I was probably the only woman in the world who had never owned a Kate Spade bag (I do have a wallet though). Even though she had sold the company well before she died, I felt like I needed one of the KS bags. When I got an email from the Kate Spade website announcing a 75% off sale, I thought this is the time.
Lately I have been trying to carry smaller, less bulky bags. It’s been a challenge finding bags that will accommodate all the stuff I carry. So I really looked hard at all the Kate Spade bag offerings.
I finally settled on the “laurel way mini reiley” in the shade, Carolina Coral, that looks medium pink with a tinge of coral when you see it in person. The shade is perfect for spring and summer.
Fortunately, the color is a little different from the hot pink bucket bag I forgot I bought from Dooney & Burke a couple of years ago. But there’s a trend here: I like pink.
The shape and style of the Reiley purse is a dome satchel. It comes with a detachable shoulder/crossbody strap and with two attached handles to carry the purse as a handbag.
The size of the mini (?) Reiley bag is about 7.5″ high x 9.5″ across x 4.5″ deep at the bottom. The reason I’ve added a question mark is that was how the bag was labeled online. However, when I looked at the Reiley bag on the Kate Spade website now, those dimensions are the dimensions of the Medium Reiley bag. To me, the purse isn’t a mini. It’s big enough to hold all my stuff: wallet, 2 sets of keys, glasses case, sunglasses case, pens, and too much makeup in my Ipsy bag – though with all that stuff, there’s not a lot of room to spare.
It opens and closes with a zipper along the dome top. But there is a sleek outer pocket that is hardly visible that is perfect for my phone. It closes securely with a magnetic closure.
The interior lining is polyester, and it appears to be sturdy. Inside, there is a large pocket, but sadly, there is no zippered pocket. I might keep a comb in that pocket, but nothing that I wouldn’t want to move around.
I was unsure what the purse was made of. It turns out it is a material called “Saffiano”. Saffiano is cow’s leather that is machine embossed with a cross-hatched texture that makes it very strong, scratch resistant and durable. It is given a protective polyurethane finish. It can be cleaned with mild soap and water on a cloth. So, it is leather, not vegan.
The fixtures on the purse are a mix of silver and gold. The zipper and the Kate Spade logo are both gold tone, while the rings that hold the handles and the zipper pull are silver. I guess that makes it easy: I can wear either silver or gold accessories with this purse.
Holding the bag when it’s empty, it feels quite lightweight. Holding it when it contains all my paraphernalia, it feels heavy. I guess I have to learn how to travel a little lighter!
It doesn’t come with a dust cover. I believe I read that Kate Spade handbags stopped coming with dust covers a few years ago. Since I didn’t pay a lot for the purse, I’m OK with it. If I had paid full price, I wouldn’t be too happy. I do put my purses in dust bags when I’m not using them. Kathryne the Fabzilla and purse queen suggested using a clean but old t-shirt. Good idea!
All in all, I’m pleased with my Kate Spade Reiley bag. I paid $75 for it with free shipping. The regular price of the medium Reiley bag is $279 on the Kate Spade website but it is black, not Carolina Coral. Presently, the Kate Spade website is having a 30% off Friends & Family sale with the code: ONEBIGFAMILY.
Do you own any Kate Spade bags?
Good morning. Yes I have a cross body Kate Spade in a pretty shade of a pinkish beige. It was a gift from my wonderful daughter in law the weekend that we had Dicks Memorial. Wish I knew the name of the color. I love it and use it from Spring/Summer throughout October. I really like the color of your bag. Enjoy it!
Thank you, Sandy! Pinkish beige – do you mean a “blush” shade? Your crossbody sounds heavenly. I love blush or ballet pink shades – so feminine and elegant. What a lovely and meaningful gift from your daughter-in-law! I hope you’ll be using it this spring <3
Yes Allison…blush! In a brain fog here the past couple of days due to my pinched nerve in my neck. Muscle relaxers are great but cann only take them at night and then I am “foggy” all day the next day!
