Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Dooney & Bourke’s Alto Medium Ashley Bag
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
We're loving the sharp, sleek look of Dooney & Bourke's “Alto” line of bags. No crazy logos, no quacking ducks — just simple, well-made bags with a timeless elegance. The medium Ashley bag is a great example — 15″x 6″x 12.5″ inches, it's more than big enough for papers; we love the cell phone pocket inside and the feet on the outside. Lovely. Available at Dooney.com in black, brown, red, and natural for $425. Dooney & Bourke Alto Medium Ashley Bag
If you've recently seen a great work piece you'd like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless you ask otherwise, we'll refer to you by your first initial.
Sales of note for 4/24/25:
- Nordstrom – 7,710 new markdowns for women!
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event: 30% off your entire purchase, including 100s of new arrivals
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off
- Boden – 25% off everything (ends 4/27) (a rare sale!)
- The Fold – Up to 25% off
- Eloquii – Spring Clearance: Up to 75% off + extra 50-60% off sale
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Up to 60% off sale styles + up to 50% off summer-ready styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off $100 + extra 20% off $125
- Kule – Lots of sweaters up to 50% off
- M.M.LaFleur – 3 pieces for $198. Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 50% off last chance styles; new favorites added
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Friends & Family Event: 30% off entire purchase, includes markdowns
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- I'm fairly senior in BigLaw – where should I be shopping?
- how best to ask my husband to help me buy a new car?
- should we move away from DC?
- quick weeknight recipes that don’t require meal prep
- how to become a morning person
- whether to attend a distant destination wedding
- sending a care package to a friend who was laid off
- at what point in your career can you buy nice things?
- what are you learning as an adult?
- how to slog through one more year in the city (before suburbs)
Wow. Gorgeous and classy.
What is it with buckles on the outside of bags lately. They just stick out and snag things while doing not a lot (imho) to the look of the bag.
Dislike D & B on principle because their lower-end, logo-covered bags are so tacky. But this is a nice-lo0king bag.
There are a lot of promising-looking bags in this line – I wonder how stiff the leather is.
I have something similar and while I love the way it looks, the leather plus a laptop can get VERY heavy on my commute.
I really love this bag, but it’s out of my price range. I’ve been looking for a new bag lately, though and was wondering what people thought about using a dark red or even chocolate brown. Specifically, do you think either could be used every day regardless of one’s outfit. I’m a little worried about the look of a chocolate brown bag with a black or gray suit, but not sure if red (even a dark red) is too flashy. The bag I’m strongly considering is the Coakley Contemporary Classic™ Everyday Tote. Thoughts?
dark red is not too flashy, but for that kind of money you can get a nice leather bag. for example, kate spade’s tarrytown tote is nice & simple and you can get it on ebay for about $200.
M: Don’t fear the wine-colored bags! :) I have a wine-colored briefcase and I love it. Maybe this is more in your price range:
http://www.ebags.com/jack_georges/milano_double_gusset_top_zip_brief/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=9238&productid=31014
I know it’s more expensive than the Coakley, but the Jack Georges bag was one of the best purchases I have made in terms of my professional wardrobe. I went with wine because I wear a lot of black/brown/gray and I really did not like the idea of having a briefcase that did not match those colors exactly. Knowing that the black in my briefcase didn’t match the black in my suit/shoes/purse/etc. would drive me crazy! :)
(FYI, to my eyes the briefcase looks much less red and much more merlot/wine in real life — the picture on the website isn’t great.)
The Coakley bag looks roomy and practical, but it wouldn’t have worked for me — I was definitely looking for a briefcase, not a hold-everything handbag/purse, and to me the Coakley doesn’t fit the bill. (For a purse I have a small black leather Prada barrel bag — big, big investment but perfect for court. It’s pretty small, and it does take effort to fit what I need in there, but it’s simple, practical, inconspicuous and keeps my personal items away from my laptop/court docs — important when I’ve got a partner standing over me asking for one of said docs!).
I LOVE Jack Georges! My current work bag is a darker royal blue leather with cream leather contrast piping by Jack Georges, and I got it at Marshalls for only $59.00! M, I would strongly recommend scouting places like TJ Maxx and Marshalls if you want an expensive bag for a reasonable price. I also rather like the briefbags by Levenger and Barney’s New York label, both of which you can get for around one hundred dollars on sale.
I actually just bought one of the bags from this line — the medium rectangular shopper in cordovan– at Marshalls for $199.00 (probably my best Marshalls find to-date). It is a great bag, large enough for my legal pads and some case law and transcripts along with my usual stuff. I have been getting lots of compliments on it. I highly recommend the cordovan (although I think that color has been discontinued, the dark red is fairly close). It goes with brown, black, and grey, and is very rich-looking. I’ve also noticed that the leather is wearing very nicely after carrying around files for a few weeks. I personally think it’s neater to just have one bag that doubles as a briefcase (and on the weekends, a diaper bag! ah, the life of the working mom) and a purse. Marshalls often has high-quality leather bags like this- you just have to hunt a little.
Not usually a Dooney fan, but I purchased the large alto Zip Zip satchel (the older design which is a little taller than the current) in the “natural” leather color, and it is very luxe. The leather darkens and ages beautifully and the bag looks like it cost much more than it did ($525 when I got mine). I liked my Zip Zip satchel so much that I purchased the large alto Ashley bag for work (I love big bags) and I love it! I can fit legal files and a lap top inside with more than enough room to spare. The craftsmanship of the bag is really impressive. I also hear that Dooney has a great repair service, though I doubt if you’ll need it. My two alto bags are very well made and sturdy. They fit right in with my LV, Chloe, Gucci, and other “higher end” designer bags, and I’ve gotten a TON of compliments on both. I would definitely recommend the Dooney alto line (specifically the Zip Zip and Ashley in the “natural” color) to the discriminating professional woman who fancies high quality craftsmanship; clean, non-fussy, classic silhouettes; and doesn’t care to have designer logos all over her bags. Very nice, Dooney.