a bag that wont last you more then 2 years. See what your normal wear and tear with your bags and just calculate the cost to replace that bag over time. Unpopular opinion: I'm not vegan so unless it's really a value of yours ... leather will always win and a good cobbler will be able to fix your bag. (zippers, handle ect) so it will also be possible if you are willing to pay a small amount to repare your bag to added years to it.
You're right about things never being a good investment if you dint have the money!! Thanks for sharing. I actually was on a plant-based diet for a long time but I also tend to agree also that real leather wears better than most of the plastic vegan leather alternatives, so ultimately it can be more sustainable to buy less, as long as using an animal product doesn't bother the wearer.
I was thinking of getting polene, thanks for the extensive review! I had various Dior and Mulberry but the quality are just terrible for the price. Most of my dior leather are scratchted after a few years or the colour would have transferred. My mulberry metal parts were scratched so bad that is not wearable and it became very flimsy. I have some good micheal kors and coach but agreed with you that it is not consistent across all the bags.
Which one is your favorite? Between the un nano and dix which one is best for travel and which one fits more?
I like them all for different reasons! The regular size neuf is my favorite overall for the unique squishy shape, and the grayish white goes well with my wardrobe.
The un nano I think holds more than the dix because it's not as flat in shape. However the dix may be better for travel because it can be worn closer to the body (I like to wear it crossbody, like on the chest, on a shorter strap, kind of like the "belt bag" trend) and feels very secure that way with the zip as well.
So just depends on what your travel needs are! 😊
Thank you so much for this truly honest review 😊😊.
I was seriously considering the regular size Cyme because it is so beautiful but the fact that it loses its shape when carrying is very disappointing. I've watched other honest reviews and nobody mentions this.
I think I've heard about the Dix's narrow opening once before and it was also an immediate turn-off for me. I already have a bag that scratches my hand when I reach inside it 😂
Again thank you for deinfluencing me. Becoming a mom pushed me to buy more things than usual and I'm trying to make less impulse purchases and to be more conscious about my budget.
Totally relate to the "being a mom" and "buying more things" conundrum - so happy to join you in this endeavor of working on impulse purchasing - we can do it!
Also yeah you definitely don't need TWO bags that scratch your hand reaching in 😅
The value that I find in Kate Spade is that if you like the idea of novelty or "fun" pieces but want them made out of leather instead of PVC/pleather then, THEN, Kate Spade is nice. I use to wear Harajuku / Japanese street fashion when I was younger and it gave me a taste for "why is your bag a giant rubber ducky?" but sadly over the years those original pieces have rotted and peeled because of what they were made out of (PVC/pleather). So now in mid-life mode I drip into Kate Spade sometimes when I see a piece that reminds me of something I use to have, but died a long time ago. My one warning about the brand though is that at their Outlet stores they do sell pleather-bags that are pattern-copies of their leather bags in the actual store. Read the label and double-check online; don't trust the word of the salesperson because the people they hire to work at the Outlet are kind but not well briefed on the inventory they carry.
I bought 4pcs from Polene with in a year, this was in Fall 2021-Summer2022… the quality was impeccable. I bought one that just came in yesterday actually(Dec2024), my second mini Cyme and the quality has gone really low comparing it to my first Cyme mini bought in 2021. The feel of the canvas and the interior micro suade feels thinner or flimsy. I can't help but notice how different the quality is from 3yrs ago it is sad. Considering another price increase is in the way for sure and that LVMH bought part of the company. Idk if I will be adding more in the future :(
That's so interesting to hear your direct comparison of the same bag! Yeah I'm really not optimistic about the direction of the brand, with the LVMH thing. I'm not sure I'd even want to support them now
I got recommended this video on my home page! I appreciate your honesty and approach to reviews. You helped to settle my impulses lol. You mentioned standard sized music at the beginning and through some context clues, could you be a violinist?
👀very close! I can play the violin but choose not to, I play the viola exclusively these days 😁
@@Alexas.nobuyyear that’s even cooler! I played viola for four years in high school! 🤓
@@LittleGreenPearl yay! Fellow reader of alto clef 👏
Hi from Japan
Almost every influencer in Japan has Polene bag and their review is very positive. But thanks to your review I learned there are negative reviews. But you know, so many Chinese copy has been found in Japan and I doubt that those very low quality is real or not. I will make sure to check the quality because Polene has store in Tokyo
Yes! Best thing to do is go see in person!
