A work bag carries more than a laptop: the charger, a notebook, the tiffin, a water bottle, a shawl for the air conditioning. Buy one that is too small and you end up carrying two bags; buy one that is shapeless and everything sinks to the bottom. Six questions sort it out.
1. How big is the laptop, really?
Laptop sizes describe the screen, measured corner to corner, not the machine. A 14-inch laptop is typically about 32 cm wide and a 15.6-inch one about 36 cm, so check the width of yours and compare it with the bag. Every bag we sell says which laptop size it takes.
- Takes a 14-inch laptop: the Structured Laptop Tote, the Belted Scarf Tote, the Check Knit Tote and the Jacquard Knit Tote.
- Takes a 15.6-inch laptop: the Structured Work Tote, the Knotted Handle Tote, the Ikat Woven Tote and the canvas fringe totes.
2. Structured or soft?
A structured bag stands up on its own beside your desk, keeps its shape in meetings and protects what is inside from being squashed. A soft bag is lighter and easier to fold into a drawer. If you commute by metro or local train, a structured bag is easier to keep upright on your lap.
3. How many compartments?
One big space is fine for a few things; for a full day, a divider keeps the wallet and documents away from the lunch box. The Structured Work Tote has three compartments — two main sections and a zipped one in the centre — and the Knotted Handle and Belted Scarf totes both have a zipped divider pocket.
4. Does it zip shut?
Open totes look relaxed, but in a crowded commute a closed top is the difference between relaxed and worried. Every bag in our Office Edit closes: most with a full zip, and the Knotted Handle Tote with a magnetic snap plus a zipped inner pocket for valuables.
5. Shoulder handles, or a strap?
Long shoulder handles are quickest on and off; a detachable strap spreads the weight on heavier days. The Structured Laptop Tote, the Structured Work Tote and the Knotted Handle Tote all come with a detachable shoulder strap as well as their handles.
6. Will it sit on the floor?
Metal feet on the base keep a bag clean when you put it down in a cab or under a café table. The Structured Work Tote has four; the Knotted Handle and Belted Scarf totes have five.
A note on colour
Black, dark brown and tan go with formal wardrobes; cream and olive add a little personality to smart-casual days. Our Office Edit gathers every bag that takes a laptop, in one place.
