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Tuesday’s TPS Report: Hayden-Harnett’s Ibiza Convertible Flight Tote

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Women's shoes/bags: Hayden Harnett Ibiza Convertible Flight Tote - Black
Reader S wrote to us about this great Ibiza tote bag. We like the roomy bag (19″x18!”), the fact that it can be worn under your shoulder or across your body, and the lightweight nylon, which both won't stress your shoulders and allows the bag to fold neatly when it's not in use. Lovely. It's available at Piperlime for $200 with free shipping (Women's shoes/bags: Hayden Harnett Ibiza Convertible Flight Tote – Black); note also that it's available in more colors at the Hayden-Harnett website, including red and brown marked down to $99.

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24 Comments

  1. It looks like this bag is too large to qualify as a personal item — at least on American, so you technically would have to count it as your one carry-on. Anyone else have experience trying to count this as your personal item?

  2. This just looks like a poor flying bag to me. I checked a few other airlines (US Airways, Northwest, and JetBlue) and the bag was too big to be considered a personal item on any of them. It would be small enough to be considered a carryon on some JetBlue Airbus flights, but the other airlines restrict carry on bags to 22x14x9. Even if you can fold it, it will probably be too long to fit neatly under your seat.

    On another note, it doesn’t look particularly attractive or professional to me. I find nylon bags to be very casual. There are plenty of lovely laptop cases out there that are large enough to hold a wallet, some papers, and some other personal items.

  3. I echo the ladies above- nice bag but probably not a good “flight” bag. I guess the designers couldn’t be bothered to check airline restrictions before dubbing it as such.

    Also, for the size of the bag, that shoulder strap looks too thin to be comfortable unless you are carrying nothing in the bag.

    I love convertible bags and have been searching for one for almost a year now (not for work). I don’t want leather because it is too heavy to carry around all day. If anyone has suggestions I would appreciate it.

      1. I love these Longchamp totes!! I have a small one that I use as a purse and a large one that worked great carrying papers around as a summer associate this year. I live on the West Coast and don’t see them too often over here, which to me is an added bonus. I bought mine in France so they I suppose they have sentimental value as well.

  4. If you put anything at all in this bag, it would be too heavy. Wheels are best!

  5. This bag isn’t right for a conservative, professional office. I bet it would work for someone in a creative field, or maybe for a bike messenger.

    1. A bike messenger? Really? I love the look of this bag, am a lawyer, and plan on purchasing it. Some offices are not as conservative than others – though just as professional.

  6. I agree with the prior posters. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I suggest that Corporette limit its bag suggestions to the >$200 range and those made of leather. If you are a professional woman working in a conservative office (target of this blog) there is just no way you are going to pay $100 for a nylon bag to bring to work. Or, bring a nylon bag to work at all, really.

    1. I have to disagree here. There are plenty of women on this board just starting out their career who need to look professional but don’t necessarily have the money to buy a $400 leather tote. Even on this thread, we have someone who prefers something other than leather. I’ve seen a lot of lovely computer totes that are sub-$200 and made of something other than leather, but this example here happens not to be one of those.

    2. I’ll agree with the leather issue (love this bag but doesn’t look very professional, IMO). However, if Corporette limits its bag suggestions to those greater than $200, that kind of leaves out those of us who are professional women working in conservative offices that don’t pay us Biglaw bucks. I certainly can’t afford to pay more than $200 for a bag and even that would be a considerable stretch, so I’m always glad to see Corporette recommending less expensive options.

      1. There is simply no reason to exclude bags under $200. Every season for several years, I have seen excellent large, professional bags from Samsonite priced right around $100. I bought a lovely red one for $99 in my first year of law school, and I receive weekly complements on it to this day. It has held up beautifully, travels great (though it is too large to be a personal item on a plane these days) and looks appropriate for court. I love that even after years of having giant textbooks and a laptop in it, the bag has held its shape and stands up on its own.

