There’s few things I believe are worth splurging on, and designer bags are one of them! However, deciding on which designer bag can be difficult. There’s so many beautiful purses on the market I’ve lusted over in the past. The last thing you want to do is spend over $1000 on a handbag, only to be disappointed by the splurge (and trust me I’ve been there!). With that said, I’m partnering with Lauren from @Now.You.Glow to test out a designer bag every month (she’s loaning the bags to me) and report back on the good, the bad, and the ugly! I’m going to share everything you need to know about the designer bags I’m borrowing, to review and help you shop wisely!
**To note, this post is in NO way sponsored. I’m sharing completely honest reviews to help my community find the best bags for their lifestyle.
Bags I Own and Recommend
When it comes to bags, I’m a minimalist! I believe in splurging for a timeless bag that you will use for years to come. Before diving into the bags I’m borrowing and reviewing from Now You Glow, I’m sharing a full list of the designer bags I own and recommend.
Chanel Chain Link Camera Bag
I just have to start by saying… this is the best bag I’ve probably invested in since my LV Neverfull that I purchased in 2009! Lauren at Now You Glow helped me source this bag specifically. It was completely sold out, yet she still managed to pull some strings and find me the bag of my dreams! I love her so much, because she fits everything I need on a daily basis, is casual and perfect for everyday. I won’t lie, I’d buy this in black, too!! I can’t tell you how much I love this bag. I’m so thankful she found it for me!
Click below to shop
Louis Vuitton Empreinte Montsouris PM Black
The Louis Vuitton Empreinte Montsouris PM Backpack has easily become my favorite everyday bag! It fits everything I need and has extra room. I love that she’s a backpack, and can be worn on the go.
Click below to shop
Louis Vuitton Neverfull
The Louis Vuitton Neverfull was my first designer handbag purchase. I bought her in 2009 for $700, and today it sells for over $1500! I have the medium size, and use it at least 3 times a week. It’s the only tote I own, and over the past 12 years has gotten me through so much! 100% best bag purchase, and I would still spend the $1500 on her today, if I had to.
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Gucci Wallet On A Chain
I bought this bag in 2010 in Hawaii on our first anniversary trip. Hawaii actually has 20% lower prices at the Gucci store! She was around $1100, and I use her when I go out to dinner, to weddings, etc. The Wallet On A Chain is smaller, so it’s not great for everyday use. White is also tricky, you have to be extremely careful with it! Denim and dye can rub off on this material. I highly suggest being cautious with white. I still love this bag, but I don’t use it as much as my others.
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Gucci Small Marmont Crossbody
The Gucci Marmont Crossbody is my second most used bag! It fits everything I need in it, is great for events or everyday. I bought this bag resale, and was able to save $1200!
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Louis Vuitton Pochette MetÃs
And finally, my latest purchase was from Now You Glow and it’s my new favorite bag! The size of the Pochette Metis is absolutely perfect for everyday. I often swap out the strap to make for a more casual/fun look.
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Saint Laurent Lou Matelassé Leather Camera Bag
Recently I borrowed the Saint Laurent Lou Matelassé Leather Camera Bag from Now You Glow, and fell in love! This bag is the perfect size, it has one compartment with a side zip on the inside, and can easily be dressed up or down!
Honestly, I just fell in love with this bag! It’s so functional and perfect for what I carry with me on a daily basis. Plus I knew I could wear it out to a nice dinner or even a wedding. I ended up selling my YSL Toy Lou Lou and was about to purchase this one! Lauren from Now You Glow ended up getting it for me for my birthday (seriously no words for her! She’s a one of a kind friend!) and I’ve never been more excited. This bag is everything!!
Exact dimensions are 8.5″ H, 6.25″ D, 2.5″ W
Click below to shop
Why Buy Resale
As much as I love to buy new, resale is an incredible way to save thousands of dollars on expensive handbags! Often times, resale shops like Now You Glow are able to get brand new bags, and sell them for less (because someone who purchased them, needed to sell and never used the bag)!
More About Now You Glow
Lauren (the owner of Now You Glow) and I connected on Instagram and seriously hit it off right away! One of my followers initially sent me her account and raved about her. I followed, Lauren followed back and we immediately started chatting!
