Chloe’s Marcie style has been on my radar for about a year now. I’ve been watching the evolution of Chloe bags over the course of several different designers, from Martine Sitbon and Karl Lagerfeld to Stella McCartney and Phoebe Philo and beyond. While I still adore (and carry) my classic red Edith, the Paraty did not blow my skirt up at all. I wasn’t sure about Marcie’s curvy hourglass shape at first, but it’s grown on me over time. Marcie comes in several styles, including a long-strap satchel, a short-strap hobo and the two-handle tote in medium and large sizes. I’ve fallen for the Medium Messenger Bag style, which is essentially a tote with a long messenger strap.
I prefer the tote style over the hobo because I tend to use arm-carried bags more than shoulder bags these days, especially when the shoulder strap is on the short side. The messenger strap on this bag makes it extra useful, although I’d probably not use it much. Although the size is described at “medium,” at 15″ x 11″ x 5″ it’s roomy enough to be an everyday work bag. In my experience, Chloe bags tend to be heavy, so for real-life use it’s important not to let them get too oversized. The Marcie tote has a zip top for security, and the flap covers an outside pocket. I like that the leather thong-and-ring flap closure is functional and not just decorative.
Marcie’s been offered in black, plus a number of different browns and beiges since she was first released, but I think I like this brick red the best. It is a great fall color (reminds me of pumpkin pie!) and I can envision this bag bringing a bit of cheery depth to a gray November day. You can find the Brick Red Chloe Marcie at Net-a-Porter for $1,650. Yes, she’s pricey, but I’ve checked this bag out in real life and the Chloe quality is definitely there. Doesn’t that leather look infinitely touchable?