Coffee Break: Harveys Seatbelt Bag

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Harveys Seatbelt Bag - Lola Satchel (Black) - Bags and LuggageToday we're liking this lovely Lola bag from Harveys. It's made from seatbelts (yes, really) so you know it's durable, but we like the slight ruffled component to it. We wish the bag were a bit bigger — for anyone taking home piles of paperwork this weekend, you won't be able to fit too much in there — but for a few folders or a laptop it'll work just fiiiine. It's $234 at Zappos.com. Harveys Seatbelt Bag – Lola Satchel (Black) – Bags and Luggage

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44 Comments

  1. Love this bag – it speaks to my inner former punk rock loving self (not crazy about the price) — I have seen other seatbelt derived bags though and be warned – they tend to be very heavy!

  2. I’m currently rocking a very noticeable farmer’s tan. The tops of my arms (bicep area) is super pale, and then the rest is quite tan. Same with my legs (pale from about 2 inches above the knee and up, dark from that point down). I run and bike outside a lot, and I always put on sunscreen. I tend to tan through the sunscreen but not burn. Is there a way to get rid of this?! I guess I’m on the bike for an hour or more at a time, and I am a little hesitant to wear sleeveless jerseys (or go in only my sports bra) for fear of major road rash in case of an accident.

    Is there any hope for me, or am I destined to always look funny in a swimsuit? And, although I don’t usually wear sleeveless tops at the office, many of my short-sleeved shirts do not come all the way down to cover the pale area, so it often shows if I take off my suit jacket.

    1. What kind of SPF are you using? Maybe if you upped it a bit it would help?
      Also, when do you apply the sunsreen? It take about 30 min. to become effective so if you’re doing it just before heading out, it would explain the initial tanning but not burning you’re experiencing.

    2. Try self-tanner on the paler parts (the gradual, natural kind, not the spray-on orange scary kind).

      1. This is obviously not doctor recommended advice but I had the same problem after I ran a spring race and got insane sports bra/tank tan lines (and shorts lines.) I reversed the problem by putting a really high spf on the parts that were tan and nothing on the parts that weren’t and went tanning a few times until it evened out.

        1. just in case my post wasn’t obvious, I tanned w/ the spf on the already dark areas so that the white spots could catch up.

        2. Maybe the OP could use a self tanner to accomplish the same thing in a safer manner? Might end up looking weird though.

    3. To get rid of the current problem, I would recommend self-tanner, as some others have. For the future, again, I would go with what some others have recommended and try to get a high SPF sunscreen. Also, make sure you apply at the right time and be sure to break to re-apply (depending on how long you’ll be out).

      For the future, you could also try to wear a long-sleeved wicking layer. Even in extreme humidity, I’ve actually found high quality, breathable wicking layers to be just as comfortable as, if not more comfortable than, bare arms.

      1. About the long-sleeved layer… do you have any particular brands you’d recommend? I live in the South (extreme heat and humidity in the summer). I’ve tried Nike Fit Dry long sleeves, but those are too warm.

        Thanks for the recs, everyone. I do use the SPF 45 sport-type sunblock, and I apply it about 20 mins before activity. I worked as lifeguard as a teenager, and have always tanned (but not burned) even when wearing sunscreen.

      2. I am way behind, but I was going to recommend Under Armor, as well. I’m in D.C., so it doesn’t get as hot as in the south, but we do have 90 degree + days and pretty high humidity!

  3. Harvey’s Madison large tote is very cute, and is much larger. I can fit my 15″ laptop in one side had have the other side open for paperwork. These bags are not too heavy and last forever. (I have had one of mine for over 6 years). They are well worth the price since you don’t have to replace them.

  4. Any suggestions on a laptop bag/top for a few files plus a 15 inch macbook? I’m clerking in DC this summer and done’t have a ton of money (poor poor law student). Thanks.

    1. I got a nice-looking black one that holds my macbook and a binder, files, whatever, but looks very sleek. I don’t know the brand, but I got it for about $20 at my local Marshalls. They always seem to have several options in that category, so I’d check out Marshall’s/TJ Maxx.

    2. I second the Marshall’s suggestions. Target also seems to typically have a few options that look great. They might not last much longer than the summer, but they’re reasonably priced.

