Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
Which are the best laptop bags for work, ladies — which ones have the pockets you need, the weight (or lack thereof) that you like, and generally looks great on your commute?
Do you prefer to have a laptop sleeve within a larger tote bag, or a laptop bag by itself? How big is your computer — and how important is padding to you?
We haven’t rounded up stylish laptop totes and sleeves in a while, so I thought we’d take a look!
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- Hall of Famers (specific styles that have stood the test of time): Built NY, Lo & Sons (13″, 15″), Michael Michael Kors (13″), Knomo London, Dagne Dover, Tumi, Tory Burch
- Usual Suspects (reliable brands or stores to check first): Knomo London, Lodis, Tumi, Victorinox, Graceship
- Laptop sleeves (most under $100): Marc Jacobs, Built NY, Henri Bendel, Petunia Picklebottom, Kate Spade, Society6, Everlane
- Backpacks/ergonomic: MZ Wallace, Knomo, Herschel, Victorinox, Incase, Tumi, Banana Republic, Poros,
- Security features: PacSafe, BetaBrand, Lodis, Briggs & Riley
- Travel sleeve for rolling bags: Lo & Sons,
- For laptops 17″ or bigger: Lodis, Hedgren, OGIO, Kenneth Cole
Curious for older editions? Check out our roundups of the best laptop bags for work in 2016, 2011, and 2008.
 If you’re looking for a laptop sleeve that is absolutely gorgeous (or a throw pillow, wall print, shower curtain, phone case, etc, etc), Society 6 has become a new favorite — they have an absolutely overwhelming inventory to look through but it’s all artistic and well done. I recently got a case for my Chromebook from here and while it isn’t as flexible or smooth to the touch as the ones I’ve gotten in the past from Built NY or Marc Jacobs, my bag is a gorgeous, colorful design that I got to pick. The pictured sleeve is from designer Elisabeth Fredriksson, fits a laptop up to 13″, and is $36 (for $3 more you can get the option that fits a 15″ laptop). (Get $10 off with this referral code if you’re new to the site.) |
 I saw this recently and thought it was interesting, even if it may be designed more with men in mind — but if you ever feel like you don’t want to be commuting with an obvious laptop bag, this laptop bag may just be a lifesaver: it’s a 1.5″ thick backpack that is designed to fit UNDER your jacket. There are versions to hold a 13″ and a 15″ laptop, and it comes in a number of colors — and it’s $78 at Betabrand. (Take 25% off today with code GETSCHOOLED; get $15 off with this referral code if you’re new to the site.) |
 Ah, nostalgia — even if you lived through the Kate Spade nylon bag craze of the late 90s, there’s still something appealing about a simple lightweight nylon bag. (For the record, this one is much less boxy than the ones of the 90s!) This one has a removable laptop sleeve (13″), a smart phone pocket, and protective metal feet, and is marked to $199 on sale at Nordstrom. |
 I’ve known about bags that can carry a charge for a while now, but I’ve yet to take the plunge myself — does anyone have any reports? This brand Poros is popular on Amazon and offers a ton of different kinds of chargers — this pictured one is $199, has an Apple lightning charger, is made of ballistic nylon, and assembled in Seattle — and it will hold up to a 15″ laptop. Nice. |
 I noticed this stylish, feminine Lodis laptop tote over at Zappos last week — and noted with sadness that it was almost sold out. Fortunately it seems to be new in stock at Nordstrom, available for $298 in black, chestnut, and a zippy orange. It fits a 13″ laptop, has built-in RFID-technology, and has a 10-15″ strap drop. |
 I popped over to Bendel’s to see if they had a laptop version of their uber popular Jet Setter backpack (they don’t, but note: some colors are on sale today!) — but I then promptly fell in love with this briefcase (also pictured at top). It comes in port, dusky blue, and black, has a velcro laptop compartment — and it comes with 5.5″ handle straps, a removable crossbody strap, and a luggage sleeve for your rolling bag. Nice. It’s $398. |
Readers, what do you think are the best laptop bags for work? Which are your favorites — and why? What size computer do you carry to and from work — and do you like the added flexibility of working from wherever, or do you dislike the added weight/schlep?
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Ellen
I’m a big TUMI fan! TUMI TUMI TUMI!!!! I do NOT even get a comission for plugging their bag’s! YAY!!!!
