While it seems like Polène has been in our collective consciousness forever, it was only in 2018 that it entered our handbag chat. Then, just two years old, Polène caught our eye thanks to its clean design aesthetic and beautifully made bags at an accessible price point. Plus, it had that undeniably distinct, yet difficult to nail down, air of French je ne sais quoi.
Each design is carefully thought out, designed, and crafted with the utmost attention to quality and detail. Plus, the bags don’t just look good from afar; they also feel luxe, and few brands boast the popularity, quality, and craft of a luxury brand at a contemporary price in the way that Polène consistently does.
Not to mention, while other brands aim to capture the essence of Parisian style from afar, Polène is actually beloved and worn by Parisians, and after spending two months in Paris earlier this year, these are the Polène bags I saw time and time (and time) again.
From metro rides and walks through Luxembourg Gardens to cafe hopping and vintage shopping, these are the bags that rule the streets of Paris.
Polène Le Dix
A Parisian (and PurseBlog) favorite, the curved lines and sleek, distinct half-moon shape of the Le Dix make it incredibly easy to wear and style. Fitting the essentials, it’s a bag you’ll reach for again and again.
Polène Cyme
Polène’s take on the classic shopper, the Cyme, offers the function of a tote with the stylistic aesthetic of Polène. Arriving with an internal pouch for your keys or other items you’d like to safeguard, the sides of the bag snap to change the shape of the tote. Plus, you can carry it over the shoulder using the longer straps or hand carry it with the smaller straps.
Polène Numéro Neuf
The feminine, sculptural Polène Numéro Neuf (Number Nine) is one of the brand’s most distinctive and unique bags. Draped leather comes together with a meticulous attention to detail, adding a nice aesthetic touch. Although it’s designed to be carried by a top handle, an additional longer strap is included for added functionality, making it a fan favorite.
I expected to see some street style images of the Polene bags when I read the title, not some stale brand sponsored stock photos
We are working on incorporating more Paris street style! There are different rules in the EU regarding the photography of people, so it’s a bit different, but we are on top of it. Kaitlin just spent 2 months there and saw so many Polene bags while there!
Quite a shock to see Polene featured considering how their quality and customer service have taken a serious nose dive over the last couple of years.. I bought a few Polene bags back when they first started their business. I was so happy with the quality and style. I still have the Cyme and love it. Unfortunately, I have seen and heard terrible stories about their bags now. It is such a bummer seeing on line people receiving damaged bags they’d bought brand new, or bags that get unraveled from shoddy stitching and stories about how they will not help. It’s also disappointing that the only photos that have been shown are those from their own advertisements. Pretty sad that this is a hype for Polene without all the facts.
Blame to LVMH 😂 Price also gone up
thank you for your honest post.
I got the Le Dix at its lowest price when it first came out. Beautiful and perfect travel and running around bag.
The disclosure notice appears to explain the post (earning a commission), but the content itself doesn’t seem particularly relevant. There’s no debut of a new model or any commitment to improving their declining quality. If Parisians truly appreciate these, it would have been helpful to include street images, as someone else suggested.
I didn’t notice the disclosure until you mentioned this.
And the disclosure is in a smaller font and at the bottom of the blog…
I love my Polène bags, they are fantastic and the designs are so unique!
I wish the Deux was still available! It was a mistake to drop that one IMO. I have the original Numero Un in a deep blue (color no longer available), the Deux in black moc croc and the Six in a rich terre de sienne color. The Six should have been created in a size about 20 to 30 percent larger. The size it was released in made it just too small to be practical (ditto for the original Nodde)
Hi Passerine,
I first heard about Polene from a comment you had made on purseblog! I looked them up and loved the designs but at the time they were not shipping to North America. I think PB featured them many years after 🙂
Wow, thanks. We go to Paris several times a year (it’s only a three-hour direct train ride away). From what I see, the most common Polene bag remains the original Numero Un in black. After that, the Neuf and Dix.
We also make frequent visits to the stylish city of Lugano and see very few Polene bags. LV is the most commonly seen bag brand (I just bought the Carryall PM bag there this week; my husband bought a new LV wallet at the same store).
I loved the Carryall when we first covered it and still do! Funny, I didn’t spot many Numero Uns, but I completely agree on the last two. The Dix was hands down the bag I spotted most – but it is my favorite, so maybe my eye is a bit trained 🙂
I agree – my friend has the Nodde Hobo, and while it is a gorgeous bag, it is just a tad too small, and the opening a tad too narrow to get your things without scratching your hands on the zipper.
I have a Cyme tote in the small size and I love it. I also love shopping in the NYC boutique, the staff are very friendly and helpful. I plan to get another Cyme the next time I am in NY.
I have a large Cyme in brown, and I love it. The bigger size makes it great for travel!
I have Le Dix but finally it is smaller than it looks. And access to things inside is not so easy.
I concur the sizing/shaping of Polène is interesting – Uno & Neuf too bulky, Bèli and Tonca too small/irregular to be practical. I loved them all at the first sight and at the touch of the leather, but they faded out in real life…
Polene bag designs look interesting but I’ve read way too many bad reviews on them. Not chancing it since i don’t have a retail store in my country to check the bag in person.
nope