Posted on

Awl Snap Tom Tom Tote

Check for it here (A (small) large crossbody beauty):  Awl Snap Tom Tom Tote in Cognac

Awl Snap Tom Tom Tote!

“Mmm…smells like leather” –> How cute is it that Erin @ Awl Snap takes the extra time to stamp her box with this cute saying.  This says everything about Awl Snap…she took the extra time for just about every detail – and it shows!  Here’s what I’m loving:

1. Versatility:  Everything on this bag is doing double duty!  You think you just got one bag, but she spent so much time making the interior just as beautiful as the exterior, that you can turn this bag inside out and have a second, informal fun weekend bag. Plus, the leather is butter soft so no elbow grease needed to turn it inside out.  How about that clever strap closure?  It’s got multiple lengths.  Set it to the shortest setting and you’ve got a great key fob to dangle inside the bag…can someone please explain why all key fobs aren’t the same length as the Tom Tom Tote ?  Most key fobs are waaaay too short and getting your key off requires fumbling around clumsily with your fingers because the key fob is too short to pull out of the bag.

2. Organization: Two open pockets on the exterior and one on the interior.  You add in the key fob (i.e., the strap for closing the bag) and you’ve got one organized little gem!  Phone and keys in the front pocket, tablet on the interior pocket and you’ve still got the whole bag to work with.  Amazingly, my Lenovo Thinkpad fits in this bag, too so it would actually be an unbelievably stylish computer bag.

3.  Details, details, details:  The strap closure swivels so you don’t need to put the strap on just right. You just need to snap it on and even if the strap is twisted, you can easily unwind it.  How about that should strap?  It can be extremely long or extremely short and you just can’t say that about a lot of bags. Most bags either cater to the tall crowd or the small crowd, but not both.  PLUS she went the extra mile with a continuous loop strap so no tail dangling awkwardly off the bag as you shorten the strap.  Sure, she has this gorgeous striped interior, but she went the extra mile to have it peek out over the top of the open front pockets…it’s like when you have this great outfit on and then someone hands you the most perfect matching earrings.

Here’s what I’d love to see in Version 2.0 of this bag:

1.  These days our phones are like mini tablets – they’re ginormous and they’re constantly changing.  I love that the front pockets provide easy access to your keys and phone, but I’d love to see those pockets deeper and wider to accommodate more phone sizes.  I’d love it if the pockets came all the way to the center of the bag.  Maybe just a single piece of leather (instead of two distinct pockets), that has a stitch down the center to make two pockets.

2. She can’t be faulted for this next section…I mean, she took the time to make the INTERIOR of the bag gorgeous!  You can tell that she cares about her product.   This bag isn’t necessarily meant to be turned inside out, but I totally would.  And, because I’m hard on my bags, those white stripes would turn gray pretty quick.  How about a simple dark navy or black interior to hide some of that dirt if we choose to rock this beauty inside out?

Really, that’s it!  This beauty is coming to you handmade straight out of Virginia from someone who had the courage to quit their day job and take a stab at making a living out of their passion.  Good call, Erin.  Awl Snap’s gonna be around awhile.

Posted on

Love 41 Wanderers Backpack Review

Check for it here (A full size backpack that’s comfortable!):  Love 41 Wanderer’s Backpack!

Wanderer’s Backpack

It took me FOREVER to do this video!  Why?  Because I was struggling to find suggestions for Version 2.0 of this bag and, you know, I always have suggestions for improvement.  This bag gave me a run for my money, it’s just about perfect the way it is!  Here’s what I love about this bag:

  • Comfort – Despite being a full size bag, it still manages to be a comfortable wear.  They’ve added padding to the straps, the straps are just the right thickness and don’t slide off whether the bag is full or empty.  Additionally, even if it’s empty, it still retains it shape, making for a comfortable wear because the leather is juuuust right.
  • Security – This is really the main feature of this bag!  Each opening has two options for closure – the zipper and a strap secured by a nipple rivet closure  If you don’t need that kind of security, just secure the strap to the nipple rivet closure, but leave the flap hanging and then you just need to work with the zipper.  Even the zipper placement on the main opening (bucket bag style), means that even if it’s fully open, nothing is falling out the sides the way it might if it was your traditional zipper opening on a backpack.
  • Hidden Pockets – Two hidden pockets lie behind the two side zippered pockets.  This means convenient access for phones, keys, hotel key cards or simple wallets.
  • Organization – The size pockets (both zippered and hidden) take care of easy access items (wallets, pouches, cords, etc.). The main interior pocket has another pocket that features an open area as well as a zippered area – perfect for your passport!
  • Size – I can fit their Saddleback 15″ laptop case in here!  This bag is big, but floppy enough that if you don’t stuff it to the gills, it sinks down a bit, the perfect mix of not quite floppy, not quite structured.  It looks just fine empty or nearly empty and how many backpacks can you say that about?

Version 2.0 Suggestions – Ok, there’s not much here, but here we go:

  • Shoulder straps length – This bag generously accommodates multiple heights and if you’re on the shorter side, the excess strap might dangle at the bottom.  Consider flipping the straps so the adjustment for length happens at the top so even if the excess length dangles, it’s not dangling past the bag and swinging around.  You can also add a nipple rivet to the strap so that you can secure any excess to the strap itself.
  • Open side pocket – This bag has plenty of options for keeping your items secure so why not sacrifice one zippered side pocket and substitute in an open pocket to hold your water bottle?

Really folks, that’s IT for suggestions and, you know, I usually have a ton of suggestions, even if I love the bag.   Aaah the wanderer’s backpack, this backpack is such a nice find!  I think you’re going to love it!

