Review: A.P.C. Half moon bag

Last year I bought myself the A.P.C. Half moon bag and figured I should write a review on it as there aren’t that many helpful reviews out there at the moment. I love to read about people’s experiences before deciding on such an expensive purchase so maybe this post will help a few people out.

Current prices and availability
At the moment €345. I got mine in Antwerp, Belgium last year for €325, so that’s a small increase of €20. If you take a look at the French website it’s €310 with an increase of €15. You should be able to get your hands on one in one of the A.P.C. stores worldwide. I’ve been to their stores in different countries and they always seem to have a few in stock. If you live in the Netherlands and you’re not a big fan of online shopping (we don’t have an A.P.C. store), check SKY in Amsterdam or Wendela van Dijk in Rotterdam. If you don’t mind some online shopping, get your bag here, here or here.

Dimensions
24 x 17 x 8 cm. Strap 65 cm.

Form and function
The name of the bag pretty much speaks for itself when you look at the design of the bag. It’s simple yet slightly different with its round shape. It comes in two different kinds of leather; smooth Italian leather and embossed Italian leather, the latter less prone to scratches. You’ll find a double zip closure on top with leather pull tabs. This brings me to a major downside of the bag, due to the stiffness of the leather and the limited opening, it’s really hard to get in and out of it and to organise your belongings. You can only hope to grab the thing you’re looking for. On the plus side, it has a nice long strap with an adjustable goldtone buckle so it can be worn on the shoulder of cross body. Inside, you’ll find a large interior patch pocket and cotton-blend lining.

Care and maintenance
I decided to buy this bag because I wanted a smaller purse that wasn’t as fragile as my Céline trio bag. To be honest, it’s still pretty delicate but I definitely don’t have to worry about scratches as much as I do with the trio. That said, I never put it on the ground and I think I’m pretty careful with every bag that I own. So if you like to throw your bags carelessly around, this bag might not be the one for you. It’s also not a good option if you like to stuff your bags. Although it might seem pretty sturdy, I know of several people who’s bags changed shape over time. That said, it fits quite a lot for such a small bag. I usually carry my daily essentials: my iPhone, lip balm, keys, passport, mints, deodorant, earphones and Comme des Garçons wallet.

Pros:

  • the price is reasonable when you compare it to other designer bags
  • lovely design, compliments guaranteed
  • it can be worn in two different ways, I prefer to wear it cross-body

Cons:

  • hard to get and in out of the bag
  • might lose its shape if you overstuff it
  • watch out for colour transfer on light garments

So there you have it. To be honest, I can’t decide for you if this bag is worth its price. I guess it mostly depends on how careful you are with your bags. I know I’m very happy with it and carry it at least a couple of times a week when I travel light to work. It has gotten a lot more wear than my Céline trio lately due to the weather. I carried it through rain and snow and it still looks great apart from some minor scratches. I can tell you one thing for sure though, it’s definitely an eye-catcher that will get you many compliments.

For all of you half moon bag owners, is there anything you would like to add?