RR
In answer to the question about bags that carry a charge, I have a Kate Spade Everpurse. It has a charging dock for my phone. The entire thing charges on a base you set the purse on, and then it can charge my phone for several days by sliding it into the charging dock in a pocket on the inside. The one I have is big enough to fit a letter sized file and my 13″ laptop along with the usual purse contents. For future iPhone models, they will provide new charging inserts.
I do really love it, but it can be a little temperamental. I sometimes have to adjust a bit to get it to sit on the charging base so that it will charge, and I sometimes have to insert my phone into the charging dock more than once to get it to start charging. It also won’t charge with my case, but it says it will charge with a case, so YMMV (mine is one with pockets on the back and a handle).
Anonymous
I have a Brahmin zip top tote. It is light weight, gorgeous leather, has great pockets for organization, and doesn’t scream corporate issue laptop bag. I don’t wear nylon suits, why should I carry a nylon bag?
Endometriosis?
I know there have been a few TJs in the past regarding endometriosis and I’ve gone back and read what I could find. But I’m hoping to hear some more from anyone who has been diagnosed with this.
I’m unfortunately in the middle of being diagnosed (I.e. Endometrioma is suspected, being monitored and I go for a new ultrasound in a month). I have been in pain for a few months but it has really escalated to the point of it completedly affecting my day-to-day life. My ObGyn thinks I will need surgery. Which of course would be the worst timing ever for me (anything within the next year would cause severe upheaval in my life for various reasons right now)
I have not had kids yet and very much want them. My understanding is that depending on how thorough and careful the surgeon is will affect my fertility. So of course I want to go with the “best”. I am on the East Coast and looked at the center for endometriosis’ website. It has been very informative and I am wondering, do people really pick up and travel there if they already have great healthcare facilities where they live?
For those of you who struggled with this diagnosis, a few specific questions.
1. How exactly were you diagnosed? (Ultrasound, biopsy, etc?)
2. What were your symptoms and how long did they last until you were diagnosed?
3. Did you have surgery? If so, how did you choose your surgeon? What was the recovery process like?
4. Long term management – weee you put on any specific meds or birth control to prevent ovulation?
5. Did you have any kids after? Did your diagnosis affect conception/pregnancy at all?
Much thanks in advance. I’m just floundering here and am a bit at a loss. In a way, being diagnosed with this would actually really just be putting a name to the symptoms I’ve suffered for years. But on the other hand, the thought of dealing with a surgery (and the research and testing beforehand) is really making me freak out right now.
Anonymous
I have not been in your shoes, but a friend had pretty severe endometriosis and wound up having 5 kids (yes, 5) through IVF. She had her first set of twins through IVF, tried for <6 months for her next and wound up doing IVF again (second set), and then a few years later had a single baby. I think she knew that her fertility would be affected and the process to get to IVF was much faster than usual if there were no other obvious issues. Good luck. I hope you have a diagnosis/treatment plan soon.
Endometriosis?
Thank you. I really, really appreciate this post.
Anonymous
While I don’t have specific answers to your questions, know that there are some new treatments that may be coming..
https://endometriosisnews.com/2017/03/13/study-says-partially-suppressing-hormone-could-be-new-way-to-treat-endometriosis/
Anon
I’d recommend seeing a reproductive endo, and not your Ob/Gyn if you’re concerned about having children. There are a lot of very well intentioned ObGyn’s that have led many women struggling with fertility astray. I recommend you check out the subreddit r/infertility and search there.
Endometriosis?
Would you suggest this even if I don’t foresee having children for at least another few years? Not that I so badly want to wait – it’s just I’m currently single and don’t anticipate that changing anytime in the near future.
Anon
I really don’t know a lot about endo or if a RE is the right person/only person who can treat it because I haven’t dealt with it myself. Maybe your obgyn is sufficient since you’re not TTC in the near term, but that warrants some additional research on your own. I was personally let down by my long-term obgyn, and it’s impacted me in a bad way in terms of infertility. So, I’m a huge lobbyist for people taking the next step to a RE if they at all suspect it necessary. As I get deeper into the ‘silent sisterhood’ of infertility I’m learning more and more about women whose well-meaning obgyns attempted treatment, but really missed the mark because complicated reproductive issues are not their forte. Nothing in my fertility fight has hurt more than time lost, and I feel strongly my obgyn cost me nearly a year.
anonymous for this one
No no no! The only doc to see for endometriosis is someone with a huge set of experience and tons of recorded proof for the success of their care. There are very very few docs in the US who actually have this but TONS who will claim to be specialists and many reproductive specialists who claim to be able to work around this. You do not want someone who specializes in either/or when it comes to fertility and quality of life, you want someone who can give you quality of life while preserving fertility. Anything else is a waste of your time and anyone else can truly ruin your chances at either or even both.