No need to explain, Sandy! I am often at a loss for the word I’m looking for. I’m sorry to hear about your pinched nerve. I hope it will un-pinch itself soon. So painful and not so good to have to take painkillers.
Welcome spring ! What a beautiful bag! That color is gorgeous and compliments how beautiful you are !
PS-I’m a little jealous 😘
Thank you, Lois! I love pink! And the price was right 😉
I like your pretty new bag and its lovely colour. This is an entirely different shape from the bucket bag too, so apart from liking pink I don’t think you’re in any danger of handbag repeat. 🙂
I have a Kate Spade that I bought off TheRealReal a number of years ago. It’s an outlandish vintage-y silk floral print, and aside from not being able to carry it when the weather is questionable (I shudder to think of the water spots) I’m pretty pleased it’s in my collection. It fits right in with my vintage bags. It also came with the dust cover (which it’s currently wearing) and you’re right- if I bought a bag from KS at full price I’d be a little annoyed that it didn’t come with one now. I realise Kate Spade might not be Hermes-level luxury, but it’s not a $19.99 fast fashion grab either. Give your customers a dust cover, people. It’s a simple way of showing your clientele that you respect the money they’ve invested in your product. Aside from sewing your own cover or swiping one from a bag you no longer use, Kathryne’s tshirt idea is quick, clever and effective. And it’s recycling!
Oooooh, your vintage-y floral KS bag sounds gorgeous, Rachel! I’m trying to picture it in my mind – is it a clutch? I agree with you wholeheartedly. For the prices they charge for a KS bag, there should be a dust bag. That’s it and that’s all.
Nope, it’s just a pretty normal boxy pocketbook, rectangular box when open but triangle/tent box when closed. I don’t think the particular style and colourway must have been very popular as I can’t find any images of it online. And honestly it doesn’t scream “Kate Spade” like most of the company’s other offerings, so I’m not terribly surprised at that. I think it’s fab though, and it’s very well-made. 🙂
computer ate my comment- how rude of it!
My bag is just a typical boxy pocketbook shape- rectangular box when open, triangular/tent box when closed. I don’t think this particular style and colourway must have been all that popular though as I can’t find any images of it online. And honestly it doesn’t really scream “Kate Spade” the way the company’s other offerings do, so I’m not too surprised. I think it’s fab though and it’s very well made. 🙂
That is so weird, Rachel, about your first comment disappearing. It did come through, as you can see below, but it asked me to approve it – even though nothing was different about your email address or IP address. So sorry about that. Don’t you hate it when you write a long, thoughtful comment and it seems to disappear! Boo, not fair! Thank you, at any rate. In spite of its traditional pocketbook shape, the floral pattern makes it a standout, I’m sure. I will keep my eyes peeled in case I ever see it somewhere on line. I’m glad to hear it’s well made, since this is my first KS bag and I hope it lasts and lasts
Believe it or not I used to throw out the dust bags. I’m glad I learned better. I don’t have a Kate Spade because they were more than I was willing to spend but I’d like one. That color is beautiful and so perfect for you. As my mom would say “use it in good health”.
Oh no, that’s so funny, Marcia! Dust bags really are a necessity if you have a lot of purses. In the old days, when I had only one or two bags, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now I have a pretty good sized collection. I need those bags! And thank you, Marcia. It’s a cute bag at a good price. I can hear my grandmother and mother saying the same thing. Thanks for the nice memories!
I think Kate Spade has faux leather options. Lol on the purse queen, that made me laugh hard. You know, I realize I only have 2 pink bags. Not even pink pink but somewhat pink….
You are indeed the Purse Queen, Kathryne! I am a true pink fan; maybe because my mother dressed me in nothing but pink for my first 2 years of life, lol.
Ooh Allison so cute!!! That is the perfect Spring color too! Love your pick!