Consider this letter my personal take on the “work bag that doesn’t feel like a work bag”.
Monday hits different when you like your bag, and I bet you already own something close to what you need… Allow me to introduce you to three bags you may have never heard of before.
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A few keys:
Declare how you want your bag to feel
Come up with a few requirements. How should it make you feel? Where should it take you? For me, it has to be easy to carry around, polished enough for a client meeting, slouchy enough for all my creative work & mama life.
The trench coat test!
Always try on a bag with your favourite outerwear. If it doesn’t slide over your shoulder with a coat on, it’s not making the cut. And if it slips, it’s also a no!
Flat bottom, extra inner pockets, etc.
What are your non-negotiables?
For me, it should stand on its own, on a café table, on the floor of a cab, at my desk. It should also have at least one inner pocket to hold the small and precious things.
Fit your essentials
How big should it be?
For me, it should hold a 13” laptop + charger, a notebook, a small pouch, and an extra layer (a thin sweater or scarf)… and still work for desk-to-dinner or desk-to-errands.
I’ll show you these 3 bags you may have never heard of before, plus 8 more I’d happily turn into my portable office. Again, come back to this letter whenever you’re looking for a new work bag that doesn’t scream “I am a work bag”.
For this try-on, I kept on what I was wearing today: black top à la Flore Flore, Argent single pleated trousers (I got them tailored, they are your flowy black trousers that work for the office and on the weekend with an oversized grey sweatshirt), ballet flats, and the trench coat. And for consistency, I was carrying exactly the same things in each bag: a 13” laptop in its sleeve + charger, a A5 legal pad, a small pouch with lip balms and pens, wallet, keys, sunglasses…
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My first impression: wow! It’s giving that Chanel bag (the colour x that Loewe bag (the soft leather + slouch) vibe. It’s bigger than it looks in the e-commerce photos. In a good way! The colour is divine: a rich, deep raspberry-red (another one of those hard-to-name colours). It actually fits my 13” MacBook in its sleeve, and it passed the trench coat test: it slides over the shoulder with ease. Empty, it’s super light (and would pack flat in a suitcase). The lining is a soft, velvety cream fabric, with one small pocket and one medium zipped pocket. The bottom is flat and reinforced, so it holds its shape and makes it easy to find your things. I love the slouch. It’s the perfect bag for daily essentials — think a paperback and an extra cotton scarf tossed in without a second thought. And it’s a great desk-to-dinner bag (especially if you’re not carrying your laptop!). No big logo (just embossed on one side, super small). I think I found my new “going to the city for a few hours” bag!
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This bag is launching August 12th — a limited edition, so consider this your heads up! I’m wearing the 16” version, which also comes in a 13”. I’ve never once regretted sizing up on a bag. The whole point is that it’s designed as a system: you can buy the laptop sleeve and/or the small flap bag separately, both ready to snap in. I love it in black croc, it’s elevated, polished, does a lot of the styling work on its own. It’s built to carry a lot without wrecking your shoulder; it’s immediately comfortable and sits right against the body. It also has a flat bottom, so the bag stands on its own. I can also see this working as an excellent “personal item” bag for the plane, it even has one inside pocket that will fit a passport perfectly. If you know the brand, you know it comes in plenty of colours already available now. I’ve been told ‘cherry‘ is a favourite. A great option if you commute in a big city: the full-zip version. One more small detail I love: the minimal logo, embossed in gold on one side. This is my new portable writer’s office and plane companion!
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Oh, you know I love this taupe colour, it’s a perfect match to my Toteme taupe trench coat. I’ve also seen the bag in navy, equally gorgeous. This taupe leather bag really is “voluminous yet lightweight”. The shoulder strap is adjustable with a nice silver buckle, I like having that option. It’s a big bag, lined with cotton, one zipped inside pocket and one open inside pocket, and it fits a 16” laptop. I love the minimal look: a tiny embossed logo you’d only notice if you were looking for it. I also like how the bag shapeshifts depending on what’s inside: it’s not locked into one silhouette, never boring. To me, it’s the ideal companion for carrying a full day’s worth of things, with the security of a full double-zip. Ideal if you always end up needing more space by the end of the day, and if you commute in a big city. The belt strap also lets you wear it cross-body, if that’s your thing, it’s always good to have options.
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All of those bags exist in multiple colours, but these are my favourites.
I did my best to curate a variety of textures, colours & feelings: it could be your work bag, but it could also be your “having lunch with a friend” bag, “just running errands” or even your personal item on the plane…
Which one would you like to have?
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If you feel like sharing, I’d be curious to know how you choose a new bag.
What makes you say “yes, that’s the one”?
❤️ Don’t forget to hit this like button so that there can be more of us obsessing over bags!
See you soon,
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Because one of you asked…
My most worn bag — this one — is perfect for everyday life when you don’t need to carry a laptop. I absolutely adore this bag and use it most days as I rarely need to bring my laptop, so if you’re like me, then yes, go for it, you’ll love it. But if you need a work bag that fits a laptop, read this letter again, I’ve got better options for you!
As you can see, the bucket is not deep enough to completely fit my 13” MacBook in its sleeve:
And… I wore this bag two days in a row and it goes with everything:
And a last recommendation… from COS!
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