Aside from the fact that Lauren is incredible as a human, she runs an honest and incredible business! She gives her clients the opportunity to own their dream designer pieces, and at times for a fraction of the cost! The first item I ordered from Lauren was the Louis Vuitton Metis Pochette (as photographed above), which saved me well over $1000! The bag was pre-loved, but Lauren showed me every single detail about the bag, so I was confident in what I was purchasing.
In addition, every single item from Now You Glow is guaranteed authentic or your money back. She invests in Entrupy, which is best technology in the industry to authenticate every item. More details on Entrupy are on her Instagram and website.
Now You Glow Borrowed Bag Reviews
Lauren and I got to talking about bags, and how to decide which to invest in. It’s difficult to decide on what to invest in, especially these days with so many stores being closed, or not living close to a designer store, or wanting to buy resale. One thing I love to do is give full reviews of bags worth investing in, but I obviously can’t afford to buy designer bags frequently.
We came up with an idea to do a monthly trade! Lauren is sending me one bag per month, I’m using it daily and testing it out to share a full review on the product. I’m going to share everything you need to know about the designer bag, in order to help you shop wisely!
The Bags
Louis Vuitton Palm Springs Mini Backpack
FUNCTIONALITY
There’s some pro’s and con’s to the Louis Vuitton Palm Springs Mini Backpack…
Let’s start with the Pros:
- Love the monogram coated canvas – it’s high quality and will last forever
- This backpack is small but mighty! It fits more than my Chanel Camera Bag, but less than my LV Empreinte Backpack.
- For a casual bag, it matches everything.
Now for the Cons:
- The tiny front zip pocket is SO small that I can’t even hardly open it. I’d consider it completely dysfunctional. This was a downer for me! I like using a front backpack zip pocket for lip gloss or whatnot.
- The backpack sits lower – I’d probably punch another hole or two in the straps to have it sit a bit higher
SIZE
6.7 x 8.7 x 3.9 inches (Length x Height x Width)
PRICING
Louis Vuitton sells this brand new for $2400, but the reverse monogram is hard to come by!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
While I really love this bag, I probably would save my money for something else that has more functionality. Truthfully if the front zip pocket was useful, I would buy it! I know that might sound silly, but for a $2400+ bag, I’d love to have the entire bag work. If that isn’t important to you, and you love the Palm Springs Mini look, I say get it!
Louis Vuitton Bella Bag
Lauren (from Now You Glow), knows me SO well, that she sent me the Bella bag to borrow… and it’s one of the most functional crossbody bags I’ve ever used! While it’s not one I would have necessarily grabbed off the rack, it’s one I quickly fell in love with. Details below.
FUNCTIONALITY
The Bella crossbody bag is beautiful, and still functional. I absolutely love the black monogram leather and silver hardware. This bag fits literally everything I need!! Including: my wallet, lip products, keys, phone, safety keychain tools, tampons, sunglasses, and even more! I was honestly shocked at how much fits in this bag! While I never used the coin purse that’s attached to it, I think it’s a super cute addition.
SIZE
7.5 x 8.7 x 5.5 inches (Length x Height x Width)
- Strap:Removable, adjustable
- Strap drop: 19.7 inches
- Strap drop max: 22.0 inches
PRICING
Louis Vuitton sells this brand new for $4050. However, If you want to snag this for a way better deal, Now You Glow has it HERE for $3495 (as of 3/21/23).
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I never thought this would be a bag I want to save for, but it totally is!! I love the functionality of it and that it can be dressed up or down. This bag is absolutely worth investing in!
Louis Vuitton Nano LockMe Bucket
Before borrowing this bag from Lauren @now.you.glow, I actually almost bought it in grey when we were in Las Vegas in May! I ended up purchasing a different white bag, but kept this one in mind. Lauren graciously let me give her a test run to see how I liked her, and I won’t lie – she’s flipping amazing! I’m shocked at how much I love this bag, considering I walked away from her in Vegas. I also don’t generally gravitate toward silver hardware, but I love it in this case. I’m considering keeping this one, because I’m so impressed with her!