Anon
^^ This, said better than me. (I’m Anon at 4:55)
You want someone that specializes in your long-term care, which includes your fertility needs.
Endometriosis?
This is very helpful and good to know. I’m going to focus on just going to an expert in endometriosis for now
me
I traveled to the Center for Endo Care from out of state. I talked with them, we used my insurance and they worked with me the best they could to get as much covered as possible. I flew in, went from airport to pre-op tests, then went to the hotel to do the pre-op prep, went back in for surgery in the morning, and was discharged the next morning. I gave myself a few days to recoup in the hotel nearby so I was close in case something went wrong or I had questions (me overreacting, totally not necessary), then flew home and let the airline know I’d just had surgery so I could get assistance since I needed it after a big procedure. It was 1000000% worth it. I’d had 2 previous procedures for it and both times, the surgeons claimed to be experts and specialists but did very little to help me. If fertility and quality of life are both important to you, I’d recommend you put in the money to do it (some might be tax deductible too) so you know you’re not taking risks. Someone closer to home may save quality of life but cost you fertility or save your fertility but your daily life would be miserable (and thus make you unlikely to be in the position to try to conceive or be able to carry to term). If you want to share your contact, we can talk more about this!
Endometriosis?
Wow, thanks for the detailed response. I am going to register for their free review although I haven’t officially been diagnosed yet, so I’m not sure if they’ll have enough information yet to review (I’m waiting to be reimaged so that we can compare my recent scan to see if the mass is growing or shrinking).
Endometriosis?
I created a new email account, if you’d be willing to talk more! It is endoanon at the gmail. Thanks!
anon
I get that you are info gathering, but none of those questions are going to help you. this disease is known for being horrifically tough to diagnose (often taking around 9 yrs to do so for most) and each case is so different (it’s one of the biggest issues with this disease). I’d hate for you to take polls and then use the info to try to learn anything about yourself as it very rarely actually helps. The CEC website you mentioned does free consults via phone/email if you submit the paperwork, so I’d recommend doing that and asking them your questions, since they can speak to your individual needs.
Endometriosis?
I appreciate your concern and I’m absolutely not trying to take a poll here to use to direct my care. I’m just overwhelmed (and frightened for my future fertility) and just reaching out to hear others’ experiences. Reading the replies here, I am glad I reached out because it confirmed my decision to reach out to the CEC.
anonymous now
I saw a surgeon who was an ob/gyn with fertility specialization who claimed to be an expert in endometriosis. I trusted him. Had surgery, he burned endometriosis. It did nothing for my pain, but he was proud not to damage my fertility. I found out later, after talking with the CEC that you actually already mentioned, that this person was nowhere near an expert and this was proven because experts would never ever burn it, excision is the only true way to remove. CEC also pointed out that the burning meant unnecessary risk to my organs due to the tools used. I was lucky not to have been damaged further, but I ended up going to the CEC (flew in from out of town), where they excised, which was tougher because it had been previously burned (I’d have been better off never going to the previous surgeon). In the end, I got incredible care at CEC and they respected the fertility plans I had for myself.
Endometriosis?
Oh goodness. That’s what I’m scared about – how do you know when an expert truly is an expert? If they’re holding themselves out to be as such, how can you tell that they’re not? Reading your story has affirmed my decision to contact the CEC. I am so sorry you had to go through what you did but I really appreciate your being willing to share your story here.
another anon
Ask for the number of cases they’ve seen and actually treated, ask how they treat the endometriosis that they find (anything other than excision is the wrong answer), run their name by the CEC since they keep track, etc. If a place isn’t known for being the go-to for this type of care (like the CEC is), it’s probably a bad idea to trust them. That doesn’t mean they’re bad people, just that they likely don’t fully understand the knowledge and skills required to treat endo!
Endometriosis?
