Messenger style bag for city travel?

[Gayletmom]

I know some of you are experts when it comes to purses and bags. DH and I are taking the kids to London and Paris this summer and I'm looking for a comfortable, secure, lightweight bag for touring and sight seeing. I'll be carrying the usual items from my purse (wallet, sunglasses, small cosmetic bag), a small umbrella, my small camera, a guidebook, a water bottle, and one of those raincoats that fits into a small pouch.

I'm thinking something I can carry cross-body will be best as it will be hands free and secure. I don't want small but not quite as large as some of the big laptop style bags. I would prefer something that doesn't look super sporty ( I have a great Timbuk2 bag but it's not the right style). I'm thinking a bit sophisticated, maybe in black.

Any ideas?

 

[smoke and diamonds]

What about a Longchamp le pliage bag? They only have a shoulder strap in the bigger sizes, but they are waterproof, very lightweight and come in many sizes and colors. You can fold it so it will easily fit in your luggage and it's very durable.

 

[smoke and diamonds]

It can fit a lot .

 

[smoke and diamonds]

And here's a picture showing how it folds up.

 

[Gayletmom]

That's a great looking bag! I'm not familiar with Longchamp but I'm going to do some browsing. I'm wondering if they have a lightweight bag that I can wear messenger style. So many of them are not very attractive but I love the style.

 

[PinkTower]

A Longchamp is a fun item to buy while you are there!
I have done that. They are much more readily available there, I found. The one I got was a backpack, but the fabric was the same as the ones in the photos.

 

[DearBuddha]

Longchamp bags are great! I don't personally have one, but it's on my birthday list for sure, because I'm a teacher and I need a large bag to schlep my stuff to and from school. So many of my grad school friends have them, too, and they can fit everything AND the kitchen sink. They're also very lightweight when they aren't full of laptops and textbooks, lol. They come in a wide array of colors, too, from bright and "look at me" to neutral and classic.

I don't think Longchamp makes messenger bags, though. If that's really what you want, how about these options (don't know your price point, so I threw in lots of options)?

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Vieta-Brown-Cross-body-Bag/5512875/product.html

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Maggie-Bags-Recycled-Seatbelt-Large-Messenger-Bag/4869839/product.html

http://www.overstock.com/Luggage-Bags/Amerileather-Flapover-Cross-body-Messenger-Bag/3011030/product.html

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Presa-Kennington-Oversized-Leather-Hobo-with-Shoulder-Strap/4109778/product.html?rcmndsrc=5

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Toscani-Italian-Designer-Leather-Shoulder-Bag/5183000/product.html?rcmndsrc=2

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Fendi-Tracolla-Zucca-Messenger-Bag/5116107/product.html

 

[Gayletmom]

Thanks, DB, for all the great suggestions. I really like the Maggie bags. Do you have any experience with them?

 

[DearBuddha]

Thanks, DB, for all the great suggestions. I really like the Maggie bags. Do you have any experience with them?

No, not personally, but I know a few people who use them and love them. They're aren't my style per say, but I can definitely see the appeal to them, plus they look like they're very durable and can hold a ton!

 

[Gayletmom]

I'm thinking the same thing-not necessarily what I would usually go for but probably very sturdy and lightweight. Might be an excellent travel bag.

 

[wannaBMrsH]

Gayletmom,

Have you considered Rebecca Minkoff? I was recently looking for something similar for a trip I took with DH to San Francisco and I ended up buying a Morning After Clutch (MAC) in grey and it was (and still is!) fabulous and perfect for cross-body wearing.

I fit: a full lenth wallet (the kind that has a checkbook inside) and a medium sized coin pouch, my cell phone (iPhone), a compact umbrella (from totes), a longish compact (has triple pots for pressed powder, blush and bronzer), a lipstick, long tube of lipgloss, mascara, powder brush, a pen, small notepad and a couple of ticket stubs inside. I had a regular raincoat, but I think the kind that folds up would have fit as well...I still had room to stash some jewelry I bought during one outing as well as my point and shoot camera. (We usually just carry our SLR)

There is an outside pocket that I used to put my boarding pass in, and the inside has a long zippered pocket and two open pockets on the opposite side (I slide my phone into one and now the other side houses my work badge and usb charger for my phone.)

They aren't cheap (between $250-330 new), but you can find good deals on them on ebay and bonanza and the material is great!

She also has several styles and different textures. I bought mine from Gilt Groupe when they were having a flash sale earlier this year in gray perforated leather, but I am drooling over the red, quilted one and the classic leather ones. She also designed a couple of other cross body bags. I love the 3 zip MAC and a studded one called Rocker...

Hope that helps!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

My GF just bought this--wears it across like a messanger bag. Bloomsbury PM. Gorgeous.

http://www.louisvuitton.com/en/flash/index.jsp?direct1=home_entry_gb0

cheers--Sharon