When Hedi Slimane debuted his first design for Celine on the arm of Lady Gaga handbag aficionados were given a first look at the French design house’s new design direction. While I appreciated the sleek, structured look of the 16 Bag the shape was not something that I personally gravitated towards. My typical go to bag is a shoulder or crossbody bag that is on the mini to small side. It’s what works for me currently, and I no longer carry enough things on a day to day basis to warrant the purchase of a large designer bag. So when I saw Slimane’s latest addition to the 16 line I was immediately intrigued. I had to share it with you guys immediately and now I’m excited to give you all a full review of the Celine by Hedi Slimane Small Besace 16 Bag.
There’s no denying that this bag is teeny, tiny, but as I mentioned above what I carry day to day is so minimal that it works for me (more on what fits later). However it’s not the size, or the brand even that immediately draws me to this bag, rather it’s the shape. The half-moon shape has been on my radar since the beginning of the year and I’m really into the idea of adding this shape back into my rotation.
Though the shape and the design overall is fairly simple, it’s the small details that I’m attracted to. Clean lines accent the bag as does the gold Celine turncock closure. I like the minimalist vibe overall and I’m most attracted to this bag in the neutral, solid colors. However a really fun option is the Small Besace 16 Bag in pony calfskin with leopard print.
There’s no denying that this bag is on the (very) mini side, but when I organized it just right I was able to fit my necessities. At 7″ L x 7″ W x 2″ D I was able to fit in my sunglasses (in the case), my iPhone X, a lipgloss and a lip balm. I utilized the card slot on the back exterior of the bag to hold my ID and a credit card. I never carry cash so this worked for me, but if I were to nix the sunglass case I could have easily carried a small card holder and some other items. You can see below how I organized everything to fit. I did still have a little bit of room on top to put some other small items like a pill case or a hair clip if I wanted to.
All versions of the Celine by Hedi Slimane Small Besace 16 Bag are lined in lambskin and feature interior card slots as well as a slit pocket on the front of the bag. The strap is adjustable and would work as a shoulder strap or cross body. As for where the bag sat on me, I’m 5’9 for reference. The natural calfskin version in tan retails for $2,650 via Celine while the white satinated calfskin version retails for $2,450 and is also available in solid black and red via Celine. Lastly, the novelty version in pony calfskin with leopard print retails for $2,650 and is available via Celine.
