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When it comes to making a good sartorial investment, there are a lot of options to choose from—be it the perfect wool coat for winter, a stunning pair of on-trend boots, or, in this case, a gorgeous designer bag—and one that stands the test of time, at that. Yes, there are styles from major fashion houses that are, no doubt, contenders for a spot in your closet. But if you’re looking for a more attainable option for your everyday occasions, I present you with the Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag.
I am—for better or worse—a bag lady. While I never intended to be the woman who hauls her life up and down the city of New York, it’s the cross I chose to carry. Shame, isn’t it? Okay, not really…because that leaves me with the knowledge of what makes a good bag. Combine that with the fact that I’m ferociously picky when it comes to quality, functionality, and versatility, and, well, just consider me your personal guide for a good investment. So, when I had the chance to give Mansur Gavriel’s iconic silhouette a whirl, I put all of these factors up to the test.
Mansur Gavriel Black Bucket Bag
First, let’s talk about the design. I’m not one to consider a designer crossbody bag for my everyday carry—especially when I have a solid work tote in the rotation. But this sweet and simple bucket bag might have me rethinking my commuter style. I’m one to go for shoulder bags, so I don’t have an extra appendance hitting at my side or back, but when I glided through the subway turnstiles and revolving doors with ease made me question why I never considered something as practical as a designer crossbody. Plus, there’s minimal hardware—no unnecessary bells and whistles, here! The strap only has three gold-toned studs to make it adjustable. So, this is a minimalist’s dream bag.
Among the many other things that make this bag stand out against its peers, one that I find to be particularly noteworthy is the quality of the leather. Yes, slouchy, supple hobos like the brand’s M Hobo and other ultra-soft leather or suede bags are having their moment, but there’s something to be said of the tougher, sturdier, vegetable-tanned leather the Italian fashion brand uses. For one, I am confident to say that this bag will live a good life and only get better with time. (And, even if it goes through its fair share of wear, I’m confident that it’ll keep its shape.)
Another thing that led me to pause (in a good way) was its ample amount of space. I opted for the larger (standard) Bucket Bag—which is available in three colors—rather than the Mini Bucket Bag or the Mini Mini Bucket Bag, I could carry my laptop, wallet, Kindle, a small notebook, a notepad and other work essentials—along with a lengthy scarf—without a worry in the world and with plenty of space to spare. Sure, I wouldn’t advise you to pack any of the brand’s bucket bags (or any bag, for that matter) full to the brim, but if you’re like me and prefer having just a bit of a wiggle room for your day’s essentials, this will do it. If you’re worried about the volume of the bag taking up some needed space (in my case, during rush hour on the subway), just know that you can flatten it a bit when you want and pop it back into its cylindrical form afterward.
Keeping my Bucket Bag is by my side as I write this story.
At this point, you might be wondering if there are any downsides to this bag—and I only have two. The first would be the opening. Not unlike other bucket bags on the market, this one has an open top—with the exception of the leather drawstring that cinches the upper part of the bag closed. This typically allows for easy access to whatever you keep inside, but I found that tying and untying this bag to be a little more effort than I needed to be, especially when I needed to quickly grab something like my wallet from it. So, it loses a point in my book for that. My second issue is that for all the space it provides, it lacks organizational features, like an internal pocket. Sure, there’s a leather zipper pouch you can keep leashed onto the crossbody strap, but given the accessibility problem and the fact that it’s incredibly flat, I’m not anticipating much use from it. All things considered, especially when you line it up with the list of pros this bag has (in addition to the variety of colors you get with the different sizes—the Mini comes in 14 colors and the Mini Mini in 10), these are two very minor issues.
My final thoughts: If you’re looking for a timeless, minimalist-approved bag that will be as functional as it is style, Mansur Gavriel’s Bucket Bag is just the thing. Let it be your companion for everyday occasions like heading to the office or weekend affairs. And just in case you’re looking for more impeccably chic pieces, head to the MG General Store to see the brand’s epic curation of leather goods, Italian décor, and so much more.
Dale Arden Chong is the senior fashion commerce editor at ELLE.com, where she edits and reports on the latest trends, labels, and designers in the fashion space to bring you the best items that will elevate your wardrobe. With a passion for great sartorial stories and getting dressed (as well as a knack for nerding out over the details), she has a robust knowledge of high-quality design, construction, and materials based on testing hundreds of products over her eight-plus years in the industry, writing stories for Glamour, Who What Wear, Entertainment Tonight, and others. So, if you ask her for a shopping recommendation, she’ll give you five picks plus her honest, unfiltered opinions. Dale graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Communication Design. In 2015, she was a finalist for the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award in the Online category of “Commentary/Analysis/Trend” for her article “Calvin Klein Underwear: What Is Plus Size?” Outside of the style world, her hobbies include cooking, playing tennis, ceramics, and watching BTS dance videos on YouTube, among other things. Follow her on Instagram at @dalearden.