Have been binge-watching your videos for the past week and love your thoughts and perseptions. I am on a low buy journey myself since november and it has taught me a lot on so many levels! And now I real understand that I HAD a shopping problem - (Also you remind me a little bit of Justine Leconte - (love her chanel) :):) Maybe its your hairstyle :)
Designer bags are not my thing, but you have so many interesting side notes.
Aw thank you, I'm always flattered by comparisons to Justine!
Extremely helpful. Thanks!!
I really loved this clip, and the bags are so beautiful.
aaa and I like your plushies :D
Haha I've seen that the plushies seem to be a "love it" or "hate it", so nice to hear someone who doesn't think they "ruin" the bag 😂
I will get to the books! Might be awhile, but I will eventually!
@@Alexas.nobuyyear take your time with books I will wait patiently. :D About the plushies, yea I can understand it can be love or hate but still they look cute and if you like them that's all that matters. :D
This was super helpful - even though I skimmed a bit. I was about to buy a Polene but could not decide which one because they all seemed not practical. Of any bag, designer or not, what do you like best for carrying laptop by the way?
Honestly if I have to carry a laptop I'm going to bring a regular old school backpack - not the most glamorous option, but I just can't bring myself to use a purse or tote bag for something that heavy😅
These types of videos are useful, it definitely helped me realize Polene is not for me. I do like the numero uno because it reminds me of an owl and I'm a big bird fan, but I think the micro would scratch that itch if I think of it as a little soft sculpture to put on the shelf. Won't be buying anything anytime soon tho
I also love polene but my style tends towards casual & sporty so it was funny hearing that. I've sold the Beri sometime ago, but can't seem to let go of the Un even though I had a harder time using it. Given the poor QC record they have going, I really hope the unboxed bags are spared from that fate 😅
Same! Luckily the unboxed ones are from quite awhile ago (one or two are from over 2 years ago I think? which is also crazy 😅).
I do think they can work with casual/sporty styles as a kind of intentional contrast but depending on how one likes to put outfits together, in my opinion it can be more challenging than a more "classic" or more "casual" style! But once again style is so personal so who's to say, really...
I’ve had my eye on the Cyme for a long while now. Not really sure if I want it in Camel or Cognac, but the bag sure does looks interesting. It looks like it goes with casual and stylish outing, but I’m someone who values quality over quantity, so I’m not sure if I’ll end up getting a bag from Polene…
I have my Valentino Garavani tote that is made from amazing leather! I have the Bayswater from Mulberry that I absolutely adore and has the most beautiful leather! I have the Tory Burch tote which I love and a Rebecca Minkoff Megan tote… and I also have a Marc Jacobs bag, and a Pandora and Nightingale both from Givenchy -again, amazing quality!!
So do I really need a new bag? Definitely not. Although the Cyme is something that I don’t have in my collection… but it’s stupid and those stitches you showed us are really bad… so I’ll probably pass on the Polene.
how do you think about whether it's still "worth it" at the current price? do you think there's some cut-off in your mind (eg $500)? Is it relative to other brands like mulberry?
So this is almost another whole discussion because everyone's idea of "worth it" or "value for money" etc. is so personal but I can say that yes, for me, it IS kind of a $500 cut-off for anything "fashion/wardrobe/accessory-related" and if anything, I want to kind of lower that threshold (or just buy so much less that price is less important). I think Mulberry is actually way more expensive new, right? But I guess also "higher-end" designers can be found secondhand at similar prices to Polene's current rates, so to me that kind of means it might not be "worth it" anymore to either!
I was thinking of buying the polene dix but you just changed my mind because im a mom of 5 and i know im gonna need space in my bags someway- somehow lol. Ty !
Ooh yeah no room for snacks for 5 in the Dix 😅
I had cyme and numero mini and I don’t want to get any more bag from Polene. Like she said functionality is not good
I have the number 1, the big one, which I love. It's very big so it's a good everyday bag for me. However, the glue on the strap kinds of gets loose ? I was a bit shocked by that, I must say. I just peal at the little bits that stick out and then it's ok. Still find it very practical for my needs though. I can fit my umbrella in there and I put my metro pass in the pocket at the back.