FUNCTIONALITY
This grained calf-leather bucket bag fits literally everything I need! My card holder, epi-pen, car keys and lip gloss all fit in it! I was honestly surprised, but it works perfectly for my needs. I probably wouldn’t use this as an everyday bag, but it’s a great bag for dinners, weddings, and outings where I don’t need much stuff. There’s also 3 card slots on the inside, so you can leave your wallet/card holder at home all together! The strap is also removable.
SIZE
5.3 x 6.3 x 3.9 inches (length x Height x Width)
Strap drop: 22.0 inches
PRICING
Louis Vuitton sells this brand new for $2180.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I freaking LOVE this bag! I haven’t borrowed a bag from Now You Glow that I love this much in a while! It’s been so fun seeing which bags I love and would invest in. I genuinely hope it’s helping you decide what bags to save up for! I also highly recommend going resale through Now You Glow – don’t forget my discount code is ALWAYSMELISS for 10% off her entire site!
Louis Vuitton Monogram Utility Crossbody
I am so thankful that Lauren (@nowyouglow) let me borrow the Louis Vuitton Monogram Utility Crossbody! For at least 6 months, I was eyeing this bad boy. I loved the utility look and the fun crossbody strap. Plus, I’m a sucker for the LV Monogram. I think it’s timeless and goes with every outfit! However, I won’t lie, after testing her out, I was not sold. There’s certain things I look for in a designer bag, and regardless of how cute a bag is, it has to be functional for my lifestyle! I’ll share more details below, as I’m sure it’s great and functional for many of you, but it wasn’t for me.
FUNCTIONALITY
The LV Monogram Utility Crossbody appears to be super functional with the large pouch and two frontal pouches. However, the inside of the larger pouch is SO tiny! I could barely fit my small wallet (this is the one I use daily), lip gloss, and car keys inside… and forget about a phone. Not to mention, the zipper actually goes all the way around and opens like an accordion. The two front pouches are absolutely tiny. They’re so small, you can probably fit some floss and maybe a tiny lipstick, but that’s it!
In terms of size, its actually a decent size, but the way it opens is not super convenient (and I love convenient). I do love the sporty adjustable strap. It can be worn crossbody or as a shoulder bag. I almost think it could even be a belt bag (but I didn’t personally try).
Size:
7.1 x 4.3 x 3.9 inches
Strap drop: 11.8″ to 17.7″
(length x Height x Width)
PRICING
Louis Vuitton sells this brand new for $3300.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
If you love crossbody utility bags and don’t mind it having little space for stuff, this is a great bag! I love the overall aesthetic, I just personally wouldn’t invest in this bag, since I prefer something with a bit more space and functionality.
Chanel Vintage Mini Flap in Lambskin Leather
I won’t lie, this Chanel vintage mini flap bag is probably one of my favorite bags I’ve ever borrowed from Now You Glow! I’m a total sucker for a neutral smaller crossbody bag that can be worn for multiple occasions. I can see wearing this as a casual everyday bag, or dressed up for date night or a wedding. It’s literally so buttery soft and matches everything! I wish I could keep every bag I borrow and love from Now You Glow. This one would be to of my list right now! It’s actually made with 24K gold hardware, which apparently Chanel collectors prefer. I thought that was a fun fact!
FUNCTIONALITY
Personally, I prefer smaller bags. I don’t like carrying the weight of excess stuff everyday. It fits exactly what I need – my keys, cardholder, lipgloss and a tampon. I have room for probably one other small lip or tampon, as well. Nothing massive, as this is a small bag that’s more like a wallet on a chain.
SIZE
Length: 8″, Height: 4″, Depth: 2.5″, Drop 21.5″
Above you can find photos of exactly what fits in this bag. Yes, it is smaller, but that’s my preference. I don’t like carrying a lot of stuff! If you are a person who does carry more items, this bag would be much better as an occasion bag vs everyday (as I would use it).
PRICING
This Chanel bag retails for about $5000, and Lauren has it listed for $3995. I heard Chanel is increasing their prices yet again, which means resale prices generally go up, too.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Overall, I love this bag so much! Clearly I’ve been raving about it through every sentence (and if you keep reading, you know that’s not how I roll, I’m always brutally honest!). I seriously don’t know how she’s available still, because she’s so stunningly beautiful and a smart investment piece!
