On the hunt for the best work bag that’s smart, stylish and practical? Beauty & wellness editor Laura Mulley thinks she has found it with this high street find
As someone who regularly has long train commutes and often stays away for work for a day or two at a time, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect work bag for ages. I need it to look smart, be comfortable to carry for hours at a time and, crucially, fits loads in, including my big, heavy work laptop.
I’ve tried a variety of different styles, from backpacks to crossbody bags, but never found anything that ticked all the boxes – until now, that is, when I found this practical and designer-inspired bag from a surprising place.
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Popular high street jewellery brand Abbott Lyon – which counts Stacey Solomon and Olivia Attwood as ambassadors and fans – has recently branched out into handbags, and I snapped up the Milan Leather Bag in black – a great price for its size, I think, at £89.
Looking not a million miles away from the Bottega Veneta Hop Large Leather Shoulder Bag, which retails at an eye-watering £4,250, this new Abbott Lyon bag features a woven-look leather finish, wide shoulder strap and boxy shape and, like a lot of Abbott Lyon’s products, can be personalised with gold initial charms. It’s also available in autumn’s most on-trend shade: burgundy.
What drew me most to the Milan bag, however, was the shot on the brand’s website of the model putting a laptop easily inside it – a key requirement for me. Sure enough, when it arrived I immediately went to fit my big, chunky company laptop in it, and was thrilled with how easily it fit inside, along with all my other daily essentials (water bottle, purse, notebook, phone etc).
While I don’t think one-shoulder bags are really recommended as the best option for your back (choose a supportive backpack if you struggle with back issues), I found this really comfortable to wear, in part due to the wide strap. One thing I would note, however, is that it can slide easily off the shoulder if worn with slippy clothes or not packed particularly full.
It also has a habit of falling over when placed on the floor; I think it would benefit from having a slight base, rather than the two sides simply joining together like an envelope.
However, I’m thrilled that I’ve finally found the perfect work bag for my needs – and without having to splash out on a designer buy.
Another option I’ve spotted is the Radley Bridgewater Medium Ziptop Tote, a bit more classic in style and currently half price, down from £239 to £119.
For something cheaper than both this and Abbott Lyon’s, however, there’s the Accessorize Black Laptop Tote Bag, which costs £40 from Next.
