The Givenchy Antigona is perhaps the French fashion brand’s most popular bag despite being a relatively new addition (circa 2010) to the line. A “sensible” bag, the Antigona was part of the same wave that catapulted the Prada Saffiano Tote to ubiquity. These bags were a product of their time—an economy in recovery—when trend-weary shoppers sought out simple, low-key bags.
As the world dug itself out of the great recession, brands that relied on strong sales of these “classic” bags started offering them in brighter colors and smaller sizes, transitioning to serve a demographic that gradually prioritized other features over practicality.
The lemon yellow “mini” Antigona reviewed here is a less serious iteration of its oldest cousin, “the Medium Satchel.” Not quite a “toy bag,” the mini is the perfect size (7″H x 9″W x 5″D; about 1.5 pounds empty) for running errands or partaking in hands-on activities, e.g., shopping. And the zip top closure keeps the bag’s contents secure.
At $1750, the mini Antigona is priced similarly to its competitors. The style does go on sale (mostly in seasonal colors or on flash sale sites), and Givenchy often participates in “buy more, save more” events so, if price is a consideration for you, take some time to comparison shop.
| Size | Price | |
| Mini | 7″H x 9″W x 5″D | $1,750 |
| Small | 9.5″H x 11″W x 6.5″D | $2,280 |
| Medium | 11″H x 13″W x 7.5″D. | $2,435 |
| Large | 12.5″H x 18″W x 8.5″D | N/A |
I believe all Antigonas, regardless of size, are made in Italy. The grained goatskin leather seen here is easier to maintain and more structured than its untreated counterpart, though the bag is available in a number of rigid, yet supple materials: calfskin—smooth and patent; exotic—crocodile, ostrich, anaconda, elaphe, and python; nubuck; and goatskin—box and sugar.
The mini is sold with a shoulder strap (adjusts from 20″ to 15″) and also has double top handles with a 3″ drop.
One other details that I feel is worth mentioning: the bag has protective leather feet, which is a real asset for bags that stand.
The mini has one zippered pocket on the back wall and two slip pockets on the other wall, but no other compartmentalization built in (which would be unnecessary, given its size).
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| The most popular hardware found on the Antigona is palladium (or silver-tone), though some have gold-tone hardware. |
As much as I liked the Antigona, I ended up returning the yellow mini when I decided that I really want a more subdued color (like sand or black) in a slightly larger size (small or medium).
Buy the Givenchy Antigona Mini Sugar Satchel here (or here and here).
