Rebecca Minkoff, best known for her “Morning After Bag” and “Nikki” hobo has recently introduced another great handbag to her collection:  The “Devote Tote”.  As a lover of spacious leather bags, I’m a huge fan of the Devote.  It is a bucket-shaped hobo with belting detail at the top.  I’m a sucker for the dual belts-I love how you can tighten them to cinch in the top.  The bag is available is several different colors with studded versions as well.  Dimensions for the Devote Tote are 18″x7″x12″.
 
Chocolate/chocolate woven Spring '09

Chocolate/chocolate woven Spring '09, currently unavailable. Periodically pops up on ebay or bonanzle

Nautical Blue from Spring '09, available at Nordstrom.com, currently 33% off

Nautical Blue from Spring '09, available at Nordstrom.com, currently on sale for $419.90

Black Studded Devote Tote available at Nordstrom.com $695, non adjustable straps

Black Stud Devote Tote available at Nordstrom.com $695, non-adjustable straps

 

  

The strap on some Devotes are adjustable, depending on where the bag was made.  If the bag was made in the US/New York, the strap is adjustable.  If it was made in China (yes, RM has grown to a point that like many other designers it outsourced some of its production overseas to China) then the strap is not adjustable.  From my observations, most of the studded Devotes have non-adjustable straps.

Studded Devote, Papaya. Available at Nordstrom.com for $695

Stud Devote, Papaya. Available at Nordstrom.com for $695

Notice how the place where the strap ring attaches, it is sewn across as opposed to being left open like the chocolate woven and nautical blue pictured above?  This stitching makes it impossible to adjust the straps and the buckle becomes purely decorative.  Unknown if this was a deliberate design change or a quality control issue with the China factories. 
 
The strap is very comfortable/flexible with an approximate 8″ drop.

 

Think the Devote is just to darn big?  Well Rebecca Minkoff has recently introduced in her Summer/pre-Fall line a “mini Devote”.  Now take heed, the mini Devote is still a good-sized bag with dimensions measuring 15″x7″x10″.  Still big, just not as cavernous as the regular Devote.

mini Devote vs Devote

mini Devote vs Devote. Wine mini Devote available on asteralice.com, $595

 
Base difference between mini and regular Devote

Base difference between mini and regular Devote

 
One downside of the Devote tote and mini Devote is the base.  Structurally, the base is the stiffest part of the bag which prevents the bag from hugging the body.   A few softer bottom studded Devotes have been circulating around but the majority tend to have stiffer bottoms.  Once again, it is unknown if the softer bottoms were a deliberate design change by RM or a fluke.    With the softer bottoms, the bag is more huggable but “bulge factor” on the bottom tends to be an issue with the feet sticking out funny.
 
 Structured Bottom
 
Glazed brown mini Devote with structured bottom

Glazed brown mini Devote with structured bottom, available at lunaboston.com (pic taken from lunaboston)

(pic taken from lunaboston)

(pic taken from lunaboston)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unstructured Bottom

Stud Devote Plum, appears to have unstructured bottom available for preorder on lunaboston.com (pic taken from lunaboston)

Stud Plum Devote , appears to have unstructured bottom. Available for preorder on lunaboston.com (pic taken from lunaboston)

Michelle Trachtenberg with a black stud Devote, unstructured/soft bottom. Notice the bulge on the bottom of the bag?

Michelle Trachtenberg with a black stud Devote, unstructured/soft bottom. Notice the bulge on the bottom of the bag?

The best way to figure out which kind of Devote you are getting (adjustable vs non-adjustable strap, structured bottom vs soft bottom), is to contact the etailer of your choice beforehand.  I recommend the following for your RM purchases:  lunaboston.com, asteralice.com, nordstrom.com.    Keep a lookout in the coming months, more colors and textures are coming! 

 Happy Devote Tote shopping!

-Kris
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Author:
kmh1190
Time:
Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Category:
General, Handbag Heaven
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One Response to “Rebecca Minkoff Devote Tote”

  1. Nickie Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 7:56 am

    GAW I love that studded Devote tote!!