ThingsAmongMany

Yup, that’s right. The question that’s ever-present for every woman has invaded the world of men.

I’ve been on the lookout for a bit more “grown-up” bag for quite a while now. My Timbuk is great for beach days and the like, but it’s been feeling a little…young…for the NY streets lately. Not to mention cavernous (it was purchased to tote my now long-defunct 15″ powerbook).

Of course, if I’m gonna drop the money on a killer bag, I definitely want something that’ll stand out and stand up. The Carga bag caught my eye on a recent perusal of Refinery29, one of my favorite fashion stops on the web. Made by LA-based All Purpose, the Carga is an interesting mix of felt and leather with some substantial metal detailing to boot. Maybe its because the design world is on a bit of a felt kick lately, but there’s something about the slight awkwardness of this bag that I find appealing.

Another favorite that’s been on my list for a while now is the Satchel Bag (in landscape, please) from Tanner. I love the simplicity and the detailing on this one; they’ve clearly put a lot of thought into the design. Just check out the removable interior pockets. I also have a belt from Tanner that I love, so supporting these guys feels better to me than heading to the dept. store for something similar.

How bout the readers? Can anyone point me toward something else I should consider?

I’ve traveled (and, occasionally, lived) out of the same two duffel bags for quite a few years now - I think its been about 12-15 years since I actually went out and bought a piece of anything resembling luggage. Given the years spent wandering the outdoors, my trusty go-to pieces have consisted of a small Patagonia duffel bag and a large North Face duffel (purchased well before the Vanity Fair take-over destroyed the brand). These days, however, I’m finding that my tastes (and age) are maturing a little (my wallet falls under a different discussion). When I stumbled onto the Cotton-linen Artisan’s Duffel, from J. Crew of all places, I was instantly drawn in. I love the vintage simplicity, and I can just about see the nicely worn-in look that it would have after a few years of being tossed in the backseat or the overhead rail of the train. Is there some sort of odd connection between getting older and liking things that hearken back to simpler times? Am I finally outgrowing the tech-fabric craze that kept me employed through high school? Scary thought.