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%.

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.)

Old Charlie Vs. New Charlie: What's The Difference?

As someone who has purchased many Dagne Dover bags on the resale market, I've wondered about the difference between the Charlies with an emblem and the older Charlies without it. Is the difference between them purely cosmetic, or were structural changes made as well?

I had the opportunity to compare two Oxblood Charlies—one with the emblem and one without—and here's what I found.

• Their pockets/lining materials/interior layouts are identical;
• The leather color differs very slightly between these two particular bags (with the emblem-free version being the more vibrant/saturated of the two);
• On my scale, the version with the emblem weighed about 2 ounces more than the version without it;
• The dimensions and strap drop are identical on the two versions pictured, which led me to an unexpected discovery...

There are at least three different versions of The Charlie Tote out there. 😯 

Using the official measurements of both the emblem-free version and the version currently being sold today, I came to the following conclusions:

• Charlie Without Emblem (released prior to March 2017): 13 ½"L x 6.25"W x 15"H, 9" handle strap drop, 3.6 lbs
• Colors include Ivy (FW15), Onyx, Bone, and Oxblood
• Charlie With Emblem and Tassel (released prior to March 2017): 13 ½"L x 6.25"W x 15"H, 9" handle strap drop, precise weight unknown (but likely 3.6 lbs at a minimum)
• Colors include Pale Peach (SS16), Steel Gray Suede (FW16), Onyx, Bone, and Oxblood
• Charlie With Emblem and no Tassel (released March 2017 or later): 12 ½”L x 6”W x 15 ½H, 9" handle strap drop, 3.4 lbs
• Colors include Jasmine (SS17), Sand (SS17), Slate (FW17), Onyx, Bone, and Oxblood

The structural differences between the three versions are minimal, and appear to come down to a matter of ounces and a .25-1 inch difference in length, width, and height.

It seems The Charlie's dimensions and overall weight may have changed in March 2017 when DD redesigned/rebranded their coated canvas tote lineup (more about that here). I can't confirm my theory because the Charlies I own were released prior to March 2017, so if you're more familiar with the latest version, please let me know if my deductions seem correct!

Edit: The Charlie Tote has been discontinued.

Are you looking to buy used Dagne Dover items such as the Charlie Tote? Please consider using my Poshmark, Mercari, Tradesy, and/or thredUP referral codes to receive sign-up bonuses for yourself AND to support me and my shopping habit. (Your support is greatly appreciated.) 💜