If there’s one factor Who What Put on editors are notoriously choosy about, it is purses. I converse for all of my coworkers once I say now we have good style in purses, and we’re not afraid to spend an excessive amount of of our paychecks on actually attractive designer variations after they warrant being bought. Footwear, denims, sweaters, and extra style objects can all be each inexpensive and ridiculously expensive-looking. Actually, a few of my favourite items value me subsequent to nothing (however you’d by no means comprehend it by them). Luggage, although, are sometimes the exception. You possibly can inform when the leather-based is not as excessive of high quality or the zippers are at all times getting caught. It sucks, I do know, particularly given how purse costs are rising of late. Hope is not all misplaced, although. Not when the bag I am right here to let you know about exists.
Earlier this month, Freja—the inexpensive, vegan-leather purse model beloved by Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lawrence, and Katie Holmes—debuted its long-awaited Mercer bag. The east-west shoulder bag is available in three of Freja’s traditional colour choices—espresso, oat, and black—and options all the similar traits that style’s most-wanted purses possess, however with out the ridiculously excessive price ticket. Like all of Freja’s bag choices, the Mercer is shockingly affordable price-wise at simply $298. You learn that proper: It is potential to purchase a hand-crafted, on-trend purse, fabricated from pebbled vegan ultrafiber leather-based, for lower than $300. I would name {that a} trendy (style) miracle.
I have been a fan of Freja for years, getting my first Caroline bag in 2021. I carried it in every single place, fielding questions and compliments alongside the way in which. When folks requested the place they might get it and the way a lot it value, they have been shocked to find its worth. In particular person much more than on-line, it seems to be like a designer purse. The model’s founder and inventive director, Jenny Lei, did not reduce any corners. In any case, she based the model out of frustration and want—she could not discover a tote bag that regarded stylish, elegant, and complex. “The place have been the gorgeous, understated totes crafted with consideration to the little particulars?” she requested herself early on. She did not wish to make yet one more bag model, however the extra she considered it, the extra she felt the trade was in want of 1 that really checked off girls’s packing containers. Care, affordability, and practicality have been all thought of within the making of Freja, none of which have been misplaced because the model’s been picked up by celebrities, content material creators, editors, and extra.
Although I belief Lei’s designs implicitly, I nonetheless needed to place Freja’s latest bag to the check. And fortuitously, the model obliged. When the three choices arrived at WWW’s workplace, each editor in that day fought to take one house and take a look at it out. The oat colour was by far the favourite. Although, I personally ended up grabbing black (go determine). My coworker, affiliate style editor Nikki Chwatt, gained the oat model and went on to fashion it a number of methods all through her evaluate of the Mercer bag.
Nikki’s evaluate:
“For the previous few months, I’ve had my eyes set on shopping for an east-west bag as a result of its refined, eye-catching, and timeless fashion. Whereas so many stylish designer choices can be found, none match my finances till I found Freja’s new Mercer Bag. I liked the elegant and minimalist design and felt assured it could be a top quality buy as a result of my coworkers raved concerning the model’s different types, such because the Caroline and Chrystie. And I used to be proper. After getting my palms on the brand new Mercer within the oat colour, I might see and really feel the distinctive and considerate craftsmanship that went into it. The vegan materials is thick and buttery smooth, resembling leather-based, and the skinny rolled straps positioned towards the center of the bag add a wonderful sculptural aspect.”
“The fantastic thing about this bag lies not simply in its seems to be however in its versatility. I’ve already styled it with every little thing from denims with a blazer to a skirt with a sweater, and it elevates every outfit effortlessly. Plus, it’s extremely useful. It has a two-zipper design, making it simple to open and shut, and two inside pockets to assist manage belongings. There’s ample room for all my necessities, together with a big pockets, a small water bottle, hand sanitizer, and a mini make-up pouch. The Mercer Bag checks all of the packing containers for fashion and practicality, and I can’t wait to proceed getting compliments on it and exploring new methods to put on it.” — Nikki Chwatt, affiliate style editor
Store Nikki’s bag:
My evaluate:
Even earlier than I took the black model of the Mercer out for a spin, I knew it was going to exceed my expectations. The form is every little thing I have been trying to find—an east-west shoulder bag that truly matches what I would like it to suit whereas trying ridiculously elegant. Black luggage can typically be boring, in my view, particularly after they lack daring {hardware} or particulars, however this one is the other. It has such minute however impactful particulars and actually does look good with each outfit—and I attempted on numerous them.
To correctly evaluate the Mercer, I introduced it in every single place with me for a full (and busy) week. It accompanied me to lunch at The Nook Retailer, aka Taylor Swift’s new favourite restaurant in SoHo, a couple of thousand style occasions and previews, the fitness center, the workplace, a late-night dinner at Lucien in East Village, and way more. As Nikki mentioned, the double zipper made grabbing my keys, lip balm, sun shades, and pockets simple, even once I had far too many issues in my palms. The duel straps match leisurely on the shoulder. Although, I do want they have been a bit longer for coat season. (The deal with drop is 6.5 inches.) In these moments, I carried my Mercer as a clutch, palming it such as you would a baguette or a very cute long-haired dachshund, which proved to be simply as stylish.
My first outing with the black Mercer noticed me styling outfits for one more story tied to velvet, so I paired it with a high-neck tank prime and a crimson velvet column skirt by Blazé Milano. The skirt was to be the focus of the look, so this bag, with its minimal branding and low-key silhouette, was simply the appropriate accent. Later within the week, I paired it with a button-down shirt, classic Levi’s, and an extra-long cashmere wrap coat. I additionally carried it with my favourite Khaite velvet puff-sleeve prime, a glossy go well with, and a slip costume worn with a cashmere sweater. Mainly, it goes with every little thing, that means you will not should determine what bag to hold in line with your outfit every morning. You actually solely want this one.
Satisfied but? Scroll down to buy Freja’s Mercer bag earlier than it sells out (which it can). Or if one other Freja bag has caught your eye, seize a kind of as a substitute. Belief me, they’re all well worth the very manageable value.
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