Dagne Dover Andra vs. Epic Crossbody: Comparison and Review

I reviewed the Small and Large Andras in depth on Totes Dagne in early 2019 (see it here!), but with the recent release of the Epic Crossbody style, I wanted to compare the three in depth. I've uploaded an overview on Youtube and will share additional details here. Many of my thoughts regarding the Andras are copied or paraphrased from my previous review.

The video has no narration and includes various size comparisons, packing examples, and a strap length adjustment demonstration. Please consider setting the video quality to 1080p for a better viewing experience.

• Small Andra Specs: L 8” x H 5.25” x W 2”, .8 lbs, 21" - 22.5" crossbody strap drop length
• Epic Crossbody Specs: L 7.75” x H 6” x W 2.75”, .9 lbs, 20" crossbody strap drop length, 4.5" handle
• Medium Andra Specs: L 9 ½” x H 6 ¾” x W 3 ½”, 1.4 lbs, 21" - 23" crossbody strap drop length

A few things to note:

• The leather on the Andras is quite stiff and rigid
• With the exception of certain limited edition styles (such as Holographic Leather and Block Party Print), the Epic Crossbody is made of coated canvas with leather trim and an interior mix of coated canvas and polyester. The lower back of the bag appears to be made of a smooth leather.
• The Small Andra and Epic Crossbody have a key clip instead of a key leash
• The Andras are meant to be worn crossbody, but because I don't care for the straps they come with, I substituted the original crossbody straps with the straps from my Coach Dinky 24 bags (as the thinner Coach straps can be brought/doubled through the side loops to create a much shorter strap length); the short strap from the Epic can also be used as an alternate option.
• My iPhone 7 fits in the back slip pocket of the Epic and both Andra sizes (provided the body of the bag isn't too overstuffed).

When I saw the Epic pop up during the FW19 release, I immediately wondered what it meant for the Andras. Can these two very similar styles co-exist within the Dagne Dover line-up, or is the Epic meant to become the Andra's replacement? The FW19 sale section is still chock-full of Small and Medium Andras, and they weren't released in this most recent season's colorways—a first for both sizes. On the other hand, the Epic Crossbody was released in three SS20 colorways; Pomelo, Lime (with an exclusive short resin chain strap), and Block Party Print in Leather. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over future releases.

I don't own a regular coated canvas Epic Crossbody, but I do own one of the limited edition leather versions in Block Party Print. The leather feels thinner/more flexible on the Epic than the Andras, which could be due in part to the polyester lining. (This also helps reduce the overall stiffness of the bag, which I appreciate.) The Epic comes with a short handheld strap as well as a non-adjustable crossbody strap. I love hand-carrying bags and never cared for the adjustable Andra crossbody straps, so both strap designs are winners to me!

The Andra and the Epic are great for quick errands and for going out to dinner. These bags definitely require an intentional packing strategy. Small, modular items are the key to unlocking the potential of the Small Andra and Epic Crossbody in particular. If you'd prefer to wear these at shoulder bag height, I would suggest investing in a Coach Dinky chain strap (or something similar) that can be doubled up through the D-ring to reduce the strap's length.

If you're no stranger to packing light, either one of these styles could be a good match for you. If you prefer to bring ALL the things, I suspect the size and rigidness of these styles might drive you nuts in no time. 😜  Keep an eye on the Sale section for discounted seasonal colors if you're looking to try one out at a lower price—as of the time of writing, there are Small Andras for $99 (normally $155), Medium Andras for $119 (normally $195), and Epics for $89 (normally $145).

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Did this post help you choose an Andra or Epic Crossbody? 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. 

If you're looking to buy used Dagne Dover items, 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!

Dagne Dover Small / Large Lola: Comparison and Review

I'm long overdue for a Lola review! I decided to go the video route with this one, and I've included some additional information and thoughts in this post. The video has no narration and includes packing tests, size comparisons, and instructions for adding a strap to your Lola (to create a "Frankendagne"—more on that here if you're interested!) Consider setting the video quality to 1080p for a better viewing experience.

