In Appreciation of Dagne Dover's Discontinued Bags

Tiny Tote in Blush Gold

If you've been following the Discontinued Styles page here on Totes Dagne, you may have noticed quite a few items crept their way onto the list. Many of them happen to be my all-time favorite styles! Instead of writing a detailed review for each style (if I haven't already), I'd like to share a few photos and thoughts about all of them in one post. This post has been well over two years in the making, by the way 🌚

As much as I love Dagne's leather bags, I understand the shift to neoprene. I know I couldn't have built the collection I have without buying their leather bag styles second-hand. Zero of my Charlies (or Simones!) were purchased through Dagne Dover directly, and the two Avas I did purchase through the website were heavily discounted during a sample sale. Although the leather bags will always be my favorite, I only found myself purchasing consistently from the brand itself after the focus shifted to small leather goods and neoprene styles. (The referral/rewards programs have been vital for me in that regard as well.)

• Jan 2019: To give you some perspective on what a bad customer I was while these bags were still available: after adding up all of the discontinued styles I own, I discovered I only purchased 21% of those styles from Dagne Dover directly. If you remove the Elle Clutches from the equation, it drags that percentage down to a measly 9%.

Popflex Belladonna Duffle vs. Dagne Dover Landon Comparison

Here's a basic comparison between the Popflex Belladonna Duffle and the Dagne Dover Landon! A heads up: I'm only comparing the appearance/features of the two bags, so there aren't any packing examples.

Dagne Dover SS21, Decluttering, and Nova + Mila Thoughts

Long time no see! It seems I've only posted twice on the Totes Dagne website this year. 😱 I tend to be more active on Instagram Stories (@totesdagne) and in Dagne Dover-related facebook groups, and I recently created a new facebook group for those of us who feel our collections are out of control—Decluttering Schemes for Dagne-Hoarding Fiends. 

Here are my thoughts on some of the new designs DD released this year!

Nova + Mila

The new Dagne Dover Nova Sling Bag and Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Organizers sold out during VIP early access. Go, Dagne! I recently received my purchases (sans anything in Rosewood because I hesitated and it sold out), so I thought I'd share a few thoughts on both styles ahead of the restock.

Mila Toiletry Organizer

• Small Mila: 5.5” L x 5.5” W x 5.5” H
• Large Mila: 5.5” L x 5.5” W x 7.5” H

The Mila toiletry organizers are well-padded and have a clever, customizable interior design. They work splendidly for me! I found that my makeup essentials are easier to see in the Small Mila, whereas the Large Mila is a better fit for baby-related items. The interior mesh is removable, so I'd like to possibly swap the Moonbeam mesh/dividers into the Rosewood Mila (and vice versa) if I can get a Rosewood Mila during the restock. The only change I'd like to see would be adding two D-ring attachment points for a shoulder strap on the sides of the Larges.

Nova Sling Bag

• Nova Sling Bag: 9.5” L x 4” W x 12” H

I've seen mixed reactions to this bag so far. The Nova has received a fair amount of criticism regarding its maximum 34.5" strap length—individuals with fuller chests are having trouble wearing this bag across the body. Although I don't have this problem, I was already planning to wear it over one shoulder or in the crook of my arm. I've used the Nova a couple of times already, and the strap is comfortable just over the shoulder; I practically forget I'm wearing the bag because it stays out of the way! 

Cuyana Tote Inserts in Dagne Dover Bags

I recently discovered Cuyana's Tote Inserts and wanted to share some suggestions for using them with Dagne Dover bags!

Dagne Dover bags have no shortage of pockets and organizational features, so I'm finding the Cuyana inserts helpful from more of a structural standpoint. Slouch-prone bags like the Large Allyn stand straighter, floppy bags like the larger Landons are given shape, and tablet-sleeve bags like the Midi Tote finally have a designated laptop slot. The price is steep, but may be worth it if you have multiple bags that could benefit from a little more organization and support.

Small Tote Insert: 7.25" x 15" x 5.25", 13" laptop pocket, .8 lbs, two colors—$85.00

• I would suggest it for: Charlie Tote (particularly for the post-2017 version), Midi Tote (if you plan to carry a laptop often), Medium Allyn

Large Tote Insert: 10" x 16.5" (approx) x 5.5", 15" laptop pocket, 1.3 lbs, four colors—$95.00

• I would suggest it for: Medium Landon (unsnapped), Large Landon, Large Allyn

A closer look at the polyurethane microsuede material

Large Allyn

The Large Tote Insert helps solve the problem I've had with Large Allyns for years—they slouch and buckle to the point of falling over! The insert does make the bag heavier, but the tradeoff is worth it to me personally. I'll let the before and after pictures speak for themselves:

Dagne Dover Charlie Version Comparison (2021 Edition)

Back in 2018, I posted an "old" and "new" Dagne Dover Charlie Tote comparison and discovered the existence of a third version—the post-March 2017 Charlie. Now that I have my hands on one, I'd like to share additional comparison photos to help demonstrate what to look for when evaluating secondhand Charlies. (Alas, the Charlie Tote style was discontinued by Dagne Dover in 2019.)

Dagne Dover Small Indi Overview

As part of the FW20 collection, Dagne Dover released two new Indi sizes—Small and Medium! I've filmed an in-depth look at the new Small size, and it includes a general overview, packing examples, side-by-side size comparisons, and fit tests for DD's smaller items. No modeling shots in this video—sorry! Motherhood has truly brought out my inner slob, and I didn't want to immortalize it. 😆

Dagne Dover Landon Comparison & Brief Review

Here's another long-overdue post—a comparison of all five Landon sizes (XS-XL)! I don't have packing photos for all five sizes currently, but I'll explain how I've used them in the past and share some side-by-side comparisons. Additional comparisons of the Landons alongside other Dagne Dover styles can be viewed here. (And if you're a new Dagne Dover customer, please consider clicking this link for 10% off your first purchase!)