Style Help: Finding the perfect work and laptop bag that is stylish and chic

I have a lot of bags and love having various options.

I keep trying to look for THE PERFECT work and laptop bag, and I will now give you all of the options I have considered, am still considering and/or own!

Trust me, if I had $5000 and I could spend it on bags, I would. But with expensive and not working, this will be shelved until I feel secure again.

MATT & NAT KINTLA BAG: GREAT FOR SHORT MEETINGS

I own this.

Matt & Nat Kintla in Cardamom

Pros:

Vegan leather that doesn’t look or feel cheap
Also comes in black
Smooth “leather” that looks expensive rather than their other options
Spacious
Gorgeous rose gold hardware and beautiful neutral shade of Cardamom
Holds a lot too

Cons:

You can only really hold it by its short handles
If you stuff it full with a file folder, you can’t even get your fingers into the handle straps to hold them and carry it. ARRGH!
The crossbody strap is too thin and annoying when it is full of stuff

RUDSAK MIDDLETON BAG: FRIEND LOVES THIS ONE

I do not own this yet.

Rudsak Middleton in Grey

I have a good friend who bought this and loves it for work.

She loves how it goes over her shoulder, has two zippered compartments with a middle section for the laptop, and is very stylish in a grey. It is organized and very pretty.

It looks much better in grey, and is a nice neutral without being black. It looks a lot like the Prada tote which runs into the $2500 range.

The cons are:

When stuffed full, it is hard to swing over your shoulder, she would need an inch more in the handles for it to be truly comfortable
It is on the heavier side, being saffiano leather, but that’s to be expected

It also comes in black but I looked at it in person in-store, and the silver super shiny hardware made the rather expensive looking black bag look very cheap instead.

The super shiny silver hardware looks best on the grey in terms of tone.

And the white? Don’t even consider it. Hideous. Plus too hard to clean.

DAGNE DOVER 15″ TOTE: QUITE BELOVED BY OTHERS

I do not own this yet.

Dagne Dover 15″ tote in Cobalt Blue

I really like this Dagne Dover tote and I am still eying it in cobalt blue, but I wouldn’t be mad at this gorgeous cork for something a little different, or this totally black oxyx tote with black hardware.

Just look at how organized it is!

It is also waterproof, easy to clean, and ZIPPERED, plus it can go over your shoulder.

It also comes in 13″ but 15″ is my jam because I’m 5’6″ and I can carry it without it overpowering my frame.

You can use my referral link here if you want to buy one, and I’ll get $25 towards my own! ?

LO & SONS O.G. OVERNIGHT BAG: BEST FOR TRAVELING ON BUSINESS

I own this.

Lo & Sons O.G. Bag in Navy

Pros:

Organized inside like the Dagne Dover tote & lots of pockets
Holds a lot and fits a lot, particularly with a bottom pocket for shoes
Is weighted so it balances on your shoulder
AMAZING for traveling because you just slide it over your carryon handles

Cons:

Doesn’t look as nice as the Dagne Dover because it’s all nylon
The 15″ is awkwardly large as an everyday tote and a strange rounded shape
Handles are a little light & flimsy on your shoulder (doesn’t stick to your shoulder) and keeps sliding off

TILLEY CARRY ALL TOTE: GREAT ALL AROUND CARRYALL

I do not own this yet.

Tilley Carry-All Tote

I saw this in person in the Tilley store and fell in love.

The brown is a little lighter, more cognac in colour.

It shows nothing online about the organization inside, but it has an inside pocket, it has a zippered top, and the handles look sturdy and go over your shoulders.

The front pocket is perfect for a metropass and really, I think it would be good to hold a laptop and go around the city.

For it to be super sturdy and compact, I’d lean more towards the Dagne Dover.

LONGCHAMP NEO PLIAGE: GREAT FOR QUICK MEETINGS

I own this.

Longchamp Neo Pliage in Khaki
Pros:

Extremely light
Khaki green is prettier in person, less browny yellow in tone and more blue-ish.
Folds up
Goes over the shoulder
Neo is sturdier than their normal Pliage line
Washable & impervious to rain
Great to grab and throw file folders, laptop, whatever inside as it is one big pocket

Cons:

Only one stupid little key pocket near the handle inside
It is one big pocket inside and is not organized unless you have your stuff in little pouches too (which I do)

EPIPHANIE VALENCIA BAG

I do not own this yet.

Epiphanie Valencia Bag

I saw The Bloggess tweet about the brand and I put them on my list.

It’s really a camera bag, but that’s just one function because they could also be laptop bags.

I love all the hardware, and it turns into a backpack, satchel, handbag OR shoulder bag.

Lots of pockets, looks organized inside with removable velcro padded dividers (meant for cameras), and is very stylish.

MARK & GRAHAM WEEKENDER BAG

I do not own this yet.

Mark & Graham Weekender Bag

Yet another organized, stylish bag from Mark & Graham. A lot like the Epiphanie bag above, but it has a lot more organization for travel than just for cameras.

It looks fantastic for a laptop bag and I am eying it as my next bag if I can justify it.

Look at the inside pocket.. it’s zippered and it has ORGANIZATION INSIDE the zippered pocket!!

Be still my heart. <3

It is big enough to travel with, or use as a laptop bag.

M0851: THE VESPER GREY TOTE

I do not own this yet.

M0851 Vesper tote in Clay

It doesn’t have a zippered top but it would be a great work bag in the summer with just one large pocket and a few small pockets inside.

Be still my heart! This is a leather tote LINED IN LEATHER. It is stunning, it is gorgeous and I want it, but I cannot justify its pricetag.

Simple, easy, elegant. It also closes nicely with a clasp in front rather than it being completely open like a tote, or with a zipper.

The clay colour is also ridiculously chic, and the leather is super soft and supple. Like Baby Bun’s bottom.

M0851: THE LAPTOP DOUBLE ZIP BAG

I do not own this yet.

M0851 Laptop bag

This is their laptop bag, which looks nice and not at all like a soft messenger bag (which I am not a fan of).

It is double zippered, has two compartments with a middle section and looks rather nice.

It also has a unique shape where it looks very tailored and sleek, but can also open up to fit in a heck of a lot of stuff in the middle but without adding any bulk.