There is something to be said for fast fashion. It’s affordable, accessible, and easy to swap out. But when you’re buying an investment piece, “fast” is the furthest thing from what you could want. For my essentials (including the fall fashion bags that I’ll carry year after year), I like to go for something sturdy: bags that are made well and live up to their price tag.
These bags from Best Buy come from premium brands, and they’re made with premium workmanship, too. From the hand-burnished leather used by Frye to the durable ballistic nylon used in a Tumi backpack, you know these bags will last for years.
Luxe in leather: fall fashion bags from Frye
If you’re looking for a new leather piece to carry, Fossil and Frye are the two brands to look to. Fossil has a more modern look (and uses a lot more colour), while Frye excels at creating pieces that look lived-in. Their price point poises them as more of a niche brand, and they focus on making boots, shoes, and bags that have a bespoke look to them.
The Frye Logan 15.6L Leather Day Backpack in Cognac is a well-built staple backpack built from supple leather. It’s hand-burnished for a worn-in look right out of the gate, but fits more comfortably than a true vintage bag, with smooth zippers and discreetly padded shoulder straps. The Logan range also includes passport holders, a rather handsome duffle bag, and a briefcase that’s honestly breathtaking.
I love the Logan 15.6L Leather Day Backpack because it doesn’t feel like it’s a 15 litre bag. The shoulder straps make the bag feel lighter than it really is, and the pockets? The pockets make it seem even bigger somehow. Not only does this bag have a separate zippered pocket for your laptop, it also has two side pockets and two discreet front pockets. The main section is spacious and easy to get into, and like any good WASP, it even has an additional section within for further compartmentalization.
If you don’t want to carry an entire backpack around with you (though the Logan is perfect for a metropolitan commute), the Frye Melissa Leather Crossbody Clutch in Cognac is a much smaller option. With a removable shoulder strap, it’s both a crossbody and a clutch, and it comes with ample pockets (two interior and one exterior) to keep your belongings organized. The Melissa Clutch feels delicate despite its handcrafted leather design, and would look great with a pair of dark blue jeans or structured leggings.
A bag to remember: Fossil fall fashion bags at Best Buy
From Fossil, two of this season’s fall fashion bags that really steal the show are the Fossil Graham Messenger Bag in Cognac and the Fossil Fiona Leather Crossbody Bag in Steel Blue. I was particularly taken with the Graham Messenger Bag, but at 5’2″, it’s a little big for me. It would sit best on a larger frame, but it holds plenty. Smooth clasps keep a buttery-smooth top flap shut, but it opens to reveal a spacious centre pocket with a laptop compartment as well as two half-width pockets and a full-width zippered pocket.
In front of the main compartment are three more pockets (one full-width; two half), