Cult Gaia Ark Bag Review | What’s In My Bag

This was a total, unapologetic, Instagram-made me do it purchase! I had spotted the uniquely-designed Cult Gaia Ark Bag in beautifully-curated posts all over Instagram for close to a year, before deciding to finally invest in it. Initially, I would spend countless hours ahh-ing and ohh-ing over the bag, envisioning myself wearing this beauty everywhere from grocery shopping to brunch with friends and even for a day at the beach! I quickly realized it was just a matter of time until I took the plunge. In today’s post, I’ll share with you what finally prompted me to go for it and my honest thoughts on this very popular bag that has quickly earned iconic status. Was it worth the investment? Is the Cult Gaia Ark Bag worth the hype?

If you’re curious about these bags, wondering how you can save on retail price, deciding between sizes and colors, then read on for details …

Cult Gaia Ark Bag

Let me begin by saying that these bags are truly works of art! They are show stopping pieces that will always start up a conversation! The bag design resembles a cage made from subtly striped bamboo or acrylic, airy and elegant. This particular Ark style is handheld ands can also be worn as a clutch.

Dimensions

The Cult Gaia Ark Bag comes in several different sizes:

• Mini: 9″ x 2.5″ x 8.5″
• Small: 11.25″ x 3″ x 9.5″
• Large: 12.5″ x 4″ x 10.5″
• X-large: 16″ x 4.75″ x 14.5″

Types of Material

The Cult Gaia Ark Bags are made from 100% bamboo or 100% acrylic, both fairly durable materials. The acrylic is more expensive, but it does come in several different colors as seen here.

My Experience

At the beginning of the spring, while mindlessly browsing on Rue La La online, I happened to spot the Cult Gaia Ark Bag at a discounted price. I took it as a sign and hit purchase now! For those unfamiliar with Rue La La, it is a member-only shopping site (membership is free) built on buying surplus high-end goods and selling them at a small discount. Thus, it is an excellent place for brand new designer items at a discounted price. I first learned about Rue La La while reading Lauren Conrad’s Style book and the site quickly became one of my personal favorite online sample sale sites.

The bag I purchased on Rue La La is the Cult Gaia Ark Mini, which happened to also be the size I was coveting. After reading several reviews online and on Instagram, I settled on the mini for two main reasons:

• It seemed more versatile, as it’s easier to carry as a clutch
• The dimensions seemed to fit all the essentials: phone, small wallet, keys, hand cream and lipstick (later in the post I will show exactly what I carry in my Cult Gaia Ark Mini)

Frequently Asked Questions

For something to be worth the investment, at least in my opinion, you have to take into consideration the cost per wear. Below I’ll share some of the questions I get asked a lot about the bag:

• So, have I been wearing this bag as initially anticipated? What I failed to realize is that this bag is quite unique and very specific. There is a specific time and place for it. It is not for everyone and definitely not for every occasion. I don’t wear it every day and not if I’ll be out all day, as it gets a bit uncomfortable to hold it (whether handheld or as a clutch). I usually wear the bag out to brunch with friends or on date night, but that’s about it.
• Is it worth the investment? I have to say, for me the bag has been worth the investment, especially since I purchased it at a discount. Although I don’t wear it as much as I’d hoped, I do use it for photographs I take for Instagram and the blog. The Cult Gaia Ark Bag is highly Instagrammable and thus makes a great photo prop.
• What size would you recommend? So, if I knew what I know now, I would not have purchased the mini. In hindsight, I would have waited and tried to find a discount for the small size, which is currently available at 40% off here. I am 5’7’’ and feel the Mini bag looks a bit odd when I carry it handheld. I have seen the Small size in person and it compliments my frame a lot better. The Small size can also be carried as a clutch, it fits a litte more and it’s not that much more expensive. In fact, if you purchase it here, it’s cheaper than the Mini.

What’s In My Cult Gaia Ark Mini Bag

I’m a big fan of this type of posts and if you share my curiosity, here’s What’s In My Bag, the Cult Gaia Ark Mini edition:

• Car Keys and Cellphone (not shown here)
• Apple Iphone Headphones – These were such a great investment and I use them daily. They are available right now at a discount here
• Prada Card Case: fits my ID, credit cards, cash and some store cards I always have with me. Mine is old, but you can find a similar one at a discounted price here and here
• L’Occitane Hand Cream – one of THE best hand creams out there, hands down and pun intended. I love that it has a more natural formula and works to moisturize the hands and the nails
• Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder in No. 30 Natural – previously mentioned here
• YSL All Hours Concealer in the shade No.3 Almond – reviewed in great detail here
• Lip Options: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Liner, Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Nude, Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Subtil. All three products are in my top faves when it comes to lip products.
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown – used to be a favorite until I discovered the Kat Von D Signature Brow Pencil in Medium Brown. The Kat Von D pencil has a tip just as fine as the Brow Wiz, but in my opinion, it does a better job grabbing hold of the skin and lasts a lot longer
• Slip Silk Scrunchie – I previously raved about them here. They are gentle, don’t tug at or break the hair and do an excellent job keeping the hair in place. I purchased mine here, but you can find them available in a variety of colors here

This concludes my review of the Cult Gaia Ark Bag. Hope you’ve enjoyed the post and found it helpful. What are your thoughts on this unique bag? The Cult Gaia Ark Small Bag (which is the size I wish I’d purchased) is currently available for 40% off, retailing for under $95 here.

This is NOT a sponsored post but it does contain referral links. Read my Disclaimer policy for more info.