There are some bags I see, love for a few weeks and then completely forget about. And then there are the ones that somehow stay in my head for years. This one was definitely the latter.
I actually first noticed this bag a few years ago while watching Black Mirror. Salma Hayek was carrying it and I remember immediately thinking how beautiful it was. It was one of those bags that caught my attention without really looking like it was trying to catch anyone’s attention, and I have thought about it ever since. Eventually (clearly!), I gave in.
The one I went for is the Medium Nappa Maxi Intrecciato Arco Tote in black. Its made in Italy from nappa leather and features Bottega Veneta’s oversized Intrecciato woven design (yes I copied that wording from the website…), with rolled leather handles, an open top with a leather knot closure and an interior zipped pouch.
The thing I love most about it is just how understated it is. There’s no big logos or labels announcing what you are carrying, and I think that’s part of what made me keep thinking about it for so long.
Now, as much as I do enjoy a small bag, there comes a point where I actually need to be able to take things out with me. The medium Arco is 36.8cm wide, 24.1cm high and 12cm deep, so there is plenty of room without it feeling absolutely enormous. It also means I can fit everything I realistically want to carry in it, and because of the simple black leather it goes with basically anything. I can wear it with jeans and something really casual and it works, but it also looks just as good with something more dressed up. Basically, it’s one of those bags where I never really have to think about whether it works with an outfit.
The only thing that did make me hesitate slightly was the leather. It’s made of smooth leather, which is something I almost never buy when it comes to designer bags. I tend to prefer leathers that feel a little more hardwearing because I do not want to spend the entire time worrying about scratches. But, it does have a grain to it, so it’s not delicate like a Chanel lambskin for example, but is classed as “smooth”. Anyway, so far, it’s been absolutely fine. That being said, I should probably add the disclaimer here that I really baby my bags. I am careful where I put them, how I store them and generally how I use them, so I am probably not the best person to ask how this would hold up if you were throwing it around every day. But… I also watched a few YouTube video reviews of it before I took the plunge, and actually, a lady on there had had hers for two years – said she used it everyday – and to be fair, it still looked pristine.
Is The Bottega Veneta Arco Worth It? Designer bags are always going to be incredibly subjective when it comes to whether they are “worth” the money, but I think the fact that I thought about this one for years before buying it says quite a lot, it wasn’t just something I saw one week and impulse bought the next. I love that it’s understated. I love that it doesn’t rely on a huge logo. I love that I can fit everything in it. And most importantly, I love how easy it is to actually wear.
And after thinking about this one since seeing Salma Hayek carrying it on Black Mirror all those years ago, I’m very glad I finally bought it.
