Miu Miu Ivy Canvas Bag Review

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Making an investment in a designer handbag is not unlike finding a life partner or choosing a career — it’s a decision you don’t want to take lightly. When I’m gearing up to buy a new bag, my criteria includes getting that buzzy feeling when I see it — like I really, really need the tote bag or clutch or top-handle purse in my daily existence. And that I know deep down this won’t be a fling; it has to feel like a commitment that will last.

A bag that will maintain a hierarchy in my collection needs to exude timelessness — would it have looked as good five years ago? And will it still look good to me in the next five years? Does it have a place in at least two seasons? Does it do something no other bag in my collection already does? And is it not too precious? I am not the sort to switch bags daily so it has to be able to withstand a little light attrition. Enter: The Miu Miu Ivy canvas tote. 

At first glance, the Miu Miu Ivy canvas tote bag hits all of my musts. I really love how it looks and it’s definitely classic (leather and canvas never go out of style). I am down with a logo so long as it’s a brand I really support, and Miu Miu has been a life-long favorite of mine. And as much as I’ve always loved Miu Miu, the recent collections have been so epic that investing in something from the brand now feels timely. I want an (actual) piece of that Italiano surfer girl energy. 

The whole mood of Miu Miu now exudes a sentiment expressed in the spring collection’s show notes, “embracing of unique characters, the joy of life.” The runway was a testament to cool styling, effortlessly pairing board shorts with polos and boyish navy blazers, ruffled mini skirts with gingham button-downs, airy pedal pushers and cotton zip-ups, leather bombers and bikini bottoms, surfer tees and gold lamé shorts. Different bag iterations done in the canvas and leather found on the Ivy tote served to ground these unexpected duos, but emblazoned with the Miu Miu logo, they’re never too serious. The bags are an interesting-yet-utilitarian part of a collection designed to throw on to go about your day, an elevated mishmash of prep-with-a-wink pieces that happen to fit perfectly into my current existence. 

Miu Miu Ivy Canvas Tote Bag Testing Review

I took Miu Miu’s Ivy Canvas Tote Bag with me on multiple errands and to take my daughter to various activities like languid days spent at the park or by the beach. It came with me to coffee shops for hours to spin words and images. And yes, it fits a laptop! (It’s about 16 inches high and 14 inches wide.) This Miu Miu collection and this bag are for life — not some super specific life that exists mainly on social media, but actual, sometimes messy, life.

This canvas bag absolutely works as a beach tote, and I also brought it with me on a plane, where it made my simple outfit of white jeans and a blue button-down feel more special. I kept it packed with my wallet, keys, phone, a book, and maybe a snack bar, and it looked easy and effortless no matter what I’d tossed on that day. The canvas makes it spring-, summer-, and even early-fall worthy. Most of my bags that fit this bill are raffia, which is far more specific and less malleable for daily living. The tote also sits close to the body which makes it feel like it’s a part of you and doesn’t take up too much visual or actual space. The leather straps are comfortable so long as you don’t overfill it, and the touch of gold on the sides is just the right amount of hardware. There’s also a small interior zipper for holding things like keys and lip balm so they don’t get lost on the bottom of your bag, a must for anyone without time to spare rooting around in space.

I paired the bag with a light blue silk Tove dress that’s inherently a bit fancy and loafers, which made the strapless gown appear more casual and wearable for a laidback summer dinner. I also wore it with a vintage shrunken Miu Miu blazer and cream shorts by Mayson the Label with wingtips for a day of running around and appointments. I thought it looked smart and not too fussy. The brown and tan of the bag also softened the more graphic black and white of the shorts and jacket. Not pictured is when I brought it to yoga and a day of shopping outdoors. In short, Ivy and I have a deep love for each other, this isn’t just a summer thing. 

More Miu Miu Ivy Bags to Shop Now

Miu Miu Ivy Canvas Bag Outfit Idea — Look 1

Shown with: Tove Alex Strapless Dress ($1,140), Jami Haller The Bit Loafer in Cognac ($595), Bri Wok Antheia Charm Necklace ($81)

Miu Miu Ivy Canvas Bag Outfit Idea — Look 2

Shown with: Loulou Studio Marnie Cinched Wool Single-Breasted Blazer ($210), Mayson The Label Pleated Trouser Shorts ($168), Vehla Kaia Sunglasses ($200), The Office Of Angela Scott Miss Lucy Wing-Tip Platform Oxfords ($595)

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Meet the Author

Kerry Pieri is a multi-hyphenate creative: fashion editor, brand consultant, author, and more. Pieri served as the digital fashion and features director at Harper’s BAZAAR for 10 years, and she continues to write for publications including Eyeswoon, L’Officiel, and Porter Magazine. Pieri has worked within the fashion and editorial industries for 15 years.