Plain leather tomboy purse

March 14, 2023 12:14 PM

I'd like a leather purse that's very plain but also kind of badass and heavy-duty looking...

Made of nice-feeling thick buttery leather (not structured hard leather)
Colour: either black, or true white (a cool stark white, not cream).
Large enough to hold a 13" laptop
**Must zip 100% closed** (Not have gaps at the ends of the zippers)
Wide leather strap, ideally long enough for crossbody but single-shoulder is ok
Has a classic, simple look
Style words could be: masculine, minimalist, handmade, cowboy, or rock n'roll
Budget - up to $500, maybe more if it's durable enough to last more than 5 years.

Some examples of bags I do like:

Coach Legacy Duffel - Love this bag, especially the look of the heavy duty metal zippers. The strap is kind of thin though (and I know from friends that it tends to warp and wear out quickly)

M0851's PM-10 bag - I love the simple front flap. Only problem is that it doesn't zip all the way closed, there are gaps at the sides of the zipper. Don't love the strap hardware as I know that kind of square o-ring will tend to shift and twist the strap when worn.

Marc Jacobs Natasha with the bird buckles - So cute, sadly it's very dated looking

All Saints Edbury - Love this bag, especially the thick strap with a buckle and a long end, the rock-n-roll fringe, and the true-white colour. It's too small for my laptop though.

posted by nouvelle-personne to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (14 answers total)

Have you looked at Saddleback Leather's options?
posted by cubby at 12:33 PM on March 14, 2023 [3 favorites]

I find that Rebecca Minkoff bags are "classic with a rock and roll edge" and I have two that have lasted wonderfully so far (save for the tassels my cat ate). From what's on the site right now I think the M.A.B. hobo or Darren carryall look closest to what you are describing. Check dimensions to be sure about fitting the laptop. You might also want to look for older models of her bags.
posted by misskaz at 1:03 PM on March 14, 2023

How about a Cuyana zipper tote with an added wide strap?
posted by music for skeletons at 1:16 PM on March 14, 2023 [1 favorite]

Samsonite has a number of soft briefcases that might fit the bill. Very masc, but none of the other keywords. They're very well made.
posted by porpoise at 1:22 PM on March 14, 2023

I am a big fan of Ash bags for a semi-masculine look and great quality. I favor more bells and whistles than you (I love this one, for instance, and I'm not sure it fits your needs), but some of them are simple—how about this? (This brand costs a lot new and I am not 100% sure they're making new bags anymore, which is why these are eBay links—they can be found on most resale sites.)
posted by babelfish at 1:29 PM on March 14, 2023

If you are willing to spend spend spend, why not the Village Tannery large Juliette? Or maybe they could make a larger version of the Miami for you?

They show it in green, but their products are all small batch or custom and I'm sure you could get it in black.

I have a secondhand soft leather bag from them and it is magnificent, possibly the highest quality soft bag bag I've ever handled. They use extremely robust leathers (their structured bags can even be too heavy - I'd probably get a Stickman structured bag for the weight if I were spending tons of money on a new bag), the construction is excellent, you genuinely have a small production bag that practically no one else will have and you're supporting a small business. Frankly with the way high-end mass production is going, their bags put a lot of designer stuff in the shade, quality-wise.
posted by Frowner at 2:06 PM on March 14, 2023 [2 favorites]

I've had two Visconti bags that I bought off Amazon in the US for more than a decade. They weren't that expensive (a little over $100) and have been workhorses: the buttons and zipper work well, and the leather has aged well. The only issue I've had is that the cold weather in my area cracked the rubber on the shoulder pad for one of them, and I eventually peeled it off so just the leather part is there. I feel like some kind of world adventurer with mine.

There are options for laptop-sized crossbody bags with full zipper in black that might suit your needs.
posted by past unusual at 2:07 PM on March 14, 2023 [1 favorite]

Portland Leather Goods has some options: This would be great if you're interested in a backpack style. The Tote comes in a variety of sizes and has an option with a zipper, and two different black options - smooth or pebble.
posted by hydra77 at 2:11 PM on March 14, 2023

Botkier I think this does have a full zipper despite the bucket name.

Opelle
posted by sepviva at 4:03 PM on March 14, 2023 [1 favorite]

Piel Leather laptop hobo bag, full/inset zip, thick (integral) straps
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:05 PM on March 14, 2023

Try Dooney, here’s their messenger bag. My Florentine leather bag is super soft.

I replace their pebble leather bags every five years because the visibly show some wear. The bags remain functional, if not quite as pretty, for much longer.
posted by shock muppet at 7:53 PM on March 14, 2023

A bit over your budget, but I have a smaller bag from them that I bought six years ago, use every day, and looks brand new, so I can vouch for the quality. How about this bag from Opelle Creative
posted by alygator at 10:46 PM on March 14, 2023

I can vouch for the deliciousness of the leather at Duluth. They have several options that might be what you're looking for.
posted by restless_nomad at 6:54 AM on March 15, 2023 [1 favorite]

MeMail sent to the OP. I just got notice this Soprano bag is on sale, in case anybody else is looking for something similar.
posted by sardonyx at 6:18 PM on March 26, 2023