Maxi Double Flap in Caviar Leather
FUNCTIONALITY
This bag is very practical and functional! Legitimately this bag fits everything you could ever need. It has a rear patch pocket and an interior pocket (I usually put cards/tampons/lip products in there depending on the size of the bag). The gold chain-link leather threaded shoulder strap is gorgeous! You can wear the bag as a crossbody or simply as a shoulder bag. The front is a full flap with the classic gold Chanel CC turn-lock (easy to open, but very secure).
SIZE
Length: 12.75 in
Height: 9 in
Width: 3.75 in
Drop: 9.5 in
Drop: 16.5 in
PRICING
Retail: $10,200
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Although I love the classic look and simplicity of this beautiful bag, it’s just too big for me! Trust me when I say, I wanted to love this bag SO much, and I do, but it’s not the right bag for my lifestyle today. If I were working in a corporate job or one where I traveled alot, this bag would be great. It fits so much (literally I think my 12″ laptop would fit inside!), but I simply don’t carry a ton. If you’re the kind of person who does have a lot of things with them daily or travels a ton and wants a smart bag that fits everything you need, this is a great one for you!
Louis Vuitton Empreinte BumBag
I’ve been eyeing the Louis Vuitton Empreinte BumBag for a while, and haven’t been able to pull the trigger! Part of me (quite honestly) hated this bag. I thought it was silly and like it was just an adult fanny pack. Go figure this style is actually SUPER trendy and functional. My friend Lauren at Now You Glow, graciously let me borrow her very own BumBag to test out and today I’m giving you my honest opinion!
FUNCTIONALITY
This is a classic ‘on-the-go’ bag! The thing I love about it, is it’s a great everyday bag. The positive is, you just need your wallet, keys, and some lip gloss and you’re good to go! But that’s also the downfall of this bag for me. If you’ve read my other reviews (above/below) I actually prefer smaller bags. I only carry a card holder (vs a full size wallet) and it fits in any purse. However, this bag is SO small. I can’t fit anything else aside from the few necessary items. So for me, that’s a downfall.
I do love that it can be worn as a classic fanny pack or as a crossbody bag. I found it to be easy to grab and run errands, which is a plus! I also love the black leather. I always love the classic LV canvas, but their empreinte just gets me!
SIZE
Length: 13 in
Height: 7 in
Width: 4 in
Drop: 9.75 in
OVERALL THOUGHTS
As much as I love the on-the-go easy to grab style of this bag, I probably wouldn’t splurge on it. It’s just a little small for me! I have friends who rave about this bag and use it every single day, but I personally prefer my LV empreinte backpack! It just is a better size and can fit more, while still being a great on the go bag.
Chanel Goatskin Quilted Medium 19 Flap Bag in Black
I want to start by saying, this bag is a DREAM! I seriously never thought I’d ever be able to test out a Chanel bag, let alone wear her for a month. I’m sincerely thankful for Lauren from Now You Glow for trusting me to borrow her personal bag and even traveling with her to California! I hope one day, I can afford to own this bag, because it’s seriously the best bag I’ve ever used. AND… with that said, let’s get into the details!
FUNCTIONALITY
The Chanel Lambskin Quilted medium flap bag in black is beautiful, but also functional. It can fit everything inside that I need! I was able to fit my smaller size wallet, sunglasses/case, keys, lip products, tampons, and a few other things, and still had room to spare. She has a magnetic snap pocket, and a turn-lock on the flap. I absolutely LOVE that she has both gold and silver on the chain-link strap, because the bag matches everything!
To be honest, if I get to buy a Chanel bag one day, I want this exact bag but one size smaller! I don’t carry a ton of things with me, so I can easily get away with going smaller.
SIZE
Base Length: 10 in
Height: 6.25 in
Width: 3 in
Drop: 3.25 in
Drop: 19.25 in
Item #: 717739
Year: 2020
Louis Vuitton Palermo
The Louis Vuitton Palermo bag is a great everyday purse. It’s actually the perfect alternative to a Neverfull. Not everyone loves an open tote (when I lived in NYC, sometimes I would get nervous someone would reach into my Neverfull, for example), so having a zipper on the Palermo is an added bonus.
