Post # 1

Member
262 posts
Helper bee
Hi bees,
I am looking to purchase a leather bag to be used as bag for when I am working everyday and large enough to be a carry on on a plane. It can’t be too huge since I do want to wear it day to day, but large enough to handle my macbook air (11 inch), brochures, spare outfit (a dress and undies rolled up tight in case my bag is lost is fine) a large makeup/toiletry bag, camera, nook, chargers and other odds and ends.
I am looking at the Sophie large satchel by Michael Kors. Does anyone have this bag?
I’d like to spend $400 max and preferably from Macys since I can put it on a charge I don’t need for an upcoming trip. I leave Saturday.
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/michael-michael-kors-sophie-large-satchel?ID=1336136&CategoryID=26846#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D2%26kws%3Dmichael%20kors%20sophie%26slotId%3D1
Help me, bees! What bag do you use as your fashionable, doubles as a handbag carry on?
Post # 2

Member
367 posts
Helper bee
I have always been a big fan of Longchamp since they are very classic and very durable. they make canvas and leather bags as well as all leather bags.i really like the Le Pliage tote. I also think coach makes a nice quality leather. Whatever you buy, if you are using it for travel make sure it is something that does not have much of a logo on it because you don’t want to call attention to yourself while you travel, you might even find something at macys that isn’t nessicerly a designer label but something that is well made and durable.
Post # 3

Member
2885 posts
Sugar bee
Stiletto13: I have a kate spade tote and a balanciaga tote for my 13 in MBA. Both are awesome. Highly recommend Kate Spade, esp. when they have their 75% off sales. So dangerous!
Post # 4

Member
367 posts
Helper bee
bitsybee: I agree with you, I love Ks!
Post # 5

Member
1263 posts
Bumble bee
Stiletto13: I use my longchamp i got for 150 at a duty free shop. It’s nylon, but after 3 international trips and daily use. it still holds up well
Post # 6

Member
43 posts
Newbee
- Wedding: October 2014 - The Wayside Inn
Longchamp is great – I recently had to reitre mine, but I used it regularly for about 6-8 years. Not bad for ~$150 bag! I’m thinking about replacing it with a tote from Everlane, which I’ve heard really good things about as a carry-on from friends who travel often. Not from Macy’s, but hard to beat the price at $40!
Post # 7

Member
262 posts
Helper bee
Thanks, ladies, I will look at Longchamp. Anyone else?
Post # 8

Member
7244 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I take a normal sized purse and tuck it in a boring backpack with all the other odds and ends, spare clothes, ipad, whatever. That way I can carry all my stuff but leave the backpack and its contents back at the hotel while exploring my destination. No reason to carry a massive bag all over town plus if I over-buy at my destination, I can check my rollaboard suitcase on the way home, out my purchases in the backpack and carry the purse as a purse. I also don’tlike flashing a $400 designer purse while traveling– at the least it might get dirty/stained/have a water bottle leak in it, and the worst case it is attention-getting. Especially in touristy areas, if you look like you’ve got a fair bit of cash and aren’t from around there, the pickpockets get very interested.
Post # 9

Member
706 posts
Busy bee
I use this for work (fits my macbook), and it holds lots and lots. I just traveled with it too and it’s perfect.
http://www.henribendel.com/jetsetter-backpack-26485213450193.html?start=2&cgid=shop_handbags_messenger_backpack
Post # 10

Member
14402 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I would steer away from leather for anything that will be carried a long time, it’s just so heavy. I’m a huge fan of the large long champ tote too. Neimam has a mbmj tote on sale for 200 too.
Post # 11

Member
262 posts
Helper bee
MizzStark1026: Love this thank you!
Post # 12

Member
262 posts
Helper bee
BelleEtoile: Horseradish: Thanks for your travel tips. I am going for two weeks for work (one week US and one week Japan) and I need a big bag to carry day to day for conference supplies, gifts for partners, etc. You are right, a flashy label isn’t a good thing. I was just thinking that if I’m going to invest in a good bag, it may as well be something I’ll enjoy carrying at home, too.
Post # 13

Member
4703 posts
Honey bee
I have a few go-to’s for totes/ carry-alls.
I use my large longchamp duffel as a beach bag or a picnic bag.. sometimes on a plane, depending where were travelling. It holds so much and is fairly durable, I’ve had it for years and its held up very well.
When I want my look to be more pulled together I like(d) the Goyard St. Louis bag. It holds so much and is very stylish. Although I had it stolen on vacation… luckily we were using it as a grocery bag and it didn’t have anything difficult to replace in it!! Just the beautiful, beautiful bag.
Definitely not in the $400 range, but I swear by my Gucci duffel bag for plane travel. Its huge and despite being leather, its very light and very durable.
Post # 14

Member
903 posts
Busy bee
I love my michael kors jetset tote!
ive also recently gotten into paul costelloe bags, but i think theyre pretty much exclusive to uk/ireland
if i could have any bag for carry ont hough it would be a lv carryall… One day… When im rich…
Post # 15

Member
1430 posts
Bumble bee
That’s so funny, I almost got a similar Michael Kors satchel bag but in white! Overall, I think you should get something that you love. I’ve gotten a few satchels/computer bags that were functional but I never liked the style, and in the end, I didn’t take as such good care of it so they would look pretty “beat-up” and not that great. But whenever I paid a little more and got a bag that I love, it would last me years before I had to get a replacement.
If you like the Michael Kors satchel, than I would get it. It’s very classy so you could easily use it for an evening date, etc. and not have it look like you’re carrying a “work bag.”