I’m very grateful to have been able to work on my handbag collection over the last year, from my beloved Coach Pillow Tabby to the Jacquemus Le Chiquito Moyen to my first (pre-loved) Chanel. My latest (and most likely last until next year) handbag purchase was right around my birthday in April; I got the highly sought-after Loewe basket bag in palm leaf and calfskin in Natural/Ten, medium. This bag has been on my wishlist since Spring 2020 and when I saw that the inventory was restocked in mid-April, I didn’t think twice about it.
It’s quite difficult to track down the Loewe basket bag in medium, but it looks like the bag is currently in stock on the Loewe website and at third-party retailers such as Matches Fashion and 24S at the time of this post. You can go to the websites directly or use the affiliate links at the bottom of this post. The bag also comes in white leather, and I’ve seen it in a few other colorways over the last couple of years. Before taking the plunge, I spent a few hours doing research on the bag, looking up tagged posts on Loewe’s Instagram account, watching a couple of YouTube reviews, and reading through some blog posts. Although it’s essentially just a straw bag with an expensive logo, the classic, sturdy construction and aesthetic won me over.
About the Loewe Basket Bag
The Loewe basket bag is handwoven and features calfskin top handles. You can change the top handle straps to switch up your look, and you can personalize the Loewe basket bag further by adding some Loewe charms (or fun charms of your own). The bag is unlined, but I personally use my dustbag to carry all of my personal belongings inside the basket bag. According to the Loewe retail website, the bag measures 10.4 inches high, 15.7 inches wide, and 6.3 inches deep. The handle drop is enough to allow me to wear the Loewe basket bag as a shoulder bag when I need to (I’m 5’9″ and a half for reference). It currently retails for $550.
My First Impression
I was in awe when I received the Loewe basket bag. I ordered the bag from Moda Operandi using a code that allowed me to purchase the bag for ~$416.50 plus tax; it retailed for $490 around that time. From the reviews I read and the videos I watched, I knew that there could be variations in the palm fronds used in my bag so my hopes weren’t exceptionally high. I was pleasantly surprised when I unboxed the bag and saw that it wasn’t too yellow.
I was slightly disappointed that for the price the bag didn’t come with a lining, but as I mentioned earlier, I decided to use the dustbag. I was impressed with how much I could fit in the tote without it losing shape or feeling too heavy and used it as a carry-on for some of my weekend trips.
Final Verdict: 4/5
I still love my Loewe basket bag and will continue to use it until I can’t anymore but I feel like, for the price, it should be perfect. Some of the palm fronds have started to fray a little bit and got caught on certain fabrics I would wear, like my satin skirts. I would still recommend it if the price doesn’t hurt your personal budget, but if you have been saving up to splurge on a designer basket bag, I’d look into the Jacquemus one.
Feel free to share your Loewe basket bag experience in the comments below, or ask me anything about the bag!
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