Polene Number One Bag Review

Kicking off the week with another handbag review. This time, of a bag I’ve been meaning to talk about for yonks; the Polene Number One Bag. I’ve had this for a few months now, and while I admittedly tend to favour something a little bit smaller, it’s been great having a structured, semi-formal bag option which closes securely on rotation.

Wearing ASOS off shoulder top, Staple the Label skirt, By Far nude mules (affordable dupe here), Polene Number One Bag, Muru Jewellery bracelet, Mejuri bracelet, Fedoma Jewellery ring

For me, this bridges the gap of practicality and style. It’s structured with a unique shape, and can be worn both top handle or cross body. Safe to say, it’s always handy to have the option. And of course, I went for classic black. So, let’s dive into the full review.

QUICK FACTS

Price: $420 USD or approx $610 AUD
Available in 25 colours: pictured above in monochrome black – textured leather
Made in: Spain
Fabric: Full-grained calf leather with 100% cotton twill lining
Care: Avoid contact with water, and apply a clear, nourishing leather cream up to three times per year. Keep away from light and moisture when not worn.

SIZE

Very few bags I’ve owned over the years have been large enough to hold my Canon 5D Mark III with 24-70mm lens attachment; except for my tote bags, that is. Surprisingly, it tucks away neatly into the base of the bag, with plenty of room for my essentials. Given how little I carry day-to-day, it can feel a little cavernous for someone like me. Aside from a small zip pocket, there aren’t any inner compartments. Because of this, I find it’s easier to pack things into small pouches. You can easily fit in; wallet, keys, a makeup bag, a scarf, small foldable umbrella, a book, and some snacks, while having room to spare.

The dimensions measure 32cm long, by 16.5cm wide and 23cm high. The strap is also adjustable, with a maximum length of 120cm. Despite it’s relatively compact appearance, it can fit a lot in.

QUALITY

The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Polene Number One Bag was the quality. You may recall that I had their number one mini (review here). That was a good kick off point for comparison. The leather on this feels thicker, and sturdier than the number one mini. The grain seems slightly larger or less fine, but aside from that, the finishings were exactly what I expected. The seams on the leather aren’t unravelling at all, the hardware has a nice gloss to it, and the snap closures which give the bag its unique shape are very strong. I also really appreciated that the interior is lined with cotton twill. It’s a small detail, but to me the lining can be what makes or breaks a bag in my eyes. Overall, it feels luxurious, without the high end designer price point.

DESIGN

It’s the design of the Polene Number One Bag that makes it special. It has a flat base (with feet so the leather won’t get damaged – win!). It’s rounded through the body of the bag, but pinched in at the opening with a simple flap closure. The “pinching” of the bag is held secure by four snap closures, which you can pop open to expand the size of the opening when filling it with items for the day.

The top handle is stiff and sturdy. It doesn’t have any give and stands tall on it’s own. The interior has a small zip up compartment but is otherwise a large, open space. At the back, there’s a slip pocket which you could put a travel card in or receipts. Finally, the shoulder strap is removable. I really appreciate this feature as I think the bag looks best when worn as a top handle. Though it is nice to have the option.

POLENE NUMBER ONE BAG FINAL THOUGHTS

When I first saw this bag, my first thought was, “what a gorgeous work bag”. I talk a lot about workwear essentials, and generally hone in on the tote bag, but if you don’t need to carry a laptop around, I think this is a smart choice for something a bit different.

The quality is superb – it’s something I really can’t fault. The trimmings are all finished off beautifully and you can see that there’s a great deal of care put into each little detail. One thing to note, the suede top panel can be tricky to keep clean, so if you’re after a fuss free option, I would look at the full leather options as it really didn’t take me long to mark up the sand-toned suede on the mini version.

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t often have a need to carry around a bag of this size (at the moment anyway…), but I’m really impressed by how much it does fit. It’s a bonus for me when I can get my DSLR into a bag as it rarely happens! This makes it a good candidate if you often find yourself needing a larger bag, though as it is full leather, the weight will get quite cumbersome if you fill it to the brim.

The snap fastenings can be a little fussy, especially if you don’t have the shoulder strap attached. It makes getting larger items in and out of the bag a two hand job – not an issue if you have somewhere to rest it.

In terms of wear, I haven’t found it to be too delicate, though you won’t find me brushing it up against rough surfaces any time soon. I’ve largely sat the feet on carpet so there are no scratches (though I would expect this if putting it on a harder surface), and the opening is great as the grained leather is sturdy enough to withstand being opened frequently, without a mark or scratch.

Overall, I think the Polene Number One Bag is a really beautiful choice, especially if you’re after a work bag that doesn’t scream ”corporate”, as it can transitional nicely from work to weekend.

If you have any other questions about the quality, wear and tear, or general size of this bag, please feel free to drop them in the comments below! x