I was in france this summer for a month (work-vacation), went purse shopping on the champs elysees. Saw the polene store on kennedy circle and while i wasn't intending to go, had seen the name mentioned a million times on fashion forums online so wanted to look. Would be happy to spend 400 euros rather than 2000 euroes. Stood in line for 10 minutes with a lot of 30-ish american women who were 15 pounds overweight, and a handful of asian women. Got inside, store felt like a tiktok campaign with a few early-20s sales people roving the floor but generally unavailable to help. People swarming everywhere holding up bags. Held up a few bags that i quite liked the shape/design of but they felt like junk garbage in my hands. Absolutely no artistry to the bag making, no pockets or folds or anything inside. Just a leatheer sack. I was super uninspired. Bought stuff at YSL and Givinchy and Celine, which all feel like an entirely different product than Polene (obv a different price point too). I felt like i was in a popup store in Polene and was being had.

Polene is overpriced and basic. Anything branded as “affordable luxury” is a red flag.

Anonymous wrote:I was in Paris last week. All the Polene stores had lines. But they didn’t have the bag I was interested in and had no idea when I could get it. They had one floor model that I couldn’t buy. Unimpressedd. For the price I prefer Le Tanneur., Longchamp or Fleuron.

I agree. Le Tanneur is good quality and DH likes their wallets. I prefer Longchamp because I like the style.

I was in Paris last week. All the Polene stores had lines. But they didn’t have the bag I was interested in and had no idea when I could get it. They had one floor model that I couldn’t buy. Unimpressedd. For the price I prefer Le Tanneur., Longchamp or Fleuron.

A sad beige belt bag.

There will always be people with more money than brains.

https://eng.polene-paris.com/products/neyu-smooth-beige