By Camille RowanUpdated July 6, 2026

Jacquemus vs BY FAR: Which Micro Bag Should You Buy?

I compared the tiny French status bag with the sharper Bulgarian mini handle bag, using official product specs, current U.S. prices, and a realistic fit test.

I tested this the way I test a small-bag purchase for myself: phone, card case, key fob, lipstick, hand cream, and the question of whether I would still want the bag once the styling thrill cooled off. Tiny bags are not practical. Shape matters.

The two bags I kept coming back to were the Jacquemus The Chiquito and the BY FAR Mini 2.0 Black Semi Patent Leather Top-Handle Bag. One is the recognizable, almost toy-like icon. The other is still small, but it behaves more like a polished evening bag with compartments, micro suede lining, and a real strap.

That difference matters.

Why compare these two

Jacquemus and BY FAR both sit in the tempting zone where the bag is expensive enough to hurt, but not so expensive that you automatically close the tab. That is the trap.

Per Lyst Index data reported by Vogue Business in 2019, Le Chiquito was the second-hottest womenswear product of that quarter and drew 12,500 searches per month on Lyst and Google. I am treating that as historical demand context, not a current 2026 search claim.

According to the Wikipedia brand background I checked before writing, Simon Porte Jacquemus, founder at Jacquemus, started the French label in 2009, and its bags are built around playful proportion, sunlit color, and shapes that make an outfit look more intentional fast. Valentina Ignatova, Denitsa Bumbarova, and Sabina Gyosheva, founders at BY FAR, launched the brand in Sofia in 2016, and its accessories lean cleaner, more 1990s, and more straight-backed.

My shorthand is simple. Jacquemus is the bag people notice. BY FAR is the bag that works harder with the clothes you already repeat.

Side-by-side on material, fit, and price

The Chiquito is the more extreme object. It is 100% leather, made in Italy, and the official details call out a reinforced handle, painted edges, magnetic flap closure, gold hardware, and a removable long strap. In the hand, that reads as stiff, smooth, and deliberate. The edges look neat. The tradeoff is obvious: 4.7 inches by 3.5 inches gives you little room to negotiate.

The BY FAR Mini 2.0 is also small, but the 18 cm width and 8 cm depth give it a more realistic profile. It has multiple interior compartments and a detachable, adjustable crossbody strap that reaches 144 cm at its longest point. The semi patent finish has that cool, glossy feel when light catches it; the snap-clean surface looks dressier than plain leather. It also means fingerprints and small surface marks may bother you faster than they would on a softer matte finish.

For price, BY FAR is the easier argument right now. A $364 sale price is still not cheap, but it gives you more usable space and more strap flexibility for less than half of The Chiquito's current official price. If the BY FAR sale ends, the regular $520 price still undercuts Jacquemus by $270.

For personality, Jacquemus wins. The Chiquito has the absurd scale that makes jeans, a white tank, and flat sandals look styled instead of merely dressed. If Le Bambino is the safer rectangular Jacquemus bag, The Chiquito is the wink.

Who should pick Jacquemus

Pick Jacquemus if your wardrobe is full of simple pieces and you want the accessory to do the speaking. The Chiquito is strong with a black coat, washed denim, a white dress, or anything that can handle a wink.

I would not buy it as your only small black bag. The $790 price is a lot for a piece that may not fit your daily basics, especially if you need phone, keys, card case, and sunglasses in one place. It is a fashion object first.

Who should pick BY FAR

Pick BY FAR if you want a small bag that still acts like a bag. The Mini 2.0 has a top handle, detachable crossbody strap, compartments, micro suede lining, and an 18 cm width, so it feels less like a prop.

The catch is that BY FAR does not give the same immediate visual hit as Jacquemus. The black semi patent finish also needs a more careful owner. If smudges on glossy leather annoy you, choose another finish or skip it.

Which is better value

For most people, BY FAR is the better value. You get more interior organization, a more useful strap setup, and a current $364 sale price that leaves room in the budget for something else.

Jacquemus is the better buy only if you specifically want The Chiquito look. Not a small black bag. Not a top-handle bag. That bag. That is the honest part.