FUNCTIONALITY
I love that this bag has handles and a strap. You can remove the strap or keep it on and wear it as a crossbody bag. I much prefer cross body bags over shoulder bags, these days! They’re more comfortable, in my opinion. This bag could also be a perfect work bag! It’s classy and can even fit a small laptop (mine is 12″ and fits!). I love this bag. I would only use it as an everyday casual bag, not for any fancy occasions (exactly how I use my Neverfull).
PRICE
Retail: $1650 + tax
Now You Glow price: $980
SIZE
Base Length: 13.75 in
Longest Length : 17.25 in
Height: 13 in
Width: 7.5 in
Drop: 7 in
The Louis Vuitton Palermo bag fits everything I need and then some!
Louis Vuitton Eva
| JEANS OUTFIT LINKED HERE | DRESS OUTFIT LINKED HERE |
The Louis Vuitton Eva bag is a staple small crossbody purse.
FUNCTIONALITY
The Louis Vuitton Eva bag comes with the traditional LV strap, but I love that it’s removable. You can use the chain or swap out the leather strap for another strap, which I personally love to do! This small crossbody bag can be worn as a shoulder bag for a nice night out, or as a casual crossbody for running errands. I like this bag, but it’s a bit small for me! Sizing details below.
PRICE
Now You Glow’s price for the Eva bag is $880 (no tax!).
SIZE
Base Length: 10 in
Height: 5 in
Width: 1.5 in
Drop: 8.25 in
Drop: 25.5 in
Here’s what I can fit in this bag:
Honestly, this bag fits everything I need, but nothing extra! It’s more of a going out bag, than everyday bag. If I didn’t own the LV Pallas, this would be a great alternative. It’s such a classic smaller bag!
Gucci Medium Dionosys
No joke, when I opened this Gucci Dionysus bag, I was SWOONING! I’ve never seen a print so beautiful, as this bag. It’s such a statement! I would wear this blooms emerald green print with so many outfits. It’s definitely more of a dressy bag, in my opinion. I wore it out to a nice dinner with my family, and my mom immediately said she loved it and is considering purchasing. It’s great for weddings, date nights, and any event. I styled it with a little white dress and sandals.
FUNCTIONALITY
The size of this bag makes it more functional, in my opinion. I’ll explain size details below, but this certainly is not an everyday bag. I’d still consider the functionality high, because having a statement occasion bag is a necessity. The print is definitely memorable, so if you’re more into neutrals, this isn’t the bag for you. I personally love a statement print for dressy occasions! I would even wear this with a pink dress or top, because the details are pinks. It’s a leather bag, so it will last your forever!
PRICE
Retail: $2,650 + tax
Now You Glow price: $1,650 for this exact bag
SIZE
11″L x 2.8″W x 6.8″H
I can fit literally everything in this bag! My keys, iPhone, lip products, tampons, even my small Canon camera fit in it! I love the size. It’s actually perfect for events. I can also fit my husband’s wallet in it, which is great considering he always asks me to hold it when we’re out!
Overall, I absolutely LOVE this Gucci bag. If I were able to buy it right now, I 100% would. She’s on my wish list!
YSL Noe Rive Gauche Logo Canvas Tote
FUNTIONALITY
How gorgeous is this YSL Canvas Tote!? I love it for Spring and Summer. It’s a great alternative to a tote, and can easily be used for travel. I can fit everything in it that I could ever need! My laptop, a jacket, anything I need fits inside. It’s truly perfect for days where you want to carry a tote, but look more chic! It has an interior zip pocket plus a snap closure. Overall I love the look of this bag and would probably have already saved for it, if I was still traveling a ton! It would easily be my travel bag.
PRICE
Retail: $1250 + tax
Now You Glow Price: $1150 (brand new)
SIZE
19″W x 14″H x 6 1/2″D
YSL LouLou Medium Black on Black
The first bag I borrowed from Now You Glow is the YSL (Saint Laurent) Medium Size LouLou. As mentioned above I own the Toy size LouLou (which is incredibly small). I wasn’t sure if I wanted to trade it in for a small or medium. Today I’m sharing a FULL review on the bag, what works for me, and what doesn’t.
