I mentioned in passing earlier this month that I have a hankering for bags in summery colors. I was specifically interested in a white bag for its potential versatility but also ordered a few others in highlighter colors for fun (my sense of adventure got the best of me).
I was going to save this review for last because the Michael Kors Selma Satchel was my favorite out of five bags ordered but decided to lead with this winner after receiving several emails requesting a review.
The Michael Kors Selma Large Satchel combines the markers of several trendy “it” bags along with numerous functional qualities. It most notably resembles the Prada Saffiano Tote and the Celine Luggage Tote but has both a useful long shoulder strap (can double as a crossbody strap) and a top zipper which is essential for city dwellers.
At $358, it is priced strategically on the cusp of within-grasp and out-of-reach for the average consumer. With a 15%-25% off discount (the typical discount for friends & family sales or a first-time email subscriber bonus), the price of the bag falls below $300, making it a luxury good crafted for modest budgets.
The Selma comes in four sizes/shapes at this time (small, medium, E/W large, and N/S large) and a dozen colors.
The bag is easy to love. The shape is “classic” in that it is timeless but unassuming. The functional details like a detachable adjustable long strap, trapezoidal body, handheld straps which fold down, metal feet, and a sturdy top zipper make this bag appropriate for different lifestyles.
On the issue of ostentatious branding, the logo on the front is of a modest size, the stamping on the hardware is negligible, and the monogram lining is on the interior; none of which bother me or have any bearing on my opinion of this bag.
The saffiano leather is damage resistant and not too far off quality-wise from the much more expensive Prada Saffiano Luxe Tote or the somewhat pricier Tory Burch Robinson Double Zip Tote.
At 10″ tall and 13″ wide, the bag in “large” is actually not very large at all. This size is comparable to the medium Prada Saffiano Tote which is an unobtrusive size on most women who fall within the average height/size spectrum.
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| From front to back: Michael Kors Selma Satchel | Prada Saffiano Luxe Tote | Zara Office City Bag |
The bag isn’t featherlight – approximately 2 pounds empty – because of the sturdier leather used to construct it but the shoulder strap lends it a convenience that handheld only bags do not have.
In the end, I did not decide to keep the bag in white. My decision was complicated by the fact that I might want this bag in navy. As I do not have the closet space for redundancy, I will have to dwell on the color choice some more.
Are you a Selma fan yet?
