Review: Chloe Drew Bag

Bag: Chloe Drew in "Motty Grey" with gold hardware, available at Nordstrom, or Farfetch
Outfit 1 (top right): details here
Outfit 2: (bottom left): details here

Today I'm sharing my review of the Chloe Drew bag you've seen so often here and on my Instagram feed lately. I first noticed this bag in street style shots at various Fashion Weeks and on celebrities about a year ago, and I've been admiring (okay, stalking) it online ever since. I love how it instantly elevates any outfit and gives the simplest looks a chic, ladylike vibe. Click through for my full review!

I am normally a fan of larger bags, like my MVP Valentino tote, so it took me a while to convince myself that it made sense to add the Drew to my wardrobe. One of my biggest sticking points with bag size is that I like it to fit my long wallet. I am a die-hard fan of the Hobo International Lauren clutch wallet, which is pretty sizable at 8.5" long and about 1.5" thick with all the stuff I put in it.

I love how this bag looks on a smaller scale, and the large size (9” H x 10.75” W x 4” D) looks a little too big for me, especially considering my small frame. When comparing measurements, I found that the medium Drew would be able to accommodate my big wallet and necessities while keeping the proportions I found attractive. The medium size measures 9"W x 8.25"H x 3"W (these are exterior measurements including thickness of leather) with a strap drop of 20.5". The drop is meant to be shoulder bag length on a tall or average woman, but for me, it works perfectly as a cross-body strap. The small, in comparison, comes in at 7.5” H x 7.75” W x 2.75” D and would necessitate switching to a card case or smaller wallet whenever I wanted to wear it, which I know would cause me to reach for it less often.

Below you can take a peek at what fits in my medium Drew--my big wallet, my iPhone 6, a small powder compact, a small makeup brush (note: I use this brush only with translucent powder so my bag doesn't get dirty), my sunglasses, and my keys. The second photo shows the size of the interior compared to the iPhone 6. There's a small patch pocket on the back of the interior, but it's too shallow to comfortably slip in my iPhone; however,it's a great spot for a couple cards and some cash if you choose not to carry a wallet.





I ordered my bag from Farfetch, which is an aggregate site of smaller brick-and-mortar boutiques throughout the world. I've found that for European brands, ordering from a European boutique via Farfetch, even at full retail, is often less expensive than paying retail price here in the U.S. A more favorable euro-dollar exchange rate helps, too, and duties are pre-paid as part of the list price. I've ordered a couple high-end bags from various Farfetch boutiques now, and I have received my purchases within a few days via DHL. I have read some negative reviews of Farfetch purchases, so I can't say that ordering from them is as risk-free and easy as it is with Nordstrom or another U.S. retailer, but my experience has been good for each of my three orders.

So far, I am loving this bag, but I have noted a few drawbacks. First, as with any flap bag, the Drew requires some effort to open and close it, so it can be a little cumbersome if you need to access something in your bag quickly and then make sure it is closed securely. Second, the hardware seems to scratch pretty easily, and the way the lock operates creates a lot of opportunity for scratching the polished front closure. I'm trying to be extra careful about how I close the lock, but it's hard when I'm on the go.

As I read through reviews before I purchased, I noted a couple that complained about the chain strap and wished it were leather. I like the elegant look of a chain strap with this bag, so I was willing to put up with any extra hassle. Chain straps can be problematic since they catch clothing and hair easily, but I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of issues with this one. I think the chain is fine and smooth enough that it doesn't catch fibers or irritate the skin.

I hope this post was helpful for anyone considering this bag (especially the readers who emailed me asking for a review--I always appreciate suggestions of post topics you would like to see). Please feel free to ask me additional questions in the comments or via email.

Hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam

P.S. If you have a moment, I really enjoyed looking through this gallery from Chloe showing how they create the Drew by hand.