My Sézane Milo Mini review in under five words: I love it. Affiliate links below, and my own pictures, which haven’t been adjusted except for brightness.
The regular-sized Classic Milo is Sézane’s flagship bag and the Milo Mini its extremely cute little sister. It’s not much of a cash saver: The regular Milo is $475, while the Milo Mini is just $15 cheaper, at $460 (for patchwork, and $435 for glossy).
Shop Milo Mini:
That clearly reflects the widely held (and fair) belief that the Milo Mini isn’t so much a junior version of the Milo but basically a perfect bag on its own: well constructed and extremely adorable, an outfit-maker with the right pair of jeans and a cozy fall sweater. Here’s everything you need to know if the Milo Mini is right for you.
Milo Mini: An Overview
Sézane’s Milo Mini comes in glossy colors ($435), and patchwork ($460). It currently comes in four colors: glossy black, and black multi patchwork, chocolate patchwork, and sand patchwork. These are seasonal and change frequently! I am obsessed with that chocolate patchwork! It looks like something Tigris would wear to a party in the Capital.
For previous seasons, you can often get lucky on resellers like Poshmark — at this exact moment, they have NWT Milo Minis in smooth honey and glossy white; click here to see what they have. I wanted the green patchwork from a couple seasons ago for a million years and indeed found it on Poshmark. Expect a price within around 10% of what Sézane is selling them for — at the moment, they’re all right at or slightly above $400.
The Milo Mini is 12 x 19 x 5 cm / 4.7 x 7.5 x 2 in, and weighs just over a half-kilo (540 g) or just over a pound (19 oz.)
The Milo Mini is made by Sézane in Italy. (It’s important to note that being made in Europe doesn’t necessarily indicate that a bag is free of labor concerns: Italian authorities have accused huge labels, including Armani and Dior, of selling bags produced under sweatshop conditions. According to Sézane: “All of our workshops are audited by independent experts, in compliance with the standards we have selected (BSCI, SMETA, ICS or WCA audits).”)
Milo Mini: Style & Design
The Milo Mini is boxy, with slightly rounded bottom corners. The glossy version is made of 100% cowhide leather with a 100% cotton lining, while the patchwork is slightly more complicated: 34% split cowhide leather, 33% embossed snakeskin bovine leather, and 33% smooth cowhide leather. (In both cases the rather narrow strap is 100% smooth cowhide leather.)
The inner-facing exterior — the side of the bag without the flap — is a very normie plain leather that I think is a step beneath the rest of the bag from a design perspective. It looks a little cheap. Luckily, it’s almost never visible.
These bags do scuff, and Sézane recommends addressing any marks with gentle buffing with its leather balm. Part of my rationale for getting a patchwork was because I was betting it will stand up to leather scuffs better. So far that’s been true.
I would qualify the general style as vintage-cute. The glossy bags are appropriate for the office and low-key evenings out; the patchwork bags feel more weekend-y day out. (One exception is the chocolate patchwork, which is totally wild — I would love to take it to a fall house party.)
I’ve seen complaints about the clasp — about the “Champagne gold” color being neither gold nor silver. I like the color, but hate the smudges.
The Milo Mini: Functionality & Fit
The Milo Mini has an adjustable strap, permitting both crossbody and shoulder wear. At full extension, the strap is 20.1 in / 51 cm. The strap is adjustable with the help of metal press-studs — I find these a bit cheap feeling. Other than the body-facing leather, the strap is the only part of the Milo Mini I don’t love. A slightly wider strap might have been nice, and though I’m only 5′ 4″, I would have been happy to have a longer strap and a little more flexibility. As it is now, I wouldn’t wear it with a bulky coat.
In terms of what you can fit inside: not a ton, but not nothing. In addition to the main compartment, there are three interior pockets, one with a zip. Weirdly, the interior precisely fits a box for a Fitbit Inspire 3, if you happen to have one around. It does not accommodate an Instax Mini. My Pixel 9 Pro does fit. A small book would. I’ve taken: my phone, my small wallet, a half-dozen markers (courting disaster but OK), and my house/car keys. They fit comfortably, but not much more would.
How It Compares to Other Sézane Bags
It really does occupy a space all its own: The Mini is more fun and casual than the Classic Milo; the regular Milo is going to work, but the Milo Mini is going to a bonfire. (A fun one.) It’s closer in spirit to the Claude, with its relaxed, half-moon shape, though the Claude doesn’t come in a patchwork design and is a little more reserved.
The Victor is more sophisticated than the Milo Mini — it’s most similar to the Roméo (currently only available via resellers) or the Milo Vintage, both beautiful bags with strongly vintage vibes.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Extremely, extremely cute
- Can zhuzh up a boring outfit
- Feels well constructed
Cons:
- You’re not getting a full day of stuff inside
- Strap slightly uncomfortable
- That body-facing side is a little meh
Final Verdict on the Milo Mini
I love this bag! I don’t own many bags, and I mostly am happy with $16 tote bags. But this is special.
Milo Mini FAQ
Is the Sézane Milo Mini Bag worth it?
A tricky question: What is worth it?? I can say that I paid quite, quite a lot for this bag, and I do not like doing that, paying a lot for a bag. But I feel like I’ve bought a beautiful object, that is well made and with good care, will retain its value. I believe I paid a fair price and that my cost per wear, over the years, will sink to well under a $1 per use. I do think it is worth it.
Does the Sézane Milo Mini Bag fit a phone?
Yes — the Milo Mini can fit a standard iPhone or similar-sized smartphone. Larger phones may be snug but do fit in most cases — my Google Pixel Pro, which is 6.0 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches, fit with some room at the top and bottom.
Is the Sézane Milo Mini cheaper in Paris?
Yes. You’ll save around 15–20% by buying in Paris, depending on the exchange rate and other factors. (Here’s a full report on how much you’ll save by shopping Sézane in Paris).
How does the Milo Mini compare to the Claude and Victor bags?
The Milo Mini feels more vintage-y than the Claude. The Victor is larger and better for carrying more items, and fancier.
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