Just lately, the WSJ had an article entitled “The ‘Excellent’ Purse, Based on Ladies in Their 20s, 30s, 40s and 70s” (reward hyperlink) — so I believed it is likely to be enjoyable to debate right here! What’s your supreme purse at this second in your life? What do you repeatedly Carry — and the way is a weekday completely different from a weekend or trip day?

(Alongside comparable traces, we’ve requested the readers what number of luggage you carry to work, whether or not you guys buy designer luggage, whether or not ladies in sure professions MUST carry a designer bag, and (way back) what the finest luggage are for strolling to work. We’ve additionally, ahem, questioned whether or not an intern can carry a $9,000 bag to work.)

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Kat’s Best Bag: A Assertion Bag That Isn’t Too Small

One of many issues that I discovered so attention-grabbing concerning the WSJ article is that my purse tastes have gotten a lot smaller through the years. I used to need to carry every thing! There have been years the place I wished to suit a complete second pair of footwear and a cardigan — good for the commute or a spontaneous resolution to seize dinner with a pal after work.

As of late I’m rather more minimal in what I carry with me: If I’ve area for sun shades, tiny pockets, and lip gloss I’m OK.

One thing that has stayed true all my life, although: I desire a dialog bag. I need one thing that’s attention-grabbing, that makes a press release about my fashion — so an uncommon shade or different element is a should. I additionally desire one thing that’s comfy to hold, so I do like a crossbody.

With limitless funds, I’d most likely select one thing like this beautiful ombre Chanel 2.55 flap bag (on the market at What Goes Round Comes Round for $7,150). I’d additionally go for the pixelated Loewe puzzle bag I posted not too long ago, the loopy enjoyable Ferragamo print bag, or the Valentino One Stud in a vibrant sufficient shade, or (my latest obsession) the Mulberry Amberley crossbody in a vibrant shade. (Or, OOH, apparently Mulberry had a print version just a few years in the past).

Psst: right here’s what I used to carry in my diaper bag, and right here’s what I carried in my purse again in my lawyer days.

Elizabeth’s Best Bag: The Massive-Sufficient Crossbody

I’m not a “bag particular person,” so I are likely to take a fairly utilitarian strategy to purses. For me, the best on a Regular Basis Bag is one that may be worn cross-body and is simply massive sufficient to simply maintain my pockets, cellphone, sun shades, and sunscreen. My choice is one thing with a classic-looking fashion and made out of a sturdy materials, as a result of as soon as a bag is mine, I’m going to make use of that factor for the subsequent 5+ years. (My present work bag is a Cuyana tote that I obtained as a present in 2019 and my on a regular basis bag is a Marc Jacobs crossbody from 2016. I’m not mild with them, and so they’ve held up amazingly.)

If I had to purchase a brand new bag so as to add to the rotation, I feel I’d need one thing like this woven mini messenger bag from Clare V. I like that it zips securely on the prime, and it appears like I might slot in all of my requirements with out having to play a sophisticated Tetris sport each time I take one thing out and put it again. The leather-based additionally looks as if it could maintain up properly for five+ years of day by day use.

The bag is $385 at Clare V and is available in evergreen, a pure woven checker, and a black rattan — you could find it at Clare V in addition to Nordstrom and Anthropologie.

Ann’s Most well-liked Bag: A Not-To-Small (and Packable) Crossbody

In my 15-ish years as a lawyer, my purses have gone from massive to small and again once more. After experimenting with every thing from supersized totes (hey Longchamp Le Pliage) to slender luggage that hung off my forearm (a pebbled leather-based, no-name Italian bag from Filene’s Basement — RIP), I’ve settled on what I contemplate a not-too-small crossbody.

For work, it matches proper into my backpack if I don’t really feel like carrying a number of luggage on my commute, and it has sufficient area for the necessities (pockets, keys, cellphone, and a small cosmetics bag) with out being too heavy. Since I don’t carry a lot, a single inside pocket for keys or a subway card is sufficient for me.

One thing like this Mini Pashli Leather-based Satchel ($695) from 3.1 Phillip Lim is correct up my alley.

Kate’s Best Bag: A Light-weight Tote

I’m a serial monogamist for on a regular basis luggage. My supreme for day by day use is a medium-size tote / shoulder bag with numerous pockets and extensive straps. Recently, I like nylon for its flexibility, sturdiness, and water resistance; plus, it offers me extra vegetarian cred than leather-based (kidding).

On the within, my on a regular basis bag will need to have room for my (tiny) umbrella, my sizeable pockets, sunscreen or hand moisturizer, my cellphone, and random stuff like hand sanitizer, tissues, a pen/Sharpie, a teeny-tiny notepad, bandaids, and many others. — plus smaller luggage/pouches to carry (1) just a few lip balms and pocket mirror, (2) rarely-used playing cards (3) just a few small beauty-related gadgets. (It’s type of quite a bit.)

I sometimes go along with sensible, primary kinds from middle-aged-mom manufacturers like Baggallini. (I imply, I AM a middle-aged mother, if we’re calling mid-40s center age. Are we? I don’t wanna.) Just a few years in the past, I had a LeSportsac bag I actually preferred (and in line with GQ, LeSportsac is again?). I’m simply not a fancy-bag particular person.

My present on a regular basis bag, the ANDI Small from ANDI ($148), is a good fashion — a really gentle, medium-sized nylon tote with numerous pockets, and non-slip straps (plus a removable crossbody strap). The issues I carry repeatedly don’t fill it up, so there’s at all times room to slide in random gadgets like a Kindle.

If I have been searching for a bag to interchange it, I’d be tempted by the pictured tote from Tillie ($238), which has nice critiques and is out there in 11 stable colours / prints.