Does the Perfect Bag Exist?

I am a walking hoarder. When I leave my place, I need my laptop, charger for the laptop and my phone, a little makeup, a little skincare (cant forget sunscreen-primer that costed me 60 euros), tissues (cause I'm always runny and running), a couple Q-tips, my cards, (my subway card is a small but whole thing in its own as it has its own strap to stop forgetting it), water during these excruciating heatwaves, gym or yoga clothes because I often have a workout in the evening, bandaids when i'm wearing shoes that give me blisters, medication (pill bottle rattles making me sound like a drug addict), digital camera (recent and most worthy purchase) and perhaps a book with a notebook.

This is redundant to read if you have the same problem, but I list them out because the majority of brands don't seem to understand the plight of all the things we must carry to do anything with comfort. I say this, because I have been struggling to find an array of options for what seems to be a simple issue.

I have spent hours looking for a bag that is stylish and practical. In my moments of desperation, I asked AI (Gemini and ChatGPT) for help, and they are no help. I consulted Vogue, Conde Nast Traveler, etc for help, and they gave me absolutely nothing. I don't like boring bags and I sure as hell can't spend hundreds, let alone thousands, on something everything has seen a million times. 

If you had the same issue, then I hope this article helps with that. I have listed below all the bags that I have considered, including the one I bought. They are all under 270 EU - and that is really the maximum because at the moment, I can't even afford that.

I am someone who bikes, I need a roomy bag with a zipper so my shit stops flying out. I am constantly struggling, because the bags may be big enough, but they don't have the zipper to lock it closed. I don't often bring my laptop out even because I can't risk it flying out and dying as I am biking. I have seen the way my water-bottles spring out and do gymnastics tricks before diving out of my bag and collapsing, and I am not willing to make that mistake with my most valuable item.

You've read enough, here is my criteria for a good bag, and the list of top 5 bags I found interesting enough to write an article about them.

Criteria:

• Large enough to fit my 15-in MacBook (I don't remember if it's a pro or air but it's fabulous and heavy as fuck). That means 35 cm length, 26 cm width, and enough cm depth for room to fit my other things. That means a laptop sleeve isn't going to cut it.

• Zipper on the opening -- a bucket bag will not cut it. I don't want even a lipstick falling out. My shit is Guerlain, aka expensive.

• Shoulder AND crossbody straps - the cross body in so I can wrap the bag over the bike's handle bars, so the whole thing doesn't go flying out. With the cobble stone, everything is jumping. Shoulder strap are obvious, however you need both in this city.

• STYLISH - I am sick of boring bags. No need to sacrifice style for basic practical, logical design. I only make one exception in this article and it's because it's one of the only bags that's gets it, however, it sucks it's boing in colors. I won't buy a bag in navy blue or black bag again. I have a shy wardrobe, I do not want a shy bag.

• Pockets - Pretty obvious. I want them inside, and preferably outside too. I love when they make the pockets stylish, but it's not necessary. It's nice for AirPods kinda thing.

• No backpacks - Can't wear a backpack because if I take the subway, I will probably be robbed. not worth the stress. Exception: the bag can convert into a backpack.

MAS1

Pick # 1 - MS1's Andy Bag

You'll be dropping between €139 to €269 depending on the color you and how many straps you want. Depending on your budget, that can understandably be a bit pricey; however, it meets all the criteria, and you can personalize it to fit your style and budget.

It's fits everything (including the 15-in laptop), it comes with a crossbody strap if you want it, it's chic enough for the cocktail parties (convenient when you don't have time to go home and change before), it's work appropriate, it's got character with it's silver rings accent, and it comes in several colors. It's much more mid-century than bohemian, and it doesn't come in spunky colors, but that works well for this leather material.

Price: €139 - 269

GEORGE & GINA & LUCY

Pick # 2 - Little Sushi

After a lot of searching, I found this interesting bag that "blends the styles of the east and west". I respect the color selections made and the structure of its design. There is a zipper to close the top well, a crossbody strap, and pockets galore. I never saw this brand before, but I already love their concept. I don't like logomania, but their logo is present without overwhelming the bag. I particularily love the mochi green with the blue and red stitching, and of course the silver buckle. i am also a fan of how it can synch on the sides for a tighter fit.

And does it fit a 15-in laptop?

Of course.

