Above: Elizabeth Suzann Cocoon Coat in Fawn, Everlane ReCashmere Crew in Bone, DeMellier Vancouver Bag in Smooth Black Leather
While researching classic crossbody bag styles, I recently stumbled across the English brand DeMellier. The brand already has somewhat of a cult following from Meghan Markle fans, as the duchess has been spotted with their Mini Venice bag multiple times. However, it was the DeMellier Vancouver bag that caught my eye with its classic box shape and understated elegance. During the flurry of Black Friday sales, I jumped at the chance to get it for 20% off from 24s.com, Le Bon Marche’s digital outpost.
DeMellier Brand Overview
DeMellier is a London-based brand founded by Barcelona-born Mireia Llusia-Lindh, an ex-management consultant who had worked with brands like LVMH and Burberry in her past life. All bags are handcrafted in the south of Spain with fine Italian and Spanish leathers.
They also have a permanent partnership with the charity SOS Children’s Villages through their A Bag, A Life program. A portion of each bag sale is donated to fund access to vaccines for children.
Style
DeMellier has a solid variety of styles ranging from structured handbags to bucket bags to miniature crossbody bags. They tend to be classic silhouettes with minimal branding – great for longevity and lasting through the trend waves. And the Vancouver bag is no different, with its simple design, smooth cowhide leather exterior and pale gold hardware.
The design, especially with the strap fitting through two hardware pieces on the top exterior, is reminiscent of the Celine Box Bag and Hermes Constance. I love that it has a similar aesthetic without costing thousands of dollars! While it’s not a miniature bag by any means, I would feel comfortable carrying the Vancouver for both casual weekend outings and for evening events.
On a complete sidenote: I would like to point out how delightful the 24s packaging is. The bag (in its dustbug) was nestled in a sturdy box with an Eiffel Tower cut-out that pops up when you open it.
Size & Functionality
This style is a nice size that can work well for both weekend outings and night time events. It measures 9” across, 7” tall and 3” deep. I was able to fit a kindle paperwhite, my wallet, house keys, sunglasses with case, and a few more knick knacks with no trouble at all. In fact – the front clasp is a little easier to close when the bag is at least partially full.
The shoulder strap is fairly malleable (not nearly as stiff as my Mansur Gavriel bucket bag), which makes it easy to carry and sling over the shoulder. There are a few grommets to adjust the length of the bag. I set mine on the shortest setting since I mainly wear it on the shoulder instead of crossbody.
The only immediate area for improvement is the strap loop that holds the extra length of the strap in place. This loop is a little too big, and often falls down leaving the strap end hanging loosely. Obviously, this is not a huge issue but simply a small nuisance.
Leather & Construction
Overall, the leather and construction feel pretty solid. I didn’t see any stitching out of place, or any potential points of weakness in attachment points. While it’s a smooth leather, I don’t feel like I have to baby it like I would with lambskin. I’ve accidentally run my nails across it already, and it’s remained scratch-free. That’s not to say that I’m going to throw it around, but it’s reassuring to know that I don’t have to tiptoe around it!
For those concerned about the more delicate nature of smooth leather, they also offer croc-embossed and grained leather options. As always, I’ll continue to update this section as I get a bit more wear out of the bag.
Verdict
Overall, I’m impressed with the quality and design of the DeMellier Vancouver, given the midmarket price point. If you’ve been looking at bags like the Celine Box and Hermes Constance, I’d highly recommend checking them out. I hope you found this review helpful – happy to try and answer any questions you may have.
DeMellier is running a 10% off promotion if you sign up for their newsletter, and 24s.com runs various promotions throughout the year – both are great places to make your purchase!
Partnership Disclosure: This blog post was not sponsored by any of the brands listed above. As always, all opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, in which I earn a commission on purchases.