Small Lola

• 8”L x 5 ¼”H x 3 ¾”W
• MSRP: $75.00

Although I recently moved to a small Scout pouch for this purpose, I found the Small Lola to be an excellent holder for smaller items I want to easily switch between purses: hand sanitizer, pills, Kleenex, individual wet ones packs, lipglosses/chapsticks, pens, earbuds, purse hook, a regular-sized BAGGU bag, and other essential items. It also fits nicely in Dagne Dover's other leather bags (including the Ava and Small Allyn).

Large Lola

• 10” L x 6 ½”H x 4 ½”W
• MSRP: $105.00

I've seen the Lola advertised as a clutch sometimes over the years, but I didn't really 'get' the appeal until I tried it. I'm a musician and use an Onyx Charlie Tote as an instrument bag and a Large Lola to hold supplies on stage. My husband offered to take my instruments home after a recital so I could get lunch with my fellow musicians unencumbered, so I loaded my phone/iPad/wallet in the Large Lola. It was surprisingly nice to carry as a clutch and easy to keep on my lap during the meal.

I use my Large Lola in Haze Camo to store my reed-making supplies. It fits on top of my instrument case inside the Charlie Tote if I need to take my supplies with me.

The Large Lola in Onyx made its on-stage debut in April. I love that it matches my Charlie and looks less conspicuous on stage than the Graphite Lola I used previously.


Frankendagnes

Coach offers chain straps for $35 in Light Gold, Silver, Black Copper, and Dark Gunmetal. For more information about adding a strap to your Lolas (and other strapless DD bags), click here!



Additional Packing Test Shots

Small Lola in Small Landon

Small Lola in Ava Bucket Bag

Small Lola in Small Allyn

Small Lola in Small Dakota

Thoughts

While the Lola Pouches might not be an "essential" Dagne Dover piece to own (the neoprene Hunter pouches do have a similar silhouette at a lower price point, after all), they're versatile and elegant and I would absolutely recommend you try one out. Keep an eye on the Sale page for seasonal colors at a steep discount—when I wrote my original draft of this post several months ago, the costs for the remaining FW19 colors were $49 for the Small (normally $75) and $59 for the Large (normally $105).

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Did this post help you choose a Lola Pouch? 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. 

If you're looking to buy used Dagne Dover items, 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!

A Quick Update

Hi, everyone! I hope you're all staying safe out there. Although it means SO much to me when someone uses my referral link, I strongly encourage you to instead use the code "TOGETHER" during the month of April for 10% off your order with an additional 10% donated to a charity of your choice. (It works for new and returning customers alike!)

I knocked two long-standing items off my Totes Dagne to-do list this week—a Tote Size Guide flow chart graphic and a (mostly comprehensive) list of past collections and releases! I'm due with my first kiddo in late June, so I'm hoping to get the most labor-intensive posts out of the way before the literal labor begins. 😆 I'm having a good time working on the website; it's a fun creative outlet for me and a great way to distract myself from the stress of what's going on in the world.

Some new things to consider checking out:

• Past Collections (this one was a doozy!)
• Small Bag Comparison Post
• Tote Size Guide (new graphic/cosmetic updates)

Take care, and I'll be back with more content soon!

—Kat

Dagne Dover Bag Comparisons: Small Edition

I thought it might be helpful to compare the relative sizes of Dagne Dover's bags, so I've sorted all of their shoulder/crossbody bags into five categories. This "Small" category consists mostly of bags that measure less than 12" on their longest side. I hope these dimension comparisons and side-by-side photos will help you better gauge the sizes of Dagne Dover's other small bag designs in relation to those you might already own!

• Small Landon: 12" L x 6" W x 7.5" H
• Small Dakota: 9.5" L x 5" W x 13" H
• Small Allyn: 12" L x 4.75" W x 10.5" H
• Ava Bucket Bag: 10" L x 7.5" W x 12" H     (discontinued style)
• Midi Tote (not pictured): 11.75" L x 5" W x 10.5" H      (discontinued style)

• Click these links to read in-depth reviews about the following items: Small Dakota, Small Allyn, Ava Bucket Bag

I used a Small Landon in Quartz, Small Dakota in Haze Camo, Small Allyn in Holographic Leather, and an Ava Bucket Bag in Steel Gray for the pictures in this post. All of these colors were limited edition, so keep an eye out for them on the secondhand market!