Thank you. My first impulse is to contact and just go through the CEC. But I just checked my insurance and they wouldn’t cover a penny because the CEC is out of network. And while my insurance is fantastic for in-network, they refuse to pay anything for out-of-network. Ugh.
anonymous
hoping this doesn’t out me but I went to Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, they gave me back full quality of life, later I had 4 kids all naturally conceived and delivered. I have no doubt I’d have been too sick to meet my spouse without CEC and pretty positive I’d have never gotten pregnant or kept pregnancies had I not gone to them since I’ve heard many horror stories from people who went elsewhere. I hope this helps, it just seems like fertility is too big of a risk to not go to the actual experts, even if they’re further away than the pretend experts.
Endometriosis?
So helpful, thank you. I’m also feeling so terrible that it seems so difficult to have to travel for care when I live in a top healthcare city. But I think you’re right in that it’s not worth gambling with my fertility.
Anon
Are you in Boston?
Anon
I’ll add, if it is Boston I see Dr. Irene Souter at MGH’s Fertility Clinic. I have my gripes with the larger clinic for sure (more a function of large hospital setting I suspect, but I also think you might need that type of setting), but I very much like my doctor and they may be a good first step. I needed a referral from PCP/obgyn to go. Their diagnostic testing was very, very through. I do not have endo, but it was suspected at one point. They were able to rule it out.
Endometriosis?
Nope
Lex
Hello,
I’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis too. Although I’m not a medical expert, here are my answers to your questions based on my situation:
For those of you who struggled with this diagnosis, a few specific questions.
1. How exactly were you diagnosed? (Ultrasound, biopsy, etc?) — Ultrasound. I thought I had a bout of food poisoning because of severe abdominal pain.
2. What were your symptoms and how long did they last until you were diagnosed? Four business days of excruciating pain in my lower abdomen. I was almost misdiagnosed as having appendicitis.
3. Did you have surgery? If so, how did you choose your surgeon? What was the recovery process like? Yes, unfortunately, my ovarian cyst was well over the limits for laproscopy so I had to get full surgery. I didn’t get to choose my surgeon because I had torsion and was internally bleeding. I had a cut of approximately 5 inches in my abdomen and required one month of leave from my firm to recover. It’s very similar to the recovery process of women who have had a C-section. If you are more fortunate than me (and it sounds like it), you have more time to plan and hopefully you can get a laproscopy — then you are in and out of the hospital fairly quickly. Recovery should be no more than two to three business days.
4. Long term management – weee you put on any specific meds or birth control to prevent ovulation? I have been placed on birth control pills indefinitely to suppress endometriomas.
5. Did you have any kids after? Did your diagnosis affect conception/pregnancy at all? I currently don’t have kids, but have been told that it should be fine.
Endometriosis?
Thank you! I am so sorry to hear you had torsion! I asked the gyn about that possibility and she said the size of mine isn’t so large as for that to be a likely possibility yet, luckily. But from what I’ve read online, it seems to be an excruciating condition and I’m glad they caught yours in time to do something about it to preserve function. But oh dear, a full month off of work? I feel so sorryyou had to go through that.
a different anon
Please note that these answers were for an ovarian cyst, which is much more common and quick to treat than endometriosis… so very glad this person is okay, I just didn’t want you to think that the experiences were the same, as most every ob/gyn is trained for ovarian cysts but there is little to no training in typical medical school for endometriosis.
Anonymous
1. Diagnosed via u/s but there is no definitive diagnosis for endo. The only sure way is to do surgery and check.
2. Zero symptoms. Apparently even severe end cases can be asymptomatic. I might have developed symptoms later, who knows….
3. Laparoscopic endo. I had endo in my ovaries but nowhere else.
4. Did not take post surgery BCP (though I was encouraged to do so). 3 month checkup shows no endo. Will keep monitoring.
5. Early 40s, two kids, no issues conceiving
Anonymous
I should add…my endo was removed via excision.
Endometriosis?
It’s interesting that yours was asymptomatic because I honestly haven’t had any outright issues until now (which is how they discovered the mass). It’s good to know you had children without issues – the google rabbit hole was telling me it could be a silent infertility cause. Of course everyone is different but it’s reassuring to hear that not everyone who has endo will require IVF to have kids.
one of the above anons
PLEASE stop reading google and other searches. Most of the info about endometriosis is outdated and/or wrong. Cosmo mag even published wrong info a few months ago! It’ll scare you but it won’t help you. Stick with the CEC for knowledge. Oh, and avoid anyone who recommends you go on lupron… that drug screws up fertility and can cause permanent damage.
