Product Review: Lexi Satchel

Lexi Satchel
Click here for product page
Item 18261
Regular: $425.00
Now: $249.99

According to J.Crew's item page:

Everyone is loving this bag and it's easy to see why: the stonewashed Italian leather has an incredibly soft handfeel. Carefully designed with special touches like a removable, convertible leather strap (you can wear it as a messenger bag, over your shoulder or carry it as a tote) and couture-inspired tassels to give it that can't-live-without-it status. Leather handles. Top flap with two hidden magnetic closures. Shiny gold-finish hardware. Removable exterior decorative tassel. Exterior front-wall pocket underneath flap, interior front-wall split-patch cell pocket, back-wall zip pocket. Cotton twill lining. Part of the J.Crew Collection. Import. Comes with a dust bag. Adjustable shoulder strap fully extends to 22". 6" handle drop. 8 5/8"H x 14"W x 4 3/4"D.

When this bag first made a sneak peek appearance back in June (refer to the "J.Crew's Fall '09 Look Book {thanks naomi!}" post), I knew we had to meet. I ended up ordering the "Shadow" version because I thought it might be a bit more versatile for my needs. (Although, it was a tough choice. The other shade, Fawn, is very lovely too.)

This bag is great because it offers me the option to carry it as either a handbag or a messenger bag thanks to the two removable straps. The length of both straps are just perfect too. The shoulder strap makes it very easy to carry the bag under my arm, while the messenger strap is just long enough to wear crossed my body (and not as long as the Campo Messenger Bag (click here for a review) either).

The bag is quite roomy, great for carrying quite a few things. There are also several compartments (exterior pocket, two inside pockets, one inside zippered pocket) making organization a breeze. The bag has only one zippered pocket (on the backside of the purse's interior) though. It would have been nice to have more zippered pockets- but that is just me.

Something worth mentioning is the magnetic closure. Love the concept but very difficult to execute. I find it very hard to actually get the darn magnetic closure to actually line-up and clasp together. I end up just letting the front flap fall where it may.

As for the leather, it is generally very soft and smooth to the touch. It is also prone to scratches. The bag I received already had a few scratches on the front. I am under the impression that this is normal and what to expect from this leather. (I provided a real-life image below, just click on it to view it larger).

I should also add that the leather on the front side appears to be a bit different than the other sides. The leather on the front flap and front exterior pocket is very smooth while the leather on the other sides is a bit more wrinkly. (I hope this makes sense.) The texture of the wrinkly leather allows some of the leather to flake off when rubbed against something. (I found this out the hard way when I was wearing the Wool-Cashmere Carrie Coat (Item 99071) in white.)

Overall, I am very pleased with the bag. I don't think I would have gotten it for the full retail price. However, for its current selling price, I would recommend it to a fellow JCA who is considering it.

Lastly, there is another fellow JCA who posted her review of the Lexi Satchel that you should check out if you are considering this bag: Amy Kelinda's "the j.crew lexi satchel" post over at her Kelinda Kelinda blog.

What are your thoughts on the Lexi Satchel? Are you a fan of the style & size? Would you consider getting this bag?