Prada Saffiano Galleria Tote Review - Pros and Cons

I’ll admit it.

Ever since I saw Olivia Pope (in Scandal) charge into her office and throw her Prada Saffiano Galleria tote on the hanger, I was hooked on this bag.

To me, Prada’s Saffiano Galleria Tote (also called the Lux Tote by some sellers) is the perfect bag for the gorgeous, smart, strong working woman who makes things happen and doesn’t back down.

With it’s classic lines, structured feel, double zip pockets and hardy Saffiano leather, this bag is classic, sophisticated and subtly sexy at the same time.

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And judging by how hard it is to get this bag second-hand, I’d say a lot of other women out there agree with me.

I bought my medium black Saffiano Tote 4 years ago and it’s still in amazing condition – without a scratch on it (and I’m not exactly nice to my bags).

It still elicits gleaming respect in the eyes of people wherever I take it – and it elevates even the simplest of outfits.

So is it a good choice for you?

Let’s dive in and look at the pros and cons of this bag:

The Basics:

Type of Bag: Top Handle, Shoulder

Handle: Double Handle + Detachable, Adjustable Shoulder Strap

Measurements: Varies – 4 Sizes: Mini, Small, Medium and Large

Shape: Rectangular

Outside Material: Saffiano Calfskin leather with Expandable Snap Sides

Hardware: Gold

Inside: Cloth lining, 2 Zipper Compartments

Click Here to Shop the Prada Galleria Tote Bag

Prada Saffiano Galleria Tote Review:

The Prada Saffiano Galleria tote has been around for over 7 years now. It got a lot of attention since it was the main bag that Kerry Washington (as Olivia Pope) carried in Scandal.

And it fit her character perfectly – beautiful, strong, doesn’t-back-down-from-a-challenge and makes things happen. That was Olivia Pope – and that is this bag.

The structured feel and sleek lines on this bag are classic and beautiful. And they will still be beautiful 10 years from now.

The gold hardware along with the gold on the discreet Prada triangle logo – gives an elegant vibe to the bag as well.

But at the same time, the bag isn’t just about beauty or style. It’s also durable and tough.

Saffiano leather is known to be tougher than a lot of other leathers used in designer bags (looking at you lambskin). It stands up easily under rainy or snowy weather. You don’t have to worry about color transfer either.

Plus you can drop this bag (I have – many times) or rub it up against a wall – without worrying that the leather will scratch.

There are 3 compartments to this bag – two zip pockets on either side and a third pocket in the middle (with it’s own side pocket).

This is great if you’re like me and like to keep your bag items organized – with the frequently used items in the easy-to-reach non-zip pocket and the more sensitive items (like your wallet) in the harder-to-reach zip pockets.

You can wear this bag as a regular top-handle bag or you can also carry it in the crook of your arm for a more chic look. There’s also a detachable, adjustable strap you can use to wear it as a shoulder bag.

Pros of the Saffiano Galleria Tote Bag:

Besides the obvious gorgeous look and the durability of this bag discussed above, there are a few other pros you should know:

You can fill this bag with a surprising amount – I can easily fit my wallet, keys, phone, snacks, makeup bag, lipsticks, pad, pens and even a few lady items in this bag.

I’ve also heard of women getting a slim laptop in there as well. I have a massively large laptop (I’m still living in the 90’s – what can I say) so it wouldn’t fit for me.

But I can see how a small tablet or extra-slim laptop would easily fit into my medium bag. If you had a large Saffiano tote, it would be even easier. However you probably couldn’t do this with the small size of the bag.

As mentioned above, with 3 different pocket options, you can organize this bag amazingly well. You can easily grab whatever you need (provided you remember which pocket it’s in) without the unsophisticated look of stopping and scrounging around in your bag for 2 minutes.

That’s really handy – especially if you’re in a high-stakes corporate gathering or meeting with important clients at work.

While the trend these days is to plaster yourself (and your bag) with logos, it doesn’t always send the right message. This is especially true in the workplace.

With the small, subtle logo placed on the one side of this bag, you have what is clearly a high-end designer lux bag – but you’re not flaunting it (because you don’t have to – you’re just THAT fabulous).

Cons of the Prada Saffiano Lux Tote

This isn’t really a problem with the bag itself. It’s more of a confusing issue if you want to buy this bag.

It currently goes under the name of the Prada Saffiano Galleria Tote. However I’ve also seen it called the Prada Saffiano Lux tote and the double-zip tote or even the Saffiano top handle bag.

This can get really confusing because there are a number of other Prada Saffiano Tote bags – which look similar on the outside, but they don’t have the double zip. They have a different inside layout.

So just keep in mind that if you want the double zip – make sure to look for the Galleria Saffiano tote – and make sure it carries the double zip (then again the other Saffiano tote bags look pretty sharp too…so you may not really care about this point.)

Some people find that the zippers on this bag can be slightly stiff and hard to get into. That’s just the nature of the bag.

It’s great for security – but because the bag is so structured, the zippers will feel a bit stiff until you work them in.

Final Word on the Prada Saffiano Tote?

If you’re looking for a work or day bag that exudes elegance and class – a bag you can easily carry when meeting with millionaire – or billionaire – clients, this is a fantastic option.

It’s a workhorse underneath – but it still gives you the style and elegance of a Grace Kelly or Kerry Washington.

How will it hold up over time?

Well, mine has held up remarkably well over the last 4 years – it still looks like I bought it yesterday.

Judging by how popular these are on the resale market I think the bag itself will continue to be in demand. There are ALWAYS women looking to buy these bags preloved – since the price for a new Saffiano Tote starts at over $2000.

Plus with the classic styling and continued selling of this bag from Prada (it’s a staple bag in the line), you’ll be able to wear it for years to come and still look up-to-date.