Endometriosis?
Most of my googling was done prior to today when I was just trying to figure out what the heck was going on. After my Dr appotbment today, I really did stay away from Google for the most part :). But yeah, I’m absolutely just trusting the CEC for now.
Endometriosis?
I just wanted to thank all of you for commenting. Today was sort of a scary day for me, because this tentative diagnosis comes at possibly the worst time in my life for a surgery/recuperation period. Hearing from you all has been reassuring and not only that, has confirmed my decision to reach out to the CEC. I am hopeful that they will be able to help me and I’m absolutely willing to travel to them if they truly are the best. Now how do I rearrange my life which is not rearrangeable right now? Can this year be 13 months instead of the normal 12?
one of the above anons
I trekked there and am ten million percent glad I did. It is SO worth it. If you want to talk more, you can post your email address and I’ll email! (I don’t read every post on the site but was so glad to have seen this one and to have hopefully helped you!)
PS Please know that recovery can depend on what they find, what has to be done, and the type of work you do. For example, after one surgery that was the wrong kind, I was back to work at an office job in 2 days (surgery Friday, back to work Monday, cleared to drive as soon as I stopped taking pain meds). Another surgery, the right kind at the CEC took longer because it was a more intense surgery and I gave myself time to work from home before going back. So don’t assume it’ll be terrible or lengthy, it might not be at all!
Endometriosis?
Thank you! I am just trying to figure out how to even take off any time at all for the surgery, let alone for a recovery period. I guess I’ll have to prepare for the worst-case scenario. If you would be willing to email, I created a new account: endoanon at the gmail. I really appreciate your comment and reaching out to me here!
one of the above people
I emailed!
Anon
I do not have endometriosis but I have some health issues that sound like they could be treated at any academic health center and through a lot of trial and error and pain I have learned that is not the case because I have several issues that combine to make my case a mystery to manh of the doctors I have seen (including at NYU and Hopkins). For something like this I would recommend getting at least an opinion from the best and then deciding from there. You might be at an amazing teaching hospital but not all hospitals are great for every issue.
Endometriosis?
That really rings true. The overall reputations of the facilities in my city are great but you are right, I have no idea if they are great for my specific needs.
West Coast Endo
I had a non-standard path to learning that I have endometriosis, and I’m on the West Coast. I’m offering this mostly in case it’s of help for anyone else.
1. How exactly were you diagnosed?
2. What were your symptoms and how long did they last until you were diagnosed?
I’m putting these two together because I was diagnosed through surgery. I originally presented with pain around my right hip. My doctor thought it might be a kidney infection or stone. A CT scan revealed a 8cm mass that had grown in my abdominal wall. I had surgery the next day with the concern that it was cancer. Pathology revealed that it was endometriosis, so I was referred to an ob/gyn.
My ob/gyn was fine for a non-specialist. In retrospect, the start of the endo for me was probably a few months before surgery. I had been on BC, and missed a period. My GP suggested that I go off of BC to let my cycle reset itself. My cycle never quite reset itself before I started having this pain. My ob/gyn, and later my endo specialist, put forward the theory that the BC was controlling my endo very well. I did have bad periods when I was a teenager, and BC made that much better. I started having pain again a few months after the first surgery, and an ultrasound revealed that there were masses around my ovaries. There’s no way to know if they were there earlier since no one was looking for it.
When I started having pain again after the second excision, my ob/gyn said that it was time for an endo specialist. I first tried one at Stanford, who didn’t mesh with me at all. The Stanford specialist wanted me to try acupuncture and go to a pain clinic. I got another referral to an endo specialist (Vital Health, Los Gatos), and that was much much better. Regular ultrasounds revealed that more masses appeared on my ovaries and near my Fallopian tubes, and that they were growing. I opted for a hysterectomy because it kept on coming back. During surgery, the specialist found endometriosis in my colon, so he called in another specialist to remove 6″ of colon.
3. Did you have surgery? If so, how did you choose your surgeon? What was the recovery process like?
Surgery #1 – 6 weeks out of work, 6 months before I felt more normal.
