I’ve been a customer of Pom Pom London for a few years now, and here is what I think of their bags.
For those unfamiliar with the brand, Pom Pom London is a British company. Their bags are designed in the UK (although they are then manufactured in China). Pom Pom London was founded in 2015 and offer a range of full grain leather bags. The brand’s USP is that the bag straps are interchangeable which gives them versatility. I usually buy these bags on offer, where you get the colour corresponding leather strap, a choice of two more straps and a tassel or pom pom.
Difference between Pom Pom London’s City and Original bag models
The City bag and the Original bag (which was previously called the Mayfair bag) are two of their most popular models. These two are crossbody style and come in a range of sizes. I mainly gravitate towards the City Plus size, but both models come in a mini, regular and plus.
The main differences between the Original and the City is that the City tends to run larger regardless of size. For example, the City Mini will run slightly larger than the Original Mini. The City also comes in a few more variants beyond size. The Duo has two zipped compartments instead of one, and the Slim which is thinner than the City. The Original model has an additional smaller compartment at the front of the bag, whereas the City is just one level.
I think if you prefer one main compartment for storing your things, you might lean towards the City model. If you prefer to store different things in different compartments, you might like the City Duo model with two zips, or the Original with one large compartment and a smaller compartment at the front.
The price for the bags vary depending on the model, with the Minis usually selling for just under £80 RRP and the Plus size selling for just under £120 RRP.
Original vs City – which bag is for you?
- Choose the Original if you want a smaller front compartment for keys/cards.
- Choose the City if you prefer one main compartment and carry bulkier items (Kindle, reusable bag).
- Choose the City Duo if you like separating essentials.
My experience with Pom Pom London Bags
I usually gravitate towards the City Plus size because I like to carry my Kindle, reusable bag, and toiletries with me. I think the Minis in both models are too small for my personal use case. Also I’m tall and I feel like a very small bag doesn’t work with my height. The City Plus bag measures 11.02 inches in width and 7.87 inches in height.
The City Plus bag has one main compartment with one zipped pocket and one open pocket inside. It also has a zipped pocket at the back of the bag. I prefer this over multiple zipped compartments. I know some people like to keep their belongings separate but I always forget where I’ve stored something.
I’ve had this City Plus bag in Chilli Red for just over a year and I think it has held up really nicely. It featured in my “best bags to wear for exploring London” post. Each bag comes with a dust bag to store it when not in use. I also kept the paper padding that came with it to help keep its shape. I think a common complaint people have with these bags is the hardware tarnishing, but I’ve not had that.
The leather feels really soft and supple. I find this means if you overfill the bag, it loses its shape slightly. But I’d rather this than a firm bag that feels tough and rigid. I just try to be more conscientious on what I need to bring with me.
One thing I’d advise is once you have your heart set on a colour, check social media to see if there are any photos or videos of someone wearing it. I’ve noticed that the photos on the website are sometimes not 100% accurate. For example Chilli Red was pictured as quite a bright red on the website but in person it’s much darker and deeper.
Are Pom Pom London bags worth the money?
I think if you’re looking for a versatile leather bag, you can’t go wrong with Pom Pom London. They regularly run promotions where you can get free straps with the purchase of your bag. They also regularly refresh their colour options so you can buy one to match the season, or in your favourite colour. Of course, they still offer neutral colours that work year round like black, beige and navy. I do have a City bag in their regular size coming in a brighter colour as I have a few weddings coming up this year!
At just under £120 for the larger bag and just under £80 for the smaller version, I think the price is reasonable. I would say for me, the Mini versions are just too small but I’m sure they’d work for someone who doesn’t carry much, or wants to start carrying less.
I think these bags are really versatile, as their colourful straps can add a playful twist to a casual outfit, whereas the colour matched leather strap could work for a night out or more formal occasion.
As I am writing this, they are currently running their winter sale with up to 40% off. I think £50 or so for a leather bag is great value. You can shop their sale here.
What bag do you use for everyday?
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