I hesitated with the numero 7, I find it very classy.
Did you get yours more recently? I've noticed quality issues (like the glue spots, etc) more on the ones I got more recently, no issues with the ones I got years ago, so I just wonder if the quality really is going down like some other reviews say.
@@Alexas.nobuyyear I got mine in September. I do love it indeed, despite this.
This does show how the brand name affects people's opinion on the bag, I like how chanel can be roasted for it's craftmanship (wonky alignment on the front) and people still buy it 20x the price of polene, whereas polene is such an up and coming brand that people are losing interest once they fall back a bit on quality/price ratio.
Absolutely! I don't think Polene's at the point where it's a "status" symbol, even if it is/was a "trend" symbol for awhile. It does feel like there are reasons, beyond just liking the designs, that people buy this stuff!
Ok, I was peeking on your no buy videos for a while, after finding this one I felt really bad not being subscribed :D Thank you for this. I fell in love with this brand thanks to watching HLP, I planned to save for one before the prices raised. I gave up after the rise and with some of the controversies popping up. In the meantime I run into Furla Ginevra Medium bag in Secondhand shop for really cheeeeeeeeap price and fall in love with it. I started to write this to let you know that I really love the clasps on Furla bags and I agree that most of those components are really ugly :) And I just got lucky second time and run into 3 Furla bags in the same secondhand shop yesterday. And left with two of them after careful consideration of their utility for my wardrobe. For 130 USD for both of them I am very happy and my account is not crying.
This is not to promote more spending. I was genuinely trying to find the first bag in different colours for several months and was happy to find out different models but working for my needs just as well with more variety. I need to calm down my spending and start selling what I do not use, I am just finally finding what works for me both in quality and in price and not attempting no buy year, but definitely having it on my mind often and your videos help with that. Its the topic I started to watch HLP for anyways (where are those times :D )
Yes! I really loved that series of content from HLP and enjoy watching when she occasionally still talks about consuming, but have really had to be careful clicking on any of her other content after the no-buy and year of less.
It's one of the areas - no buy, conscious consuming - that I'm trying to add content to here on TH-cam, so, welcome!😊
I was always a bit suspicious and sceptical about Polene, especially about the way they burst onto the scene. I looked at each of their products/bags online and kept wondering about the practicalities of wearing one, the wear and tear, the leather, the hardware. You have confirmed what I had deduced, and I can't thank you enough for your honesty.
Glad i found your channel. I was about to purchase these bags after saw it on social media. New follower & thanks!
You're welcome! 🥰
Just found your channel! I did an 8mo no buy last year, with strict budget this year (also no buy August so I can save a month’s budget for a larger $ item) thanks for sharing all your polene bags! Would you declutter any of your less used bags? (Minus the dior 😂)
I don't know yet! Right now they are kind of doubling as bedroom decor, so I'm tempted to say that I'm ok with keeping this collection. BUT I am finding the more "no buy" time passes, I get less and less attached to the stuff I already have. So who knows?
I have about 5 bags that I haven’t worn that still have the tags on them, but I’ve never not opened the box… thats different. So you don’t know if there’s a quality issue that might warrant a return? Thanks for the honest review. Despite the price increase I’m still going to purchase 😊
Haha well since they're being "saved" for like Christmas or birthday, the unboxing is part of the surprise. And needless to say these decisions were made way in the past now so any return windows have closed...I wouldn't recommend this kind of shopping! My husband did check and make sure each of them is the right product at least 🤣
And hey if you saw all the "possible downsides" here and it's still a good fit for you, by all means go ahead and I hope you enjoy! I personally like the designs and would still call them my "favorite bag brand" even if it's not practical for everyone. 🥰
Late to the party on this one as I only discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and am just watching some of your hideous. I love the concept of doing an honest review of bags you like but can now see the flaws with it. I could go on for hours about mine 😂 none of mine are quite so expensive but I have had a few designer ones in the past and do have some lower end designer bags which honestly I seldom use! I’m more of a Kipling or Eastpak girl now. I’m in the UK and do have a couple of coach bags, a couple of Lulu Guinness ones and a leather radley but they were pretty much all sale buys!
