If you haven’t already noticed, I’m a big fan of some of the newer brands in the contemporary handbag space — specifically Polène. I own their Numero Un and Numero Un Mini bags, and at the start of the year added their Numero Sept Mini to my rotation.
The Numero Sept line launch caught my eye last year with their clean lines and design. After several months, I decided to buy the Mini version in the Trio Camel leather — a color combination that I had highly considered when purchasing my Numero Un. After almost half a year of usage, here is my review. I hope you find it helpful!
Price
The Numero Sept Mini ranges from $350 for textured leather to $380 for smooth-grain leather — the camel trio was $380. This is in line with their pricing for other mini bags, like the Un Mini.
While not cheap by any means, I do see it as a more affordable version of a Chloe Drew / Hermès Kelly hybrid. I’ve been pleased with the quality of my prior Polène bags, and feel comfortable with this pricing.
Form
I like that despite being a mini bag, the Sept Mini has both a top handle and longer shoulder strap. While I mostly use the shoulder strap, I like having the option to carry it by hand or in the crook of my elbow if I’m wearing a more delicate top (read: silk). If you’re not a fan of top handles, the shorter strap is also removable.
Overall, the style is very classic and can be dressed up or down easily — even more so than the Numero Un Mini. The hardware is a polished gold, compared to the more muted brushed hardware of the Numero Un line. As you can see in the photo below, the chain is also slightly thinner on the Sept Mini, which provides a more delicate look overall.
There is only one thing I would change about this bag – the contrast stitching. As you can see in the stock photos, they used to have a matching thread for all of the stitching. It’s unclear when / if this changed recently. Although it’s not a deal breaker for me, it was so close to being perfect!
Function
Capacity
I have been surprised by how much I can fit in this bag. Prior to purchasing, I knew there would be some space constraints due to the tapered top of the bag. However, with a little tetris playing you can fit essentials like a regular sized wallet inside. In the photo below, you can see that I have a pair of sunglasses, a regular fold wallet, and a pack of gum. More recently, I’ve been able to fit a small container of hand sanitizer as well.
Fit
The Numero Sept Mini has less depth than the Numero Un Mini, so it fits well in both crossbody and on-shoulder situations. I’m 5’4” and find the length of the shoulder strap to be comfortable. Unfortunately, it is not adjustable, but I have not found this to be an issue.
Practicality
The clasp is easy enough to open and close as long as you fill it appropriately. This part took me a few tries to figure out, but overall I’ve found it easier to maneuver compared to the Un Mini clasp. Because it’s a smaller bag, I’ve been able to close it with one hand, which is a plus.
Additionally, the leather has held up well to my manhandling of it in various situations. The durability of smooth full-grain leather initially concerned me, but I have been pleasantly surprised. I’ve definitely dragged my nails across it (accidentally!) and dropped it on the ground multiple times, and the leather remains unscathed.
Verdict
Overall, the Polène Numero Sept Mini is a fantastic mini bag that has a very classic structure. If you’re in the market for a somewhat affordable, well-constructed, quality bag with Kelly-like lines, I definitely recommend checking out the Numero Sept line.
