Back in the spring, maybe winter, I got it in my mind that I wanted a nice, structured, black purse. At the time, I was using my Baggu bucket bag 85% of the time, and wanted something contrasting. I was inspired by the envelope style of bags seen here and here, but alas, both are quite more than I want to spend on a bag. I kept my eyes peeled for awhile and, after searching, ultimately landed on the Saddle Bag by Cuyana.
After five months of use I thought I’d share my thoughts thus far:
WHAT I LIKE
Structure of Bag – It holds its shape really well. I could even stand it up if I needed too.
Minimalist Design – I love the simplicity of this bag. With minimal metal detailing and very clean lines, it makes a statement, but doesn’t take over. This is the main reason why I purchased it.
Lack of Branding – I know it’s tempting for designers to put their name in very visible places on bags, but I don’t want to be a walking advertisement. Nor do I want to participate in the bag-as-a-status-symbol thing. I am not eager to tout a brand or a price tag.
Quality of Leather – The full grain Italian leather is thick and shiny, and seems to repel water well. It’s sturdy, but still has a little bit of texture. After about five months of light use, it has resisted any scratching.
Double-Sided Leather Strap – This is a big one. You know how I recently got a Madewell bag off e-bay? Well the shoulder strap on it is unexpected thin and cheap. Sad, right? The strap on this bag is double-sided, as in two pieces of leather sewn together. It’s sturdy, holds its shape nicely, and the surface is smooth on my clothing.
MY MINOR QUALMS
Size – Sometimes I feel like it’s a tad small. Once I get my wallet, sunglasses case, and zippy bag with lipsticks, etc. in it, there’s not much space left. But, I think the style would be off if it was any bigger, and it would look too large. Solution: I just downsized my (too big) sunglass case for a slimmer one, and that should be a big help.
Sometimes I worry it looks *too* generic? Not sure if that’s really possible though.
OVERALL
It’s a bag I’ve been really happy with, even though it’s not in heavy rotation. It’s a bit dressy for my day-to-day life, especially in the summer, but I’m guessing I’ll use it more in the fall. One bonus of the fold-over flap is that it keeps prying hands out a lot better than my open-top bags! And fewer extras (re: everyone else’s junk) end up in there!
Let me know if I missed anything, or if you have any questions about the bag!
This post is not sponsored nor endorsed by Cuyana. I paid full price for my bag.
Thanks for the review. It’s hard to tell the details of things from websites. I have wondered about the quality of this brand so it’s good to see that it holds up. I find the shape of this style the main attraction — distinctive yet classic. I think it is more of a fall/winter style as well.
Cuyana is GREAT! I have a tote by them that I really love. High quality and responsible manufacturing processes.
Yas! Love this bag review and this bag looks great with your outfits!
Thanks Elaine!!
Glad to know the strap on this bag is durable – I just got the crossbody pouch and I’m feeling anxious about the strap holding up!
That’s a cute little bag! Which color did you get? Cuyana seems to use high-quality materials!
I ended up with the black for timelessness. It’s a *little* less sturdy than I thought but the leather is so buttery soft and it seems resistant to scuffs so far.
After 1 year +, how would you say the bag is holding up? Do you still recommend? If you decide to sell it, let me know!
Hi Debbie! It is a great bag, and I recommend just about anything from Cuyana. I sold it, but that was due to style preference. I now own and use the Classic Shoulder Bag, I love, love, love it! If that had been available when I was first looking I would have purchased it instead of the Saddle Bag.