Thank you! At the end of the day these still are my favorites because I do value the aesthetics more than the practicality, but for the "average user" it's definitely something to know about before committing especially at current prices, yikes.
I've also just had enough of consumer culture online, of hyping up every new purchase, or hyping things up and then having affiliate links or direct sponsorships where the creator benefits. It's hard not to talk about "stuff" at all, but at the very least I want to be able to catch myself if I ever start falling into this pattern. (And have consciously decided against links, sponsorships, PR, not just going to "fall into" that!)
Thank you. This video was SO helpful to me. I will definitely not be buying a Polene bag! Recently been loving Portland Leather but none of their bags are lined. I think I’m going to invest in some leather cleaning products and rehab the bags I already have!
I still want their Beri bag but they didn't release it in Cognac. I got the Camel and immediate resold because as you said, it's very 2D. None of the other colors are speaking to me. I actually want the Cognac Mini Cyme but there are too many drawbacks
Yes I really don't understand why it seems like Camel is such a popular color, not knocking other people's taste but it just feels less "special" to me! And yes - I would caution against the Cymes right now just because of quality inconsistencies!!
@@Alexas.nobuyyear probably because the Camel look great in photos. As you mentioned their website photos don't reflect the actual colors 🙃
Could you tell us more about the price increase? when they happened, and for how much? thanks
So I think there have been dedicated videos on this, but I believe the latest increase happened in January 2024. Depending on the model they're $80-120 more than they used to be. So the Dix for example was $460, and is now $580 in Oct 2024.
There have been increases before this year as well! The Huit mini was at $280 I believe in 2020? And it's now $470 after multiple increases.
I’m so glad to have found your channel. I love your honesty. I don’t own any Polene bags, but I think they are beautiful and in the past I kind of wanted one for awhile so this review was interesting to me.
I look forward to watching more of your videos- thanks!
Thank you! Hope it was actually useful 😅
thank you for the review. I’ve been eyeing the cyme mini for a while now and was thinking about buying it to take advantage of the exchange rate in my country (the bag would come out to around $400 usd after tax). i wasn’t considering buying it for $460 pretax but now im considering just not buying it at all.
I think it's just super important to have an idea whether it'll get the use it needs to get, in order to be worth it for you! The cyme mini is perhaps the least used out of all of mine, I do have the larger one and use that daily, but when I want a mid-size or smaller one I NEVER choose the cyme mini.
@ true! i dont have any tan colored medium sized bags.. i actually really do love the design but i also know its not completely practical because of the narrower base since i do tend to carry a lot of papers 😭 and the leather isn’t my favorite.. it looks like the leather has been going downhill to keep up with demand… so we’ll see. anyways, you reminded me to be more conscious of my spending, so i thank you for that 🫶🏻
Would love to hear more about your failed channel attempt? Very curious. And it's already and hero's journey because your definitely doing well now! 😊
Haha I will actually talk about this in a future video! Thank you!
At first i thought you're justine leconte.
That signature polene shape, the one on you shelf, is like men's underpants, the tighty whitey one. The first time i saw that bag, Captain Underpant's underpant flashed before my eyes and i really can't unsee it.
😆 omg love this - I see it too! But at this point (since I already own it) I'm going to use that to bring me joy, and continue to wear the bag 🩲
Do you switch purses a lot? I’m the worst about switching things up.
Kind of! I tend to use the same one for a few weeks before switching but if I have an outfit that the bag I'm currently on doesn't "go" with I will switch more often (that is, if I have time before having to run out the door, which isn't always the case and that day I'll just have "mismatched" outfit and bag 😅)
I am French and live in Paris. I’ve seen Polene bags for so many years around me that even if I think they’re super pretty, I just find it so boring to have the same bag as everyone else 😂
And I am a practical person, I like designs but when I buy something I imagine using it and it was obvious for me that these bags are highly impractical ! For one: the bag not closing is a big no for me: I take the metro, I’m in Paris, i let you do the math if you have an open bag 😂
So I appreciate your video here to make people come back to earth a bit.