Accessories featured in the packing photos include the Accordion Travel Wallet in Bone, Small Lola in Oxblood, Small Scout Pouch in Quartz, and the Mara Phone Sling in Block Party Print. Additional items include an iPad Mini, a small squirt bottle of hand sanitizer, and a small 12 fl oz bottle of water.

Did this post help you choose a Small Dagne Dover bag? Let me know what 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. 

If you're looking to buy used Dagne Dover items, 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!

Dagne Dover Axel Lunch Box: 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 Small and Large Axel Lunch Boxes were recently released as part of Dagne Dover's Spring/Summer 2020 collection and are available in core colors as well as two seasonal colors, Lime and Pomelo.

• Small Axel Dimensions/Price: 8.5" L x 3.5” W x 6.5" H, $55
• Large Axel Dimensions/Price: 10" L x 4” W x 7" H, $75

I already have a lunch box I love, yet rarely use—a $4.99 NWT Goodwill find covered in cats with a kid's name already written in it—and I work from home, so I'm going to get creative with functionality here.

I think both sizes can do more than hold your lunch—particularly the Large. A few functions that come to mind are:

• Shoulder bag (more on this later!)
• Supply kit (particularly for art supplies/projects)
• Makeup/hair product kit 
• Entertainment kit for young kids (snacks/book/tissues/small toys/etc)

The Large Axel was visible in a sneak peek picture posted to Instagram a while back, and I assumed it was a camera bag up until SS20 launched. My plan was to use the Large Axel as a camera bag and the Small Axel as a shoulder bag (and borrow the chain novelty strap from the XS Landon in the same color).

Small Axel

It turns out my small collection of camera supplies fit much better in the Small Axel! I like it, but I don't have too much to say about it. It is indeed small, and I don't think I would have much use for this particular size/shape beyond using it as a camera supply bag. If you pack light for lunch, this would fit well inside many of Dagne Dover's larger bag styles. (Scroll toward the end of the post for reference photos!)

Stitching imperfections

I knew I wanted to use the novelty resin chain strap (exclusive to the XS Landon and Epic Crossbody in Lime) with the Lime Axel. It's everything I hoped it would be appearance-wise, but a heads up: the sound of the chains moving is like—how do I put this delicately?—a squeaky, tortured mouse symphony.

I'll try to capture the sound on video one of these days!

Large Axel

Is this lunch box worth $75? I don't know. What I do know is that this bag has the potential to be more—much more! Out of all the bags I purchased from the SS20 collection, this is the one I'm the most excited about using once I can leave the house. My photos really don't do it justice.

I plan to leave the top unzipped, which means the zipper placement is important—the goal is to be able to reach in and add/remove items without additional adjustments.

Items like the Scout Pouch or Mara Phone Sling could be used as handy interior organizers, and you could even jazz up the outside with a twilly, keychain, and/or novelty strap. (I couldn't tell you where I found the blue scarf—I've had it since middle school—but the keychains are String Doll Gang keychains by Kamibashi.)

I've packed the body of the bag with an iPad Mini, a small water bottle, and a camera. The zippered mesh pocket has a Mara in Block Party Print to hold my AirPod Pros, hand sanitizer, and lip gloss in a more organized fashion. I placed the Accordion Travel Wallet and my phone in the back slip pocket for easy access.

If you want to use this as a shoulder bag, I'd consider this a fun (albeit less practical) alternative to the Micah.

Size Comparisons

Small Axel in Lime / Large Allyn in Poppy

Small Axel in Lime / Medium Allyn in Oxblood

Small Axel in Lime / Small Allyn in Haze Camo

 Small Axel in Lime / Small Landon in Quartz

Accordion Travel Wallet, Mara Phone Sling

Micah in Heather Gray / Large Axel in Pomelo

XL/L/S Scout Pouches, L/S Axel Lunch Boxes

Color Comparisons

Pomelo vs. Sienna

I'm looking forward to putting the Large Axel to use as a shoulder bag, and I'll update this post with a review once I've done so. In the meantime, I hope these photos help you make a slightly more informed decision before the Lime and Pomelo versions of the Axel sell out for good!

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Did this post help you choose a Axel Lunch Box? 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. 

If you're looking to buy used Dagne Dover items, 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!

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. 

If you're looking to buy used Dagne Dover items, 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!