Italian beauty is at the heart of everything the house of Dolce&Gabbana does and the new Marlene bag is no exception. Fresh off the Spring/Summer 2025 runway, this new design is made in Italy with a stroke of D&G’s signature artisanal mastery. Super versatile with a softly structured silhouette that easily transitions from day to night and desk to dinner. The Marlene is the latest bag offering for the modern D&G women and I’ve certainly not had any trouble slotting it into my everyday wardrobe.
Crafted in a soft square shape with slightly pointed sides and structured handles, this new design fuses vintage details with contemporary flair. I’ve managed to get my hands on the medium size in taupe hand-grained calfskin. So let’s get into what I think of my latest Italian treasure, from must-know design details to the ways I’ve been loving wearing it.
D&G MARLENE BAG DETAILS AT A GLANCE
Soft square shape
Dual structured handles
Metallic cylindrical bar across top with turnlock closure
Removable chain strap (small only)
Removable and adjustable leather strap (large only)
Padlock, key and clochette
Interior pocket with 24-karat gold-plated zip
Gold-foil embossed logo lettering on both exterior and interior
Hand-polished finish
Vintage brass accents
Size options – small, medium, large
Colour options – taupe, black, white (small only), nude (small only)
Material options – hand-grained calfskin (small and medium only), plongé calfskin (large black version only), crocodile-print calfskin (medium black version only)
Made in Italy
Design Influences & Features
Dolce&Gabbana’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection is all about blending classic influences with contemporary flair to celebrate the enduring allure of Italian romance and style that the label was founded on. And the new Marlene bag really encapsulates this idea.
D&G has a penchant for structured bags that are on the smaller side, like the Sicily, Devotion and DG Girls bags. The Marlene’s structured design lends itself well to a compact size but I love that it’s available in medium and larger versions also to add versatility to the range. The small option, which I would describe as more of a mini bag, comes with dual structured top handles which look so chic when clutched, or you have the option of a longer chain strap to carry over your shoulder or crossbody. This vintage brass chain draws on elements of fine jewellery design which have long been a key influence for both Dolce&Gabbana bags and clothes.
For me, the Marlene bag’s medium size has an even more classically timeless look. In defiance of fleeting trends, it’s all about showcasing sleek simplicity. The medium option’s dual handles are significantly longer so you can wear the bag on your shoulder as well as carrying it top handle or in the crook of your arm. And the large version is the perfect smart everything tote or work bag. It comes with a removable and adjustable leather strap to make it super practical. I can definitely envision this taking your office styling game to a whole other level.
Colour & Material Options
In the spirit of celebrating timeless style, the material and colour offerings of the new Marlene bag focus on calfskin and classic neutrals. In a palette of black, white, taupe and nude, the design is so easy to slot into your wardrobe. I’ve been loving styling my taupe version with other neutrals. If you wear a lot of bright statement colours and are looking for a classic bag to mix and match with looks, I’d go with either the black or white option to create a strong contrast.
Currently, the smallest size is available in all four colours but the medium size is just offered in taupe, black and black crocodile print, and the large in black only. I would love to see a wider variation of colour options available in the larger sizes (the addition of the nude shade would be great for elevated workwear), plus I’d love to see the smallest version in black crocodile print. So, I’ll be on alert for any future drops of the Marlene bag for seasons to come.
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Styling Inspo
