In the last year, few trends have been as covetable or as widespread as the quiet luxury trend. By now, it needs no introduction, and even with the tidal waves moving towards more maximalist trends like the mob wife aesthetic and the many bows of balletcore, fashion’s collective obsession with quiet luxury shows no signs of slowing down.
For the minimalists among us, there’s no time like the present to add the clean lines and old-money feel of understated pieces into rotation. True minimalism is achieved when a bag is so incognito that it remains under the radar to most. While The Row’s Margaux Bag is currently having a major moment, the brand is one of the best examples of quiet luxury as a whole.
This minimalist movement has also spotlighted brands that were once more under the radar, like Stocklholm-based Totême, a favorite of Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lawrence, and more. Both brands boast an enviable line-up of bags and have become a favorite of the street-style set.
It just so happens that they also both offer a version of the popular, body-hugging Banana bag, and we’re here to unpack them both in a fresh bag battle.
Let’s get to it!
The Row Banana
A favorite of stars like Kendall Jenner, Jennifer Lawrence, and Zoey Kravitz, The Row’s Banana bag was launched in 2019, and at first, it was a bit of a sleeper style. The slouchy shape with its clean, curved lines was a bit ahead of its time, but like the brand as a whole, it’s currently having a moment of its own.
The Row Banana Bag is crafted from smooth calfskin leather, meant to age perfectly with wear; it’s finished with an adjustable strap and top-zipped closure. Lined in suede, the overall dimensions of the small version are 4.7″ L x 13.75″ W x 7″ D. While the classic black leather version shown below is the most popular (it’s currently sold out at most retailers or only available to pre-order), there are other color and fabrications offered as well, like nylon and suede.
Totême Scoop Bag
New this season from Totême is the Scoop bag, which offers the same slouchy, body-hugging design as The Row’s Banana bag but at a much more accessible price point (it’s under $1,000!).
Totême’s brand DNA also offers a quiet appeal similar to The Row, and this bag features the same clean aesthetic as its other bags, this time with soft curved lines.
This new bag features strong craftsmanship and is set to be a new signature for Totême. Made from full-grain Palmellata leather, its slim silhouette and adjustable strap allow for shoulder or crossbody wear.
The interior is small but features two card slots, so you can skip the card case, though the overall dimensions of 7.5 L” x 13.8″ W x 7″ D are very similar to The Row’s offering.
This is a battle of two (banana) bags…which one wins?
