Primark Mini City Bag (The Weekend Bag)

I have quite a few handbags in my stash and I actually think I will be donating them all away because I never really get to use them all.  I generally reach for about five of my hand bags in a year and they are mostly my Zara ones (reviews here and here), Whistles Clutch (review here) and Longchamp LM Tote (review here)) and I think that’s ridiculous.  However, I realised that I needed a weekend handbag because my Longchamp LM Metal is my everyday bag and it is screaming for some rest. Honestly, it is one of the best bags I own because it has lasted a long while seeing that I use (and load it) every single day. It is still going strong but I think it's crucial I give it some downtime during the weekend which is how this Primark Beauty came into my life. We can all agree that Primark aka Primarni has really changed over the years in terms of quality and prices. While you can still find some cheap stuff there, some things now cost £25 and even £30 which I think is insane. However, I have to say the quality has improved from previous years and I own some pieces that have lasted me for more than three years. I know some people don't like Primark but I love going there because one can get really basic everyday stuff and even a few gems like this bag from there.

I am surrounded by two Primark Stores (one near work and another a little distance from my house) so I tend to pop in every now and then to see what's new or replenish some basic items. I actually like Primark Bags because they look pretty and some of them last a really long time. For the price, you can't expect the same quality as you would get from a designer bag or other high street stores but it is a reasonable quality. Most Primark bags don't have names but this one really reminds me of this Zara Mini City Bag (which also slightly reminds me of the Celine Nano Bag...just only slightly!). I am actually going to christen it the Primark Mini City B....there! a nice name for a nice bag. I love that it is structured and it stands really well on its own. I have a thing for structured bag although I still love my slouchy Longchamp Tote. I think the size of this Primark bag is perfect for the weekend because I only put in my barest essentials. To be fair, I hardly go out during the weekends except I am off for little errands or just window shopping. I just love to lazy around during the weekend. However, the few times I have been out, this bag has been fantastic.

Specifications

Just like the Zara Mini City Bag, it is made from Polyurethane so it really feels and looks like leather but it is not.  I like that it's so compact and portable yet it can fit in a lot of items without looking bulky. It's a gorgeous deep navy blue shade which I adore and it looks great with anything I wear including denim. Its handles are lined with faux croc/snake skin which gives it a nice expensive feel. It has three compartments which contain two zipped sides and an open middle section with a buckle to secure it. The corners can be expanded out like the Celine (hahaha) and it can be buckled back in for a more structured look. I prefer to leave it buckled because I feel it looks cuter that way.  Inside the middle section, there are two other compartments; one is a zipped compartment and the other is a mobile phpne compartment.  It also has a small padlock in the front compartment which adds some character to the bag although I am not sure if I like it or not. 

Cost and Overall Thoughts

The best part is it comes with an adjustable long strap so you can choose to wear it over the shoulders or you can tuck it away and carry it by the handles. I generally prefer to hold it by the handles because it is not heavy at all and I feel I have more control over it that way. Also, it just looks very chic holding bags from their handles, I think.  It comes in other colours like Black, Grey, Blue and Navy Blue. I am tempted to go back for the grey but we will see. It costs only £8 so it's not one to break the bank. I don't expect it to last forever but seeing that I will be using it only during the weekend, I think it will be around for a while. I absolutely adore this bag and if I didn’t have the original Zara City Bag, I would have picked up the bigger city bag which Primark currently have for £10-£12. If you could not get your hands on the Zara City Bag (regular or mini size), I think this Primark version is amazing dupe for a fraction of the price. That's all folks! Have you been to Primark recently? They have some amazing new stock and their Spring Collection looks really amazing!! See you in my next post...xx