Thank you! I agree that if I lived somewhere where many others had these bags, I would probably not want to wear them either and they wouldn't feel interesting anymore. But, at least my small city does not have a busy metro, so an open bag is actually okay for me, even if it is not my recommended choice 😅
I’d like to get a Nodde, but am waiting and hoping they release more colors.
I got distracted by the bag charm on the neuf lol, is that like a stuffed keychain?
Haha yes it's like a mini stuffed rabbit! I know not everyone's a fan but they have sentimental meaning to me and add a playful/whimsical touch to otherwise "elegant" bags 🤭
Decided to put a comment because you are honest about the quality issues.
🥰
I'd enjoy the declutters. The Polen bags are gorgeous, but the annoyance of getting in and out makes them a no for me. To be honest the modeling section made it feel more like a "buy this" review.
Thanks for that feedback! I was debating including the "modeling section" because I've seen comments on other "bag reviews" that are annoyed people DIDN'T do a "try-on" and ultimately decided it would make a more helpful "review" but I do understand how that part might seem kind of "influencey". Hopefully I managed to turn off the urge to buy with Mozart instead of trendy pop music 😆
I liked the model section. For one thing I think it is fun for Alexa! Her channel should be fun for her or she might stop doing all the work! This channel has become important to me so the more fun she has the better! 😏
Thank you so much for going so in depth! I’ve been researching my next high-end-ish bag and Polene was on the list. I needed your video!
Glad it was helpful!
I have a Polene number Un ( big ) camel color. The quality is wonderful, but it's a bit heavy, that makes me stop using it daily. That's the only bad thing about it.
Oh and thank you for your video! 😊
I love your review!! Here in France there are so many influencers that have been gifted these bags that it is very hard to resist being influenced. They are everywhere. And yes their shapes are beautiful but practically is a no go for me. Straps are too fine or useless, access is complicated, or the leather looks plasticky… so many issues for a price tag that keep growing and growing because of the « hype ». So thanks for your review. It will hopefully help a few potential buyers to make a enlightened choice ;)
i do appreciate this video, i had heard about polene as an example of "affordable" bags that are made with the same leather as some of the big brands, and they are really unique and i think beautiful... but i see from your descriptions this just doesn't work with my life. you can't really put stuff in them and they will be easily damaged. maybe as a nice bag for special but then almost what's the point? maybe second hand. this was refreshing and helpful, thanks.
So much of what we hear about products online is just the "good" stuff, or the things we can use to "justify" a purchase, so I love it when reviews focus on the opposite of those, glad to hear I was able to provide info that helped make a practical decision 😄
Would like to see a jewellery declutter and organisation
Will do! I have kind of a long list of ideas I want to get off my brain first but they'll come eventually 😊
I have the ten ( crescent shaped one) and I absolutely love it. Tastes are subjective 🤷♀️
That's great! And yes 100%, tastes are subjective.
While the focus of the "review" component of this video is why people may want to reconsider buying one of these, I actually do still enjoy and use all of mine...I think I briefly mentioned at the beginning here that I did buy all of these and still use them all, so in a way I do kind of "endorse" them despite sharing their downsides 😄
Absolutely loved your honest review. Thanks
Hope it was helpful!
Love the Seven handbag and wallet but that pink thing you have hanging on the handbag totally takes away the perfection. Does’fit at all.
Haha I can understand that! Maybe I should have taken those off for review purposes 😅
I haven’t heard about this brand before it being mentioned on your channel but I have since gotten ads for Polene. Shhhhh, they’re listening… 😂
Nooooo! 😆 Maybe I need to set a codename for brands I talk about so that they can't follow us 🧐
I actually love these videos focusing on stuff, I feel deinfluenced.
That is an Chanel amount of money spent. Thanks for review 👍
I only ever bought 1 Polene bag, the nuef.
I should have returned it years ago when I bought it. It’s cute and I can’t stand it. The opening is awful, the handle isn’t comfortable and like you said the strap is ridiculously thin and cheap looking.
Haha well you live and learn! Maybe if you don't want to resell it you can also use it as a kind of "leather art" decor piece 😄