#2 – laproproscopy, 3 weeks out of work, 3-4 months before I felt more normal.
#3 – hysterectomy plus partial coloectomy, 12 weeks out of work, and another 9 months before I felt normal again. This time it was actually normal.
4. Long term management – weee you put on any specific meds or birth control to prevent ovulation?
I stayed off of BC after the first for a few months. We tried again, and it didn’t help. After the second, I went off of BC again. I tried Lupron injections, with the hope that it would keep me from having a third surgery. Lupron didn’t do anything for me.
5. Did you have any kids after? Did your diagnosis affect conception/pregnancy at all?
I didn’t have kids after and didn’t want to. I had the opposite annoyance throughout this process. My doctors were more concerned about my fertility than I was. I never really wanted kids. The closest I ever got was “well, maybe … “. My ob/gyn suggested that some women sometimes find that pregnancy stops endometriosis. My husband and I talked about it, and decided that we still didn’t want to walk that path. The idea of getting pregnant primarily to cure endo didn’t feel right.
In short: I wish I’d known it was endo in the first place, and I wish I’d gone to the endo specialist a lot earlier. Three surgeries including a hysterectomy later, and it seems I’m on the other side of this and done with it. I hope so.
Endometriosis?
Thank you for sharing. My pain also did not present typically which is why it took a while to figure out that it’s actually a gynecological issue and not something else.
Full of ideas
One word of warning, surgery, even by the best surgeon (and excision only, anything else is boarderline malpractice) is not a guarantee you will feel better. Plus, with every surgery you build up scar tissue and increase the adhesions (fibirous connective tissue) that is often found along side endo lesions. That said, surgery and biopsy of the tissue is the only true test to confirm endo…
Have you tried a progesterone only pill? What about pelvic floor physical therapy and/or acupuncture?
Don’t rush into anything, but definitely do your research – even joining a couple of chat group can help you understand the breadth of symptoms as well as treatments, but there is no cure – and, as I’m sure you realize, endo really sucks. You’ll need support from friends and family, and maybe a therapist too! Best of luck
Endometriosis?
I appreciate the warning. However, unfortunately once there’s a mass of a certain size, the only way for it to go away is to excise it through surgery (that’s my understanding right now at least). But I’m definitely not rushing into having th surgery! I’m going to take the time and fully research my options. It has just been supremely helpful hearing about others’ experiences here.
TREE
Going to New Orleans for a trip in October! Husband and I will be there for a week. Recommendations on places to eat and things to do both within and outside the French Quarter area would be wonderful. We are down for anything. TIA!
NOLA
Places to eat may be too hard to narrow down, depending on how fancy you want to get. Outside the Quarter, I would highly recommond Boucherie. Restaurants change constantly and there’s a lot of variety of types of food and price. http://www.nola.com/dining-guide/
Things to do – what do you like to do? I love the sculpture garden at the art museum and it’s right at City Park. Go to Parkway Bakery for a poboy afterward. The WWII Museum is incredible. Everyone who goes there says it’s one of the best museums they’ve been to. They also have a lot of events there. Magazine St is fun for shopping (lots of local stores) and smaller restaurants. I personally like to take visitors to the area between Jackson Ave and where it turns one-way or between Washington Ave and Louisiana or Louisiana to Napoleon. Sucre (beautiful desserts and gelato) is in the section between Washington Ave and Louisiana. The aquarium is lovely and also the zoo. I think you can take a riverboat ride from the aquarium to the zoo. That would be fun! Chartres and Royal are great for browsing in the French Quarter. Lots of galleries. Frenchman St is great for live music. Take the St. Charles Ave streetcar just to see the sights from a different vantage point. I’ve heard that the Garden District tours are really good. Hmmm… I spend so little time being a tourist here that I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot.
Beth
+1 to all of this. I love Luke in the CBD (Central Business District) for a lower-key lunch or dinner. Within the French Quarter, try Croissant d’Or for a non-Cafe Du Monde breakfast. Its on Ursulines.
NYNY
DH and I were there last October and loved it. Things we loved:
– Music on Frenchman Street
– Dinner at Coquette
– Following a second line deep in Central City (check out the WWOZ radio s1te for info)
– Oysters at Seaworthy
– Walking through the Lafayette cemetery
We stayed at the Ace and mostly avoided the French Quarter. If you’re there close to Halloween, people really decorate their homes. Totally worth walking through the Garden District just for that.
