Only a few hours ago I fell hard for Balmain’s Abroad shoulder bag. Just like that lovely purse, the Kaira has silver chains decorating its dark leathery skin. However while they’re similar on paper, this satchel sadly comes off looking like the poor cousin.
Perhaps that’s inevitable at this price point. While the Abroad is $865, this one costs merely a fraction, just $138. Sacrifices are bound to be made to keep the bottom line low. And so we see synthetic rather than that plush calfskin and a bare base where the protective metal feet might have been.
But my problems with the Kaira are about more than that. The chain decoration is so chunky, and it cheapens the satchel’s image more than the synthetic. The design itself is also fairly pedestrian. BCBGeneration seems to rely on the chain for attention, but it’s not interesting enough to really inspire.
It’s a shame because the Kaira is certainly more usable than the Abroad. It’s enormous but designed so well that the space only ever seems like a plus. The interior is well laid out with its open pockets and secure zippered one. Its handles are long enough to sling over shoulders, but you might find the longer cross-body strap easier to use if you’ve got a distance to travel.
It’s unfortunate that the Abroad stole my heart first, because while the Kaira isn’t as sophisticated it’s far from a bad bag. If your budget can’t stretch to accommodate the Balmain, or you’re just craving more space, it’s a decent compromise.
More Features of This BCBGeneration Chain Strap Satchel
- Zip closure
- Measures 15 x 5 x 10 inches
- Comes with a dust bag
- Also available in mocha and red
