Dagne Dover Piper and Mara Phone Slings: First Impressions

I'm hiding out from COVID-19 right now, but I'd like to at least share my initial impressions as well as some comparison shots. I'll update this post with a review once I can test these out in the real world! Stay safe, everyone.

The Piper Phone Sling and Mara Phone Sling were recently released as part of Dagne Dover's Spring/Summer 2020 collection. Both styles are available in core colors; the Piper is also available in Pollen, and the Mara is available in Pollen Airmesh, Lime, Pomelo, and Block Party Print.

• Piper Dimensions/Price: 3.75" L x 1.25” W x 6.5" H, $115
• Mara Dimensions/Price: 7.5" L x 1.5" W x 4.5" H, $65

Personally, I feel the price points of both are high for what these items are—I figured would be something around a $75-$95 range for the Piper and a $45-$55 range for the Mara based on the price points of other styles. (I assume the higher price point is meant to offset future markdowns/the use of discount codes?) Now, on to the individual styles!

Piper

I don't think I've seen a silhouette like this before, and I LOVE it! The design is clever, and there are plenty of sturdy slots and compartments for things like credit cards and hand sanitizer. It's structured and well-made.

With hand sanitizer

Weird creasing

If you have a bulky phone grip on your phone case, you might find fitting essentials into the other pockets to be a tight squeeze. This is my only real gripe with the Piper (besides the price point) so far—I'll let you know how it works out in action.

Next up: the Mara!

Mara

I'm conflicted about the Mara based on my first impression, particularly the Pollen Airmesh version. Here are some of the reasons why:

• The interior slip pocket/card slot material is cheap and flimsy (less obvious in the Block Party Print)
• Does not work well with bulky phone case grips

It's also worth noting that the crossbody clip locations are asymmetrical and that the zipper hangs a bit awkwardly.

I've been a huge fan of DD's past airmesh releases, but the Mara in Airmesh feels...cheap. I hope it will grow on me.

(It arrived with a small chunk missing from the "D") 

Alas—back to DD it goes!

I have a bulky phone grip on the back of my case, so it doesn't fit in the Mara as well as I'd hoped. It either limits what I can put in the main compartment or bulges out if I have the screen facing the pattern instead of the air mesh.

Pictured with iPhone 7

Test-packed with phone, hand sanitizer, and AirPod Pros

The Mara's silhouette felt reminiscent of the Coach Double Zip Crossbody when I saw it online, so I wanted to share a size comparison. (While I intend to sell the smaller yellow one, the larger Coach Skull Bandana Crossbody is an absolute favorite of mine—I suspect the Mara won't be able to top it!)

Personally, I think Block Party Print or Heather Gray in particular would both be safe bets if you're considering a Mara!

Color Comparisons

Pollen / Pollen Airmesh / Sol Airmesh

Block Party Print vs. Pure White—as you can (hopefully) see, the block shapes are more of a taupe color!

I'm looking forward to putting the Pollen Piper and Block Party Print Mara to use once the snow melts—after all, walking outdoors is still an option! I'll update this review once I've done so; in the meantime, I hope these photos help you make a more informed decision before the seasonal versions of these styles sell out for good. (I'll post my initial impressions of the Small and Large Axel Lunch Boxes soon as well!)

. . . . .

Did this post help you choose a Phone Sling? Let me know what color you got! Leave me a comment here or on Instagram (@totesdagne).

Please let me know if you have any questions or requests for additional comparison photos—I'll do my best to help. If you decide to make a first-time purchase through Dagne Dover, please consider clicking this link for $20 off your first $100+ purchase! (If you make a qualifying purchase, Dagne Dover will gift me $20 in spending credit as part of their new Dagne Rewards program!) The link will take you to Dagne Dover's home page, where a unique $20 off code should pop up after a few seconds. 

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