Handbag Review: First Impressions of the Loewe Square Raffia Tote

OUTFIT DETAILS: FLORAL SMOCKED DRESS (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR) | LOEWE RAFFIA TOTE | HERMES SANDALS (AFFORDABLE DUPE) | CAT EYE SUNGLASSES

My luxury handbag posts – whether a handbag review or first impressions – have been some of my most popular to date. It makes me happy to know I’ve found a community of women that love handbags as much as I do.

Over the last few years a woven tote has become my go-to come spring and summer. It doesn’t matter what I’m wearing or where I’m going, it just seems to work with everything. This year I realized it was time to invest in a woven bag because I’ve already show cost per wear with my less expensive versions is in the pennies.

Loewe was the first brand that came to mind. This Spanish fashion house is the epitome of effortless chic and I love that unless you’re really into fashion it is a much less noticeable logo.

I’ve been wearing this Loewe square raffia tote for the last month and wanted to share my first impressions, as it’s too soon to give a proper handbag review).

If you’re in the market for a chic woven bag this summer I hope this can help you decide whether to splurge or save. 

HANDBAG REVIEW: LOEWE RAFFIA SQUARE TOTE

PRICE

This is probably the first question on everyone’s mind – what is the price? The bag runs around $650, which may sound like a lot but is actually quite affordable for a designer bag.

When I was on the hunt for luxury woven bags this Loewe tote seemed fairly priced on the market as I found several options from Prada and Saint Laurent that were easily $800+.

While I do love woven bags and know I will get a ton of use out of it, that felt out of my comfort zone for a seasonal bag.

HANDBAG SIZE

This is the perfect wearable tote and great for us petite women who often feel drowned in larger tote bags. I was looking for bag that would be easy to transition from day to night.

If you want a travel tote or the type of handbag that you can throw your whole life in then this isn’t the bag for you. If that is what you are after, I would suggest going for the Loewe basket tote or the Prada straw tote.

This bag fits all of my essentials and a little bit more. What I love most is that this smaller tote size lends itself to a more elegant bag – not just a daytime bag. Also in terms of sizing, keep in mind that the bag is also actually quite structured so it won’t expand.

QUALITY

The moment you look at this bag and hold it you can tell a difference in quality from the lesser expensive woven bags. I own some from Zara, Etsy, and Hereu but none of them compare to the Loewe square raffia tote.

Loewe bags are handmade, which explains the higher price point. The leather is smooth and fits well over my shoulder making it easy to carry around when running errands. The small details like the adjustable straps and stitching make this bag truly a work of art rather than just another woven tote.

VERSATILITY

I think you can already get the idea that I think the Loewe tote is incredibly versatile. While, my first thought was to go for the small basket tote, I’m so happy I went for the square tote. I find this one to be a more elegant and versatile piece than the basket tote.

To me this bag has much more than those vacation vibes often associated with woven bags. This tote version has that effortless Parisienne chic feel and can easily be worn to dinner.

If you live in the city and worry styling a woven bag might seem odd then this is the version for you. The classic tote shape and leather details make this an incredibly versatile bag – well worth the price tag! Plus, a woven bag never goes out of style.

Overall I think it’s easy to see that I’ve fallen in love with this Loewe raffia tote and can’t wait to style more looks with it this summer. If you like these handbag reviews and first impressions let me know in the comment section below! I would happy to do this on any handbag in my collection.