One of the styles on my wishlist for a while has been the Demellier London Vancouver handbag. Just under $500, this style makes the perfect mid level luxury purse. But if I am being honest, I have a pretty complete handbag collection, and bought my first designer bag in Italy at the beginning of the year. (See what I got HERE) So instead, I recommended the style to my mom, who was on the search for a versatile crossbody. She fell in love with the design, and let me try it out for this review.
In many ways, I prefer a more accessible mid-luxury bag. When it hits all the quality notes for a fraction of the price, the investment is highly worth it. Read my thoughts on mid-luxury brands HERE.
Disclosure: This post makes use of affiliate links, which may result in a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Demellier London: About the Sustainable Handbag Brand
Demellier London is a female-founded brand designed to empower women through modern, and sustainably made handbags. All styles are produced in trusted factories from Spain and Italy, using the finest materials. The brand also funds vaccines and medical treatment for children in need. You might see the words ‘A Bag, A Life‘ etched onto their packaging to represent this mission.
While a lot of brands share about their sustainability values, I love that Demellier London actually goes into great detail about their manufacturing practices, materials used, and operations. It is clear that Demellier has considered the end-to-end lifecycle of their products, and not just one aspect of it.
Handbag Color: Light Tan Smooth (Update Jul 2024: This color is discontinued, so sharing another similar shade – Deep Toffee Smooth) | Shoes: Nisolo)
Demellier London Vancouver: Mid Level Luxury Purse Review
The brand’s Vancouver crossbody is the most timeless and popular option. Priced just under $500, this bag is a great mid level luxury purse with many versatile features to make it worth the price! I love the thoughtful design of this style, and break down my review below:
Leather & Materials
Exterior: The color shown here is Light Tan Smooth, using sustainably sourced cowhide leather. The bag comes with a subtle shine, and is not textured like grain leather. The slight gloss definitely adds a classy touch to this style. However, due to its smooth texture, I am a little nervous about scratches. Luckily since the leather has a slight gloss, you can repair with leather cream, and then polish with a dry towel. (See more tips from Demellier’s extensive care page)
Lining: The interiors are lined with black cotton fabric (30% recycled), which makes the insides easy to clean and hard to spot dirt.
Hardware: Gold elegant double-bar design. I’ve read people’s reviews that it tarnishes over time, so I’d recommend keeping the clear plastic cover that it comes with.
Bag color shown is Light Tan Smooth – Demellier Vancouver.
What Fits Inside the Demellier Vancouver
Though the Demellier Vancouver is an excellent mid level luxury purse, you might want to consider how much you normally carry on the day-to-day. Since the bag is very structured, it is hard to overstuff the bag without it losing its beautiful shape. Here is what I was able to fit inside:
- Front Slot Pocket: iPhone (plus sized)
- Central Compartment: Long Wallet, Keys, Airpods, Lipstick, Small Snack
- Inside Zip Pocket: Cardholder
I have read reviews where people were able to fit in their sunglasses too. As hard as I tried, I was not able to do so with this bag. So while this style works for many people, I did find the space inside to be a little limiting for my own daily use.
Note: If I overpack the bag, the clasp becomes harder to close as it no longer sits flat. This consideration is probably the most important if you are deciding whether this bag is right for you.
Other Versatile Features
Design: The gold clasp adds an elevated touch to this simple style. As such, I can find myself wearing the Demellier Vancouver for both everyday and dressier occasions.
Shoulder Strap: You can wear the bag as a crossbody (single strap), or as a shoulder bag (double strap). However, one additional way you can wear it is as a top handle. You can create this look by looping the strap a few times inside the bag, and leaving a bit of length outside for the handle. I love this look, but don’t find it to be the most convenient when reaching inside for stuff.
Finally, the strap has notches, so that you can adjust the length. I love my crossbody to sit higher up, so I usually prefer the shortest length (which is what I wore in these photos).
Bag color shown is Light Tan Smooth – Demellier Vancouver.
Demellier Customer Service
It can be nerve wracking to spend on a first-time handbag that is being shipped from overseas. So I thought it was important to end this review by sharing about their seamless customer service. I ordered the bag on a Sunday, and received all the shipping and tracking the next day. The bag was delivered via UPS on Wednesday, as promised via their 1-2 Express Delivery (included with any purchase).
Shipping to NY was super quick, and I also received confirmation that Demellier had paid for all custom duties. My experience was positive and consistent with the reviews on Trustpilot. Note: I have not had to make any returns, but most customers shared it was a smooth process. Returns are always free.
Demellier also offers a lifetime of free repairs, but check out their page for exclusions.
Price: Is the Demellier Vancouver Bag Worth It?
For a bag priced under $500, I found that the quality and construction justified the price. It also puts me at ease to know that the brand is focused on ethical production practices, and fair wages. Overall, I found the Demellier Vancouver Bag to be a great mid level luxury purse. As the brand has grown its presence, you can also shop for it at Saks Fifth Avenue, which has special designer sales throughout the year.
Finally, the design of Demellier handbags also looks upscale, while only costing a fraction of the price compared to similar crossbodies like the Celine Triomphe ($3,500+).
Other Mid Level Luxury Purse Brands on My Radar
If I didn’t decide on the Demellier Vancouver crossbody, below are some additional well-priced brands I would be interested to check out.
Mid Level Luxury Purses: Shop Below
Bag 1 | Bag 2 | Bag 3 | Bag 4 | Bag 5 | Bag 6 | Bag 7 | Bag 8 | Bag 9
- Polene: Bought and returned. Bags are lovely but hard to find a style that was the right size/color for me.
- Cuyana: Price has gone up a lot in the past 3 years, but they have great leather basics with a minimal, clean aesthetic.
- Mulberry / Strathberry: Have not bought from either, but I have heard these are great UK-based mid-luxury bag brands.
- Paris/64: Retro-vintage Parisian handbags responsibly made in Spain.
- Senreve: Versatile bags made from 100% genuine full-grain Italian leather with a pebbled finish. Prices hover around the $400 – 600 mark, on average.
