Chloe Medium Woody Tote Bag

 

Where I got it

Around the middle of 2021, I have been seeing this new Woody tote from Chloe and I thought it looked really cute. I was in the market for a new work bag and I thought the medium size would be quite nice, but the large logo on the bag made it a little inappropriate, so I decided not to get it for work. At the same time, I was also in the market to get a new bag. I was going to go for a more dressy bag that is more formal-looking, but then we went into a 3-month lockdown which totally changed the way I think about investing in a dressy bag that I would ultimately use for maybe 3 times a year. Therefore I discussed with hubby and decided to use that budget on a more affordable bag that I would make more use out of, and the rest on fine jewellery or a luxury watch.

Therefore when Singles Day sales came along, I happen to see this discount code from a fellow influencer on IG (IG made me do it!) and it was 24% off everything that is over $400 (I believe). It was €648 and I got €155.52 off the bag. Around €74 for taxes and it was complimentary shipping to New Zealand. So it was a total €566.35 (around NZD$914). I ordered this on 1/11 and it arrived on 10/11 which was only 9 days from Paris which was really impressive! This is available at Workshop.co.nz for ND$1398.00!

 

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What I got

This is the Chloe Medium Woody Tote Bag. Information from the brand’s website: Tote bag in cotton canvas & shiny calfskin with Woody ribbon. 2 long handles, 1 spacious main compartment, 1 internal flat pocket, comes with a dust bag. Width: 14.6″ (37 cm), Height: 10.2″ (26 cm), Depth: 4.7″ (12 cm), Strap drop: 8.7″ (22 cm). This handbag is made from a woven fabrication adapted to leather goods requirements. A water-repellent treatment was applied to the fabric, but rain exposure should be avoided. Avoid rubbing this material against colour-contrasting materials and shield it from humidity, light, heat, liquids and greasy substances.

This style of tote bag comes in large, medium and small and it is quickly becoming popular and the brand is creating this in different materials, different colourways, etc.

Packaging and shipping

This is my first time shopping with 24s and I am very pleased with how quick and easy the whole experience was. The shipping was fast, I was kept in the loop with parcel tracking updates and the parcel came in a sturdy cardboard box. When I open the box, there is a card-like pop-up that says “French Work Like Balance” and under that is a blue envelope with “Madame Kitty”. Inside is my invoice, etc. Then a large white paper shopping bag with the 24s logo. Inside the bag is the Chloe dust bag and my Woody tote bag is stuffed and neatly inside.

Interior and details

As you can see the bag has a little side compartment for small items, otherwise, it is a large empty space overall. I ordered a bag organiser from Samorga which is designed for this specific bag (link here). Right after I have made the order, I noticed that I have ordered one that says “suitable for felt version bag only”. I was hoping that it would be smaller so it would still fit, but when I received it and tried it in my bag, it was obviously slightly too big. I tried to squish it in the bag, but the organiser is clearly warped and slightly forced open the bag opening.

Overall

A tote style bag is not my usual style of bag and it is more of a casual-style bag when I want to carry a little bit more than I usually do. Most of the time I fit everything in a small/medium crossbody bag like my Senreve Aria or Strathberry Ace Mini or my LV Favourite MM. With this bag, I will be able to fit in my sunglasses case, a scarf, some kids items, a bottle of water, even an umbrella, some snacks, etc. Basically, I can go shopping, to work or to the beach with this bag, but not for a night out or a fancy dinner. It doesn’t have any magnetic closure or zips to this bag so you need to be mindful when using the bag. You can use a bag organiser to create some sort of security.

As for the structure of the bag, it is quite a sturdy bag even without the stuffing or the bag organiser, due to the canvas material. But using a bag organiser would prolong the nice shape of the bag and if you stuff your bag when you store it, the shape will keep a lot better as well. The bag organiser doesn’t just put your belongings in place, but it also protects the internal lining of the bag.

I cannot comment on the wear of the bag yet as I have only used it a handful of times for a short length of time. But the material of the bag can hold onto dirt if I do drop something on it, especially if it is something liquid. I hardly clean my bags and I can be quite clumsy and rouge with my bags so I’m sure I will catch something on it and scratch up some corners. I don’t really mind. However, the inside is well protected with the bag organiser which makes me really happy. I do get heaps of compliments on this bag and I love taking this out as well. The large logo along the strap might be a little obnoxious to some people, but that is the style of this bag. If you are uncomfortable with this, it is best to skip this bag.

Let me know what you think – of the bag and of the organiser. Follow me on Instagram (@kittiemui) to see me wearing this bag!