    3. I’ll be in DC this summer as well, and I purchased the Merona Croco Work Tote from Target:
      http://www.target.com/Merona-Croco-Work-Tote-Black/dp/B002UD6X1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&qid=1275014592&frombrowse=0&fromGsearch=true&node=1038576|1287991011&keywords=merona%20croco%20work%20tote&searchSize=90&id=Merona%20Croco%20Work%20Tote%20Black&searchBinNameList=purchasing_channel%2Csubjectbin%2Ctarget_com_age%2Ctarget_com_gender-bin%2Ctarget_com_character-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&searchRank=target104545&sr=1-1&searchPage=1

    1. I disagree; these are the only ruffles featured here on Corporette that haven’t made my stomach turn.

      Also happy to see [what seems to be] a vegan selection!

      1. Because it’s too casual/ kind of punk? I would probably think a seatbelt bag was a little unusual if I saw it on an attorney, but I wouldn’t find it inappropriate unless that person was on her way to court or a deposition.

      2. I don’t get “age inappropriate” from it at all – it’s not covered in Hello Kitty cartoons. It’s just a casual bag.

  5. I’m not a fan of the bag, either. I also think seatbelt bags are age-inappropriate for anyone out of their teens (may early 20’s).

  6. Wow. Nordstrom just posted a TON of gucci watches and designer handbags (Versace, Burberry, Prada) on sale on its website. See Handbags and Accessories > What’s New.

    I think someone said a few days ago that the Semi-Annual Sale isn’t that great; that many things had been marked down for days. Yes, true, but the beauty of Semi-Annual is popbacks and updates. Constant vigilance!

  7. This reminds me of the episode of “Project Runway” where all of the contestants used car parts to create fashions. Most of them used the seatbelts…

    1. It totally does. It also reminds me of the purse I had in high school made from a license plate. Anyone else have one of those?

      1. Yep, I had one of those. But it was a gift from some random friend of my dad’s when I got accepted to college–it was my college’s license plate.

  8. Two things – first, bought a Boden jacket someone had recommended in the comments a while back, and was SO impressed with the quality. The style ended up looking frump on me, so I sent it back, but would definitely order from them again.

    Relatedly, I have been wanting a good maxi dress for the summer. To prevent another frump purchase thought I’d get opinions first – thoughts on this one? I’m a very pale redhead.

    http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Dresses/Below-Knee-Dresses/WH206/Womens-Appliqué-Maxi-Dress.html

    1. I like these! The blue with the flower on the side would probably look lovely with red hair. I think Boden’s having a 10% off everything promotion now, btw.

    2. Ah, thanks for the affirmation! I’m going to get it – they are having a 10% off and free shipping/returns sale right now, btw. Saw some cute casual summer tops too.

  9. I live in a so. CA beach town and I’m seeing young women, 20-somethings, in these everywhere.

    1. This was supposed to be in response to jcb asking about the summer maxi dress.

  10. Thread hijack –

    I went to DSW last weekend and found what seems to be a decently cute pair of mary-jane style casual shoes for an excellent price ($30). I just have absolutely no experience with the company – LifeStride – and was wondering how quickly these shoes are going to fall apart. I am rather hard on shoes, so everything falls apart eventually, but I’d rather spend $30 than $80 if I can. Does anyone have any experience with Lifestride shoes?

    I also bought a pair of Naturalizers, based on all the positive feedback on this blog, which I normally would skip over, so thanks!

    1. I owned a pair of black LifeStride ballet-type shoes with a very small wedge heel that I used as commuter shoes. They survived daily wear and many miles of walking, but after about a year there was a small plastic bit that poked through the lining in the heel area. This caused no discomfort or aesthetic issues…but it did snag every pair of stockings I wore! (It took me a few days to finally inspect the shoes and find the problem). With that said, though, I think the use I got out of them combined with the low price and how very comfortable they were, made them a good purchase.

  11. Has anyone else been panicked since the EWG came out with their latest sunscreen?

    I ran out and bought mineral sunscreens, but they’re so greasy, and I’m wondering if I overreacted.

      1. I am a little freaked out, yes. I checked my daily sunscreen, which I think is ok – physical rather than chemical sunblock – but I have been using those Neutrogena aerosol sunscreens for the past couple of years for quick arm/leg/chest coverage before leaving the house. Thought they were manna from heaven, now am concerned I’m full of nanoparticles.

  12. 20 years ago there was a store in my local mall that only sold these seatbelt bags. Oh how I loved them! But I couldn’t afford them so I passed them up. However! I see these everywhere now for a fraction of the price they were when I was still in high school, so I am tempted to buy one.

  13. The seatbelt bags strike me as the kind of things that were cool and neat the first 5 times you saw them, and then quickly fell out of favor.

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