Mermaid Bag Buying Guide: Sizes, Materials and What to Look For

Quick answer

Buy the Mermaid bag if you want a handmade frill tote with a structured shape, a custom drawstring bag for storage, and a choice between orange gingham and plum organza. Choose orange gingham for a casual daytime carry and plum organza for evening or occasion looks. If you need a padded laptop compartment or a zip closure, this is not the tote for that job.

The Mermaid bag is a frill tote bag from Misscrofton, handmade and sourced in London. It is made from 100% polyester and comes in two colour options: orange gingham and plum organza. At USD 25.00 against a catalog comparison price of USD 50.00, it sits in the affordable statement-bag range rather than the everyday workhorse range.

That price point shapes how you should judge it. You are paying for a frill tote design, a handmade London supply chain, and a custom made drawstring bag for storage, not for reinforced hardware or a laptop sleeve. This guide walks through the materials, the two colourways, what the tote realistically carries, and the decision rules that separate a good purchase from a disappointing one.

What the Mermaid bag is made of, and why polyester matters

The Mermaid bag is 100% polyester. That single fact drives most of the practical trade-offs. Polyester holds colour well, which is why the orange gingham print and the plum organza finish both stay vivid, and it resists creasing better than many natural fabrics. It also dries quickly if you get caught in rain, and it wipes clean more easily than cotton canvas.

The trade-off is that polyester is a synthetic, so it will not develop the soft patina a cotton or leather tote gains over years. It also holds static and can snag on rough surfaces, especially in the organza option where the weave is finer. If you want a bag that ages into a worn-in look, this is the wrong material. If you want a bag that still looks crisp after a season of use, polyester is the right call.

• Spot clean with a damp cloth rather than machine washing; the frill detail and drawstring bag are not built for a full wash cycle.
• Store the tote inside its custom made drawstring bag to keep the frill from crushing and to limit dust on the organza.

Orange gingham vs plum organza: how to choose

The two colour options behave like two different bags. Orange gingham is a checked, opaque fabric with a casual, picnic-adjacent feel. It reads daytime, pairs easily with denim and white cotton, and hides small marks better because the busy print breaks up the eye. If you carry the bag daily or take it to markets, brunch, and errands, gingham is the lower-maintenance choice.

Plum organza is sheer, deeper in tone, and more delicate in appearance. It suits evening plans, weddings, and occasions where you want the bag to function as part of the outfit rather than a utility item. The trade-off is visibility: because organza is sheer, whatever you put inside is partly on display, so you need a small pouch or the supplied drawstring bag as an inner layer.

Neither option is more premium than the other; they are the same price and the same base construction. The decision is purely about when and where you will carry it.

• Pick orange gingham if you want one bag that works with most of your casual wardrobe.
• Pick plum organza if the bag is for specific occasions and you are happy to style around it.

What the frill tote actually carries

The Mermaid bag is a tote, so it has an open, roomy main compartment rather than a compartmentalised interior. That makes it fast to pack and easy to reach into, but it also means small items slide around. A phone, cardholder, keys, lip balm, and a compact will sit comfortably; a water bottle and a paperback will fit alongside them. What it is not built for is a laptop, a tablet in a hard case, or anything heavy enough to pull the frill out of shape.

Because the catalog does not list a zip closure, a lining specification, or internal pockets, plan around that absence rather than assuming them. Use the custom made drawstring bag as an insert to group loose items, and keep valuables in a zipped pouch of your own. If a secure closure is non-negotiable for your commute, this tote will frustrate you.

• Weigh your load before you commit: keep the contents light so the frill keeps its shape.
• Use the drawstring bag as an organiser inside the tote, not just as storage at home.

How to judge the price and the handmade claim

At USD 25.00 with a catalog comparison price of USD 50.00, the Mermaid bag is positioned as an accessible statement piece. Handmade and sourced in London is a real part of what you are paying for: smaller production runs, local sourcing, and a frill tote design that is not a mass-market shape. That context explains why a polyester tote costs more than a plain high-street canvas bag.

It does not, however, make the bag indestructible. Judge it on the details you can verify: the 100% polyester construction, the two colour options, the frill tote design, and the included custom made drawstring bag. If those match what you want, the price is fair. If you were expecting leather trim or metal hardware, the catalog does not support that, and you should look elsewhere.

• Compare against other frill totes at the same price, not against leather bags at three times the cost.
• Treat the included drawstring bag as part of the value, since it doubles as storage and an inner organiser.

Decision rules for buying a Mermaid bag

• If you want one bag for daily casual use: Choose orange gingham. The opaque check hides marks, works with denim and white cotton, and does not require an inner pouch to keep contents private. Best all-rounder for most shoppers.
• If the bag is for evenings and occasions: Choose plum organza. Accept that it is sheer and plan to use the custom made drawstring bag or a small pouch inside so your essentials are not on display. Style-first choice, not a utility choice.
• If you need a laptop or secure zip closure: Skip this tote. The catalog lists no zip closure, lining, or internal pockets, and the frill shape is not built for heavy loads. Choose a structured work bag instead.
• If you are comparing on price: At USD 25.00 against a USD 50.00 comparison price, judge it against other frill totes and handmade London accessories, not against leather bags. Fair value within its category.

Mermaid bag facts at a glance

• Mermaid bag: Frill tote bag, 100% polyester, handmade and sourced in London, available in orange gingham or plum organza, and comes in a custom made drawstring bag. Confirms the material, the two colourways, and the included storage bag, so you know exactly what arrives and how to care for it.
• Frenchie white cotton bralette: White cotton bralette with broderie trim and soft white elastic, 100% cotton, made and sourced in London, comes in a custom glitter pouch. If you want a natural-fibre alternative for the outfit you are styling the tote with, cotton gives you breathability that polyester does not.
• White chequered underwear set: White chequered underwear set with bandeau bra and high leg knickers, soft fine polyester stretch fabric, made and sourced in London, comes in a custom glitter pouch. A matching chequer print to pair with the gingham tote for a coordinated daytime look, in the same synthetic fabric family.

Who the Mermaid bag is for

Best for

• Shoppers who want a handmade frill tote with a clear statement look
• Daytime casual outfits in orange gingham or evening looks in plum organza
• Anyone who values an included custom made drawstring bag for storage and organising

Not for

• Commuters who need a zip closure and a padded laptop compartment
• Shoppers looking for leather, natural fibres, or metal hardware
• Anyone who regularly carries heavy loads that would distort the frill

The Mermaid bag works best when you buy it for what it is: a handmade London frill tote in polyester, priced at USD 25.00, with two distinct colourways and a custom made drawstring bag included. Match the colour to how you will carry it, keep the load light, and it will hold its shape and its colour far longer than the price suggests.