Gabriela Hearst Nina Bag: Size, Price and What Fits

The Nina is the bag Gabriela Hearst is known for, and it is the one people ask about by name. It was the first handbag in the collection, it is named for the artist and activist Nina Simone, and its shape set the template every later style borrows from. Here is what it measures, what it costs, what fits inside, and how it holds up.

What the Nina Bag is

A structured top handle with a distinctive round pouch that gently unfolds from a turnlock closure. The frame holds its shape when the bag is full, and it holds it when the bag is nearly empty. That is the trick of it. Most soft pouch bags collapse, and this one does not. The hardware is brass finished in rose gold, and the interior is lined in lamb leather.

Size and what fits inside

The Nina measures 6 inches high, 9 inches wide and 7 inches deep, with a handle height of 7 inches. That 7 inch depth is the number that matters, because it is deeper than most evening bags of the same footprint.

In practice it takes a large phone, a card case, keys, a compact, a lipstick and a folded pair of sunglasses without strain. It will not take a tablet and it will not take a full size water bottle. The 7 inch handle clears a coat sleeve but sits below the shoulder, so this is a bag you carry in the hand.

If that reads as too small, the Diana is the comparable top handle with more room, at 5 by 8 by 7.5 inches. If it reads as too large for evening, the Demi is the same bag scaled down to 5.5 by 7.75 by 5 inches.

What it costs

At Luxury Handbags a leather Nina starts at $4,150. Suede and printed leather sit in the same band. Satin and exotic finishes climb from there, and the highest Nina in the current edit reaches $35,680. Fifty three colourways are in stock, which is the widest single selection of the style anywhere.

The price reflects an Italian leather build rather than a logo. There is no hardware branding on the outside of the bag beyond the turnlock.

Materials and where it is made

Made in Italy. The standard Nina is 100% lamb leather with a 100% lamb leather lining and 100% brass hardware. The suede versions use calf suede. Seasonal editions have used satin, recycled mink fur, python and printed leather, including a mountain landscape print made with Paul Smith.

How it wears

Nappa lamb softens with handling and takes on a hand after a few months, which is the intended behaviour rather than wear. The turnlock is the part that sees the most use, and it is solid brass, so it does not loosen the way a plated snap does. Suede versions mark and then settle into an even nap. The structured frame is the reason resale examples still look correct several seasons on.

How to carry it

The Nina reads best against a quiet outfit. Tailoring in a neutral, a fine knit, one piece of jewellery. Because the shape is already doing something unusual, it does not need a busy look around it. In the evening it works with a dark column and nothing else.

Is the Nina worth buying

If you want one bag from this house that is recognisably Gabriela Hearst, yes. It is the house signature, it is made in Italy in good leather, and it has held its shape and its price better than most contemporary top handles. If you want a bag that carries a working day, buy the Diana and the Marija instead.

Keep reading

Browse every Nina colourway on the Gabriela Hearst brand page, and see the full range in our guide to every Gabriela Hearst bag. The Nina sits in totes and top handle bags.

Deciding between sizes? Read the Demi against the Nina. Weighing the price, read whether the bags are worth it. Measurements for every style are in the sizing guide, and the designer’s story is in who is Gabriela Hearst.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called the Nina Bag?
It is named for the artist and activist Nina Simone. It was the first handbag Gabriela Hearst designed for her own label.

What are the Nina Bag dimensions?
6 inches high, 9 inches wide, 7 inches deep, with a 7 inch handle height.

How much is the Gabriela Hearst Nina Bag?
From $4,150 at Luxury Handbags for a leather version. Exotic and special finishes reach $35,680.

Does the Nina Bag have a shoulder strap?
No. The Nina is a hand carried top handle. For a strap, the Leonora Flap Bag has a removable crossbody strap and the Jebb is worn on the shoulder.

What fits in a Nina Bag?
A large phone, a card case, keys, a compact, a lipstick and folded sunglasses. It does not take a tablet.

Is the Nina Bag made in Italy?
Yes. Lamb leather outside, lamb leather lining, brass hardware, made in Italy.