Price: €125

NORTHFACE

Pick # 3: Fourre-tout Base Camp Voyager

I loved the structure of this bag, it has cool outer pockets, even has a interior laptop sleeve. It's made for travel, to the point that they call it a traveling camp bag. I said before that I would only make one exception in this article, and it's this bag. However, I won't buy a bag in navy blue bag again. I have a shy wardrobe, so I do not want a shy bag.

However, the color options are boring as fuck. There is also the option in "Bronze" but it's not the best they could do. Also the laptop sleeve is too small for a 15-in, but perhaps not for a 13-in.

On the NorthFace site directly, it runs for €90,

but you can find it on other retail sites for around €70.

Price: €95

BENSIMON

Pick # 4: Tourbag (bleu vif)

I am impressed by Bensimon's color vision, especially for a recent French brand. The typical French brand nowadays does not like to use color, let alone bright colors, because they play it too safe. That's understandable of course because what you invest in is always risky, but I do love that this brand goes for the big and bold, it's atypical and refreshing (unless you know some niche brands). While I would need to see them in person to be able to speak about the durability of the material, padding, and so on, their bags do have the spunk this city of Paris is direly missing.

Price: €59

BOCAGE

Pick # 5: Sac Brunette chocolat

With an height of 28 cm and length of 45 cm, this bag should fit a 15-in MacBook. It has a nice chocolate-brown hue for its leather imitation, a great zipper, and both shoulder and crossbody straps. It also comes with an elegant bag charm; I only make it #5 because it is a classic, comfortable piece, rather than something that'll take you out of your comfort zone. As someone who just had the luck to come back from summer vacation, I don't want a bag or wardrobe that drags me back into the city life mentality, but rather reminds me of who I became after. I think it's important to try to hold onto those memories as we enter the fall.

Price: €75

NEUVILLE

Honorable mention: Olivia Croque Noir

It's not the stand out bag full of colors, but it's stylish and affordable (without looking too much like it). The silver rings and mini buckle elevate the bag to resemble the mid-century modern look appreciated in the MAS1. It has a zipper covering the top; however, their major flaws in this creation are gaps on each end of that zipper, and no possibility of a crossbody strap, though the shoulder straps are longer than usual for comfort. It's on sale now, from 200 to 120.

Price: €120

FREE PEOPLE

Honorable mention: Sac Fourre-tout Freestyle à cordon

I fell in love with the burnt-orange color and the bohemian bag, even though I usually hate a nylon bag. It's huge but not too much, it's got the adjustable crossbody strap and the zipper; but, it's has no padding for a laptop. Very thin lining can really bang up the computer. It's made for camping or the gym, but in any case, it can't hold fragile items.

Mind you: I am open to gym bags, travel bags, camping bags. If anything, the outdoors, travel lifestyle is my inspiration for a stylish bag, but it has to be practical for everyday life.

Price: €88

I must add that it is incredibly odd that I could not find more than 5 bags that meet the criteria. I wrote this article because I find it almost an abomination, that despite walking all the streets in Paris and all of Google (all that is accessible to me at least), that I could only find this many bags, rather than having the problem of having so many choices, I don't know what to pick. I can't decide what to pick because it's hard to believe, is that all there is? Rather than They are all just so wonderful I can't possibly choose. In the end, I choose the MAS1, but it's a pretty dime for many. I am sure many can relate when they are going through this, and then they hope that a literal fashion magazine like Vogue can help them in a moment of desperation, only to find they only cater to the ultra wealthy — and even the ultra wealthy do not want to spend so much on the same old. It's an insult to our intelligence as an audience, and it looks like an embarrassing sell out to "advertising" for the company itself. Advertising can be a respectable art, so at least do it right with storytelling and good copywriters, rather than just throwing it in a basic article with a 100 other boring bags.

There is also something incredibly antifeminist about it as well that I can't help shake off. It's as if it was only people with an assistant to carry their things write those articles. The majority of people are working class, middle class, upper-middle class; and while these terms may not be correct anymore, the point is that there seems to be a clear disconnect with reality within whoever gets hired at Conde Nast. Even the upper class carry things all the time. The student carrying their books or the athlete jumping from class to the pool; a working woman or man who needs to bring their laptop and charger to and from home every Monday and Friday because of remote work; the teacher, the entrepreneur, the real estate agent; it doesn't matter who you are really, because it's all the same: the weight of everything you have to carry to make and maintain a balanced life is already laborious as it is. The least the heads of design could have, is common sense on how a consumer wants to feel, be seen and desired; and it requires a well designed, organized bag.

And no, a backpack is not the proper rebuttal.