 

Posted on

Colonel Littleton No 25 Drifter Handbag

Check for it here (Gorgeous!):  No. 25 Drifter Handbag

No. 25 Drifter Handbag!

I love the search for that elusive “perfect” mid sized purse.  I used to think there wasn’t one (see my Best of the Best Review where there was previously NO CONTENDER for this category), but after today’s unboxing I think the search might be over. I’ll need to test drive this beauty for the next few days before I can bestow such an honor, but first impressions are very positive, not just for the purse itself, but the thoughtful packaging.   Here’s the standouts:

  • Packaging – Purse is tucked into a sweet little pouch and they include a moon pie (!) along with two informative cards sharing their story and the handwritten name of the employee who inspected it.  They include a full catalog tucked into an envelope for safe keeping.  Everything about the packaging is thoughtful.
  • Rich buttery soft brown (almost mahogany / cherry) leather with lots of depth and variation in color.
  • Soft chocolate brown suede interior.
  • It hits in the perfect spot! Almost all my purses are too long (granted some might say I’m too short…), but this one hits at just the right place and somehow it can also be worn cross body (maybe not if you’re tall, though).
  • Easy access front pockets are just perfect for keys and phone.
  • Customer service – I’ve read about their rave reviews on Facebook and then I witnessed it first hand.  What can I say?  They’re courteous and responsive.  Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it is…this is a rare combination.
  • Personal Touch – Not a mass produced item.  It shines through in their packaging, their motto (“The Important Things in Life – Good Friends, Good Health & Peace of Mind) and the quality of their product.  This is the retail equivalent of “Farm to Table”.  This is “Creator to Consumer”.  I love being close to the designer, the producer and not part of a huge machine of middlemen.

 

 

Posted on

LM Products Vendue Classic Clutch – An Unboxing

Get it Here:  Vendue Classic Clutch

LM Products Vendue Classic Clutch – Unboxing & First Impressions!

Aaah, my first unboxing!  I’ve officially turned the corner into full blown YouTube reviewer.  It was kind of fun, actually to share my first impressions with you.  I started my purse obsession first with first just being attracted to quality product that wasn’t mass produced and now I’ve really started to care about how the product is made. On that note, this little beauty comes from a family that is three generations deep, still making quality leather products in America.  I enjoy the product more when I know how and where it was made.  I digress…this is unboxing, after all!

First impressions – I’m loving that it comes almost with this patina on it already, no breaking in necessary.  The main front and back sections have a smooth leather to it that looks almost aged.  The areas where it is folded reveal a lighter shade in the crease and it just gives the bag this depth instead of being a one dimensional single shade all over.

The size is the perfect slim profile – – I wanted something to slip into my larger work bag that I could take out to lunch, coffee, etc. and leave my giant tote behind.  This does the trick and it could certainly stand alone as a more dressed up clutch without the strap.  It comes with four (4!) different carry options, more on this later when I do my full review. The strap also has a very unique feature that I’ve not see elsewhere.  I’ll be taking her out on her maiden voyage tomorrow and will get back to you next week with my full review.  Stay tuned!

Posted on

Love 41 Backpack Battle

Check for it here (You’re gonna love it!):  City Backpack vs. Wanderer’s Backpack

City Backpack vs. Wanderer’s Backpack!

 

So excited to see all the new designs on Love 41!  I love that they’ve released some traditional backpacks instead of convertible backpacks.  The bags are so different, it’s hard to know which one is right for you. Hopefully, this video helps you decide.  Here’s a quick rundown in the backpack battle:

City Backpack – This bag packs a lot into bag.  I was surprised at just how much I can fit in there. The leather on this is the smoother, slick leather.  It reminds of the leather on their Umuragi collection. It’s a stiffer, structured bag that’s going to require some breaking in to reach it’s full potential. It has one main zippered compartment, one front zippered pocket and two open front pockets with a nipple closure.  The zipper runs over the top and down the sides (old school, Jansport style – remember those?).  This is perfect for a replacement as your work purse or an evening out after work.  It’s compact so won’t look out of place in a casual work environment, art gallery, museum, etc. the way a standard backpack might.   It would also make an uber chic diaper bag, especially because it has easy access (one zipper) to get to the main compartment and three other compartments for staying organized!  You can also open the bag while standing up on the go!

Wanderer’s Backpack – If the mini version is the City, then this roomy cousin is the Country.  This backpack fits a TON of stuff.  The leather on this is the floppy sort (reminds me of the way people describe the Love 41 Simple Tote). You can see the richness of the grain, the marbling and feel the texture of this bag.  On just the first wear, you’re going to feel the way it molds to fit your back.  This bag is big and has a nice weight to it, but they’ve thoughtfully added padding inside the leather straps so it feels SUPER comfortable on. Getting in and out of this bag requires a bit more doing than the City – there’s a strap, flap and then the zipper.  Realistically, you need to set this bag down to get to the interior.  The benefit to this is this bag is SECURE.  Plus, its got those two side pockets with both zippers and flaps that make for easier access on the go.  Your phone, keys and can’t-live-without cosmetics can live in those side pockets!  I’m thinking the Love 41 Essential Oils pouch would keep those cosmetics organized in the side pocket so no fishing around.  This backpack likes to make its presence felt…probably not the best thing for the office, but perfect for a day out exploring, hiking and traveling!  Or if you’re mom on the go and carry more stuff than you ever thought possible, then you’ve met your match!

What backpacks do you like?  Let me know if you’ve found some great backpacks for work or for wandering….thanks for stopping by!