I wish we had gone to the Backstreet Cultural Museum. Next time!
Anon
Coquette also does an awesome three course brunch!
e
Bacchanal Friday happy hour or any time when its nice outside. Great food, cheap wine for happy hour. excellent cocktails. Eat at Cochon Butcher as well it’s one of my favorites.
J
I’d be curious to hear opinions on wheel suitcases in an upcoming post. I’m a newly minted litigator and imagine I’ll be on the market for something to haul files to court. Any tips to keep in mind when shopping? Or are these just one of those items that are basically created equal. Thanks!
turtletorney
if you’re at a mid-large size firm, I would just borrow. Either from someone else, or often the firm will have some to use. I’m a litigator and it is a rare occasion that I need to carry that many files – only some hearings, trial, etc. And often for trials there are so many docs it is pointless anyway and you’ll send them in boxes ahead of time.
I prefer having some really functional bags for most court appearances/client meetings/etc. where a wheeled one would be overkill. I have a nice leather briefcase and the the L&S OG. between these 2, one is always a good option.
of course this depends on your practice!
J
Thanks! I’m at a very large firm and, at least in our office, associates bring wheeled suitcases to discoveries and court appearances. I guess I should have mentioned as well that my area of practice tends to be pretty document heavy. I am totally going to take your advice re: borrowing. I am going to pay more attention to how often people actually are using theirs before making any purchases. Cheers!
OG Question
I have a true first world problem — I have the OG and can’t figure out how to use it. I love the lightness, and I’ve watched the video on the site at least 10 times, but am always finding myself digging through it looking for things. I usually need to carry a laptop, two phones, heels or an umbrella in the shoe spot, a legal pad, a cord bag, make up bag, business card case, and keys. Yet I am constantly digging in it. Any suggestions?
MollySolverson
I’m on my second OG after years of heavy use. Love it for work and fun travel. Here’s how I would organize it:
Laptop in internal laptop pocket. Legal pad/papers in other internal slim pocket. Makeup bag, cord bag in big, main section of bag, shoes/umbrella in the zippered shoe compartment. Business card case and phones in outside front pocket. Keys in front pocket, attached to keychain provided.
OG Question
Thank you!
Allison
Does it look less diaper-bag-ish in person than it does in the pictures??? To me it looks puffy, if that makes sense. But I love the idea.
Anonymous
Unsolicited bag review: Cuyana work satchel. I purchased on impulse and had buyers remorse until it actually arrived. It is beautiful and perfectly suited for my needs. All leather but lightweight enough that I don’t mind carrying it on my walk to and from the courthouse. Large enough to fit a file, and laptop. Cross body strap. Elegant, functional, professional work bag.
Shopaholic
Did you get the one with the zip top? It is a gorgeous bag!
Dahlia
I also got it in the light quartz colour and love it!! The right size to hold everything, beautiful leather and not too heavy. I also recently moved to a new area of the states and people keep telling me they like my “pocketbook” which I find old-timey and charming.
Runner 5
I have a Herschel laptop backpack and I love it (but I don’t have Skechers……)
That said, I have the one with a small zipped exterior pocket and it only works for me because I don’t have a public transport commute and I’m happy to put my wallet etc in the exterior pocket. The inside doesn’t have an easy place for my wallet etc to go.
Leigh
I have the Baggallini Errand Laptop Tote. It has so many pockets, including a padded one for a laptop, can slide over a luggage handle, and even has drink holders. And it’s surprisingly unfrumpy considering the brand. (I love how practical Baggallini’s products are, but they’re not generally the most stylish.)
Officiallychic1
I like a regular laptop bag with good padding! I keep it separate from my handbag. It’s just easier that way. I love a stylish laptop bag though. Something that goes well with you work wear! So I would go for black one with nice smooth leather material.
Allison
This is so timely for me, as I’ve been overanalyzing to death whether to spend the $$$ and buy a Tumi. Anyone have a Tumi and live to regret it? I really want to carry my laptop and a redweld, and have a crossbody strap, and have it slip over luggage. And not be super ugly. Is that too much to ask ?!?!?!
Luna
Thank you sooo much for your post! I fell in love with Elisabeth Fredricksson designs!!!! would you share the referral code again? Many many thanks!