        This year’s equivalent of the one I bought back then is still just $99…http://shop.samsonite.com/storefront/business-computer/samsonite-madison-tote/prodSM402T46XX-cC30-.html

        1. Agreed! You can buy a ton of stuff at bargain prices and still look professional. Maybe this bag didn’t cut it but I would like to keep seeing the deals and steals.

  9. I have an aversion to checking bags and try to use a carry-on when possible. I have this bag in grey and haven’t had any problems with airlines (Midwest, AirTran & United, from what I can remember) but it’s not like they were monitoring size restrictions either. It has held up well and I don’t really have any complaints, style-wise.

  10. I agree there’s no reason to limit recommendations. As I noted about another “cheap” bag, I might buy it – even though I can afford an expensive one – to use for less formal days. I would also buy a really expensive bag if it were perfect (professional-looking, good storage capacity AND lightweight). So bring on the recommendations of all kinds!

    I agree with the commenters on Levenger bags. I have one as my main work bag, and I’ve gotten several compliments on it even though it’s just a simple black bag. It’s quite functional and was, given the size and leather, a reasonable price – around $200 I think.

  11. I won’t wear leather, so I appreciate the non-leather items featured on this site.

    And as a young professional who has yet to “rake in the dough” I also appreciate the classy yet reasonably priced items featured here as well. I believe that even a nylon bag can be professional when worn by the right person. Judging by some of the comments I read on these blogs lately, we ladies are can be terribly superficial and forget that the person wearing the “dreadful nylon bag” may be a top-notch performer! And to think you may have dismissed because she’s not carrying Chanel!!

    Dear Corporette – Please ignore those individuals who would like to manipulate this forum for their own desires. If they simply want to browse the most expensive handbags, there are plenty of other sites available. “Corporette is a fashion and lifestyle blog for women lawyers, bankers, MBAs, consultants, and otherwise overachieving chicks who work in conservative offices and need to look professional, but want to be fashionable.” No where in the description does it say “but only for more than $200!”

    Remember where you came from ladies! Not every post has to be about “you.”

  12. I agree about Levenger’s bags. They hold up well and I’d never pay full price because they always go on sale. If you live in a place with a Levenger store, every now and then they have huge sales. On a What Not to Wear Stacy and Clinton made a New Yorker get rid of her Longchamp bag. Not that I always agree with them 100% or anything, but it was a pretty funny exchange and it made me feel better about refusing to pay so much for a nylon bag.
    By the way — Alienated . . . Come on. I think you’re taking this all a wee bit personally. If you have non-leather bags to suggest, please do.

  13. clerkchic – I might buy that Samsonite bag. Does the middle lap top piece come out if you wanted to use it for files instead?

  14. I bought this bag (in black) years ago in Brooklyn & it’s been great. I’m a lawyer at a large firm in Manhattan & this bag always looks professional & appropriate. In fact, one of my colleagues apparently had admired the bag for some time and, after inquiring where I’d purchased it, got one for herself! The only negative I can say about it is that — maybe it’s the hardware detailing — the bag is incredibly heavy, even with nothing in it. Add a few items — books, umbrella, etc. — and it’s unbelievably weighted down. That said, I can fit a ton of papers in it & have happily packed it for depositions, court appearances, etc. I’ve never had trouble using this bag as my purse, i.e., personal item, on a plane in addition to a carry on.

  15. @ Kit: Personally, I am more interested in hearing about high-quality, professional-looking, functional bags at any price point rather than leather bags costing $200 and above, which seems like kind of a meaningless cutoff point to me, especially for leather. Also, I don’t agree at all that non-leather bags don’t look professional in conservative offices. Well-made nylon bags (MZ Wallace, for example) can look much more professional than some leather bags at similar price points.

  16. Two thumbs up for Longchamp’s foldable totes/ I also like Herve Chapelier totes and the Louis Vuitton Speedy 40 for carry-on bags. I am also a fan of the oldie-but-goody monogramed LL. Bean Canvas tote.

    Kate Spade makes reasonably priced leather bags that look very smart in the office, in my opinion.

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