The Balenciaga Motorcycle Bags are easily the brand’s most iconic designs, and of the many shapes, structures and sizes that have come and gone beneath the signatures studs and buckles, the City Bag is inarguably the most recognizable and popular. The standard-size City Bag has been around since almost the very beginning, and in more recent seasons it’s been shrunken into the Mini City and then the City S (which stands for small) in order to keep up with the current industry trends toward smaller crossbody bags. Now, for Resort 2017, new Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia has made his first significant changes to the City line by introducing new sizes both great and tiny.
Two new City Bags, called the Nano and the XL, are available for pre-order at Balenciaga.com, and they’re the line’s biggest and smallest additions to date. (I bet you can figure out which one is which.) The Nano is in line with the microbags into which other designers have shrunk their most popular creations over the past few years (meaning it won’t fit an iPhone 7 Plus), while the XL is almost exactly the same dimensions as the Weekender. The Weekender is a longtime Balenciaga staple that hasn’t been produced in many colors for the past few years, and the City XL changes the bag’s details and finishes a little bit an knocks $95 off the current price tag.
Right now, both the Nano and XL City Bags are available for pre-order in only black, although additional colors of both are likely forthcoming as seasonal arrivals progress. Check out all five City sizes below, along with their dimensions, prices and availability.
Balenciaga Nano City Bag
$1,075 via Balenciaga
Dimensions: 6.6″ W x 4.7″ H x 2″ D
Balenciaga Mini City Bag
$1,325 via Balenciaga
Dimensions: 9.4″ W x 6.2″ H x 3.5″ D
Balenciaga City S Bag
$1,645 via Balenciaga
Dimensions: 12″ W x 7.5″ H x 4″ D
Balenciaga City Bag
$1,835 via Balenciaga
Dimensions: 14.8″ W x 9.4″ H x 5.5″ D
Balenciaga City Bag XL
$2,050 via Balenciaga
Dimensions: 20.3″ W x 14″ H x 9″ D
I don’t know about the nano… I mean, I think the mini is a bit on the too small side. I ended up selling mine to buy something else. What’s the true function of a nano city other than simply looking ridiculously cute? I guess it’s for visual effect like the tiny Fendi Peekaboo that barely holds lipstick and keys. I sold that one too! lol
Wow Amanda, thanks so much for this comparison. I have been eyeing the City bag for the past year & have it on my purchase list for this year. Not sure why they bother with a Nano size as it would fit my phone but not much else. This size review convinces me that the Classic City is the size to go for.
Jana
I can’t imagine spending $1000 on a bag that can’t even hold my phone. I was really hoping that this minuscule bags were on their way out.
I completely agree. I don’t see the point of the nano. The mini is small enough.
I’ve seen it in person and it actually fits a lot, it probably fits more than a Chanel mini. Like Vlad said, maybe your phone is just to big. And even if minuscule bags were on their way out I’d still get one because the size of bags shouldn’t a be a trend, not that you should follow trends period.
Maybe I’m too practical but I don’t see the point of a nano sized bag either. Seems you could loose it(!).
Mini bags are functional. I have the mini city bag and its a fantastic everyday bag. Fits all the essentials and then some.
lose*
You clearly need a smaller phone! 😛
Is city XL the same size as weekender but with strap?
Yes, I think so.
Can someone explain the “thing” about these bags? Between the material and the mirror they look like something you’d get at a mid-level department store for $60 in the 90’s…
I love the nano, it does look small at first glance but I have seen it in person and it is more practical than you think. It fits more than a Chanel mini and various brand’s WOC, I’m definitely considering as my next purchase.