One of my fondest memories from the early days of PurseBlog is the summer I went to visit Vlad in Germany, and we took an epic day trip to track down a bag. I remember it fondly.
I had arrived in Europe to see Vlad, who was working on his Master’s, and we were both working on PurseBlog. He had a quaint one-bedroom apartment on a tree-lined street in Cologne, Germany. It was the summer of 2005, and it-bags were at their peak. Chloé reigned supreme.
The Allure of the Chloé Paddington Bag
The latest it-bag that everyone wanted to have: The Chloé Paddington. I figured I could track it down in Europe, and so we began calling boutiques around different countries that were within driving distance. Vlad was actually audibly laughed at when he questioned one boutique in Paris, because of course, they didn’t have one.
But then we called Munich, and our luck changed, because the person who put their name down for the bag didn’t wind up picking it up, and it could be ours. The only catch was that we had to get there that very day. It was a nearly 6-hour drive, but we made it, and I made the purchase (only €995 at the time!).
That is such a vivid memory for me, of a time when I felt every single ounce of joy, anticipation, and excitement over the thrill of the hunt and the purchase itself.
So when it was announced that the Paddington was returning, I, for one, was thrilled. This is a bag that defined a significant part of my life’s trajectory, so, of course, I would feel all those same feelings hearing about its comeback! Now I have one, so I can share more!
Size, Hardware, and Colors: All the Details on the New Paddington
The new Chloé Paddington brings the same design aesthetic with some welcomed updates. Most notably, the heft of the bag.
While the design itself was beloved, and the lock and key closure defined the bag when it was first released, it also added a significant amount of weight. People decided to carry the bag without the lock, which made sense, but I always thought it took away from a defining element.
Sizes: Small and Regular
Other Versions: Small Paddington Chain Bag
Materials: Grained Buffalo leather and the Padlock is crafted from Aluminum
Colors Offered:
Small: Black, Mustang Brown, Earthy Pink, Aqua Grey, Metallic Golden Brown
Regular: Cloudy Cream, Winter Ivy, Black, Mustang Brown, Crafty Brown, Tapestry Blue, and Flannel Grey
Chain Bag: Cloudy Cream, Mustang Brown, Crafty Brown, Black
Interior: Cotton lining with 1 main compartment, 1 front flat pocket, 1 back flat pocket, 1 inside zipped pocket, and a zip closure
Dimensions: Small: W 10.2″, H 4.7″, D 4.7″, handle drop 7.1″. Regular: W 14.2″, H 7.1″, D 7.1″, Handle drop 8.3″.
Price: $2,450 for the Small and $2,750 for the Regular.
Small
Regular
Is the Paddington Bag Worth Buying Now?
The return of this bag is a reminder that great bags are always in style. This wasn’t a quick seasonal bag that got some hype; it was a bag that commanded the attention of every bag and fashion lover in the world. It changed the way we viewed it-bags; it was the start of a line of must-haves from the House. It was brand-defining.
The return of the bag 20 years later only further proves that fashion is cyclical. Shopping your closet never goes out of style. And the Paddington is a bag that is worthy of the comeback it’s been given.
The cycle shows that this bag was worth buying the first time around, and now, with the updates (such as being far lighter), it remains a great investment.
Celebrities with the New Paddington
Cute and iconic but whenever I see it I just think “cumbersome”.
This bag is trying too hard. Too busy. Looks cumbersome. Outdated. They are just trying to capitalize on nostalgia but I don’t think this particular bag looks cool.
I so love this bag! I had it in the 2000s and I just re-purchased the new one. I like the updates they did to it like less weight and easier entry. I am carrying it everywhere right now!
New design is weird. That lock is heavy and annoying in that place.
I still have all my original Chloe bags and still wear them; yes the lock in the Paddy is heavy so I use it without it
The leather is amazing and has kept very well for all these years!
Might look outdated to some but it doesn’t bother me after all we wear and use what we like not trends
cute but nothing i would wear
Tried this bag in store, and it’s just as heavy as I remember. As much as I like the way it looks, I’ll save my money for something else.
clearly a sponsored post…
Chloé is trying to hard with this one…
Thanks Megs, love a personal story opening (not a Paddington fan but I fell off my seat the first time I saw the MJ Stam!!). Article series idea: ask readers the story behind their first XYZ bag (Chanel WOC, Speedy, whatever), or just first designer bag in general. The hunt when you don’t have a store handy… the papers you cut up and tape together to get an idea of 225 vs 226 to see what fits your items (or is that just me?? Used to make a 3D paper model of any bag I considered, had no store around)… the planning, travel… the billion hours at purse forum (go Vlad!!)…. the thrill in the store, the disappointment when they don’t have it, how you figure it out and that crazy excitement, and when the adrenaline subsides and the slippery slope quickly turns into multiple bags and ban island is looming ahead…etc 🙂 I have a firm rule with girlfriends – if they are going to borrow something I put so much research, travel and eventually – through wearing – love into, they need to hear my whole story of how I met my baby first 😉
I tried on the Tapestry Blue and was disappointed because, despite that the lock is slightly less weighty, this bag is still not as light as I had anticipated.
Such a Gossip Girl vibes.
I got out my red Paddington from years ago, still incredibly heavy but I love the look. I always had a hard time with the zippers and that hasn’t changed, I would put in a few stitches to keep it on track.
Eventually it will be found at the bottom of your closet with all the other…’Got to have it’ purchases that will be carried by them who very well can afford it!