Overall Look
The YSL LouLou is one of my favorite bags! The black on black is timeless and chic. I love the Matelassé calfskin leather quilting, as well. I love the look of the LouLou!
Functionality
Crossbody style bags are my favorite, but I also like being able to throw my purse over my shoulder. This bag has a pull-through chain strap, that can easily be converted from a crossbody to a shoulder bag. The interior also has a divide, and a center zipper pocket.
Price
This bag retails for $2350. The exact bag that Lauren sent to me is available (as of the date of this blog post) for $1999. It’s brand new, and can save you almost $400 to buy resale! Just another reason why I love to buy from Now You Glow.
Size
Below are the exact size dimensions and weight of the medium LouLou.
- 12 ½”W x 8 ½”H x 4 ½”D. (Interior capacity: medium.)
- 10 ¾” strap drop; 19 ¾” shoulder strap drop.
- 2.2 lb.
Here’s a photo comparison of the Medium and Toy LouLou
Personally, I think the small (not photographed, would be the size between the Toy and Medium) would be perfect for me!
Overall Thoughts on the Medium LouLou
Despite loving the aesthetic and functionality of the bag, it is too big for me! When I told Lauren from Now You Glow that it’s too big, she laughed, because it’s too small for her! So here’s what I did. We both took a photo of what we carry in our purses daily, to help give you an idea of what size bag could work for you!
Here’s some details about Lauren! Lauren is a mom of 2 under the age of 3, so she needs a big bag! She always carries diapers, snacks, wipes etc. The Medium LouLou also holds a large tablet or small laptop so does make a nice size travel bag. It’s a great alternate to a tote, that has a closure!
I’m sure as my life changes, the medium size designer bag will be great for me! Until then, I’m considering pulling the trigger on the small size. Below is a photo of exactly what I carry daily, vs what Lauren carries!
YSL LouLou Small Black with Gold Hardware
It’s officially March and Spring is here! Which also means another month of testing a new designer bag. I’m partnering with Lauren from Now You Glow Luxury, and for the past few weeks I’ve been carrying the Small YSL LouLou. As you’ve read above, I own the toy size and tested out the Medium YSL bag last month. Today I’m sharing the details of the YSL Small LouLou and giving my honest opinion on which size is best, based on what you carry in your purse!
Sizing
Above is a side by side size comparison of the Medium, Small, and Toy YSL LouLou bags. I tried them all on at once, so you can gauge sizing as accurately as possible! Personally the Toy is just too small, and the medium is too big for me. You can reference what I carry in my purse daily, and the small bag is actually perfect for me! I can fit more than I need, which is perfect. Having a little bit extra space is ideal, without losing items because the bag is too big.
The exact dimensions of the small Italian made bag are:
25 X 17 X 9 CM / 9.8 X 6.6 X 3.5 INCHES
Interior Details
The small structured Saint Laurent Monogram LouLou Bag has a front flap with the YSL initials in the center. The small and medium size bags (unlike the toy) also have a metal chain strap, which can be worn crossbody or doubled on the shoulder.
The actual bag is 100% calfskin, and the hardware is bronze metal. The flap clasps with a magnetic snap fastening. Inside the bag (like the Toy and Medium sizes), there are two open compartments, one zip compartment, and one open pocket. Leaving plenty of space for your items while keeping them organized.
Functionality
Like I said above, crossbody style bags are my favorite! I gravitate toward them and rarely use other style bags. The convertible pull-through chain strap makes it easy to wear.
Price
This bag retails for $2050. The exact bag that Lauren sent to me is available (as of 3/13/2021). It’s brand new, and can save you money (and taxes) if you buy resale! I love to buy from Now You Glow and can’t recommend her enough!!
Overall Thoughts on the Small LouLou
If you’re like me, and typically only carry the essentials, but like room to throw some extra stuff in your purse, then this size is perfect for you! I’m highly considering trading my toy LouLou for the small size, because it’s much more functional than the toy. I would use it every single day! I can also use the small LouLou for events, weddings, and date nights. The options are limitless!
Stay tuned for more bag reviews coming to this exact post! Bookmark it, follow me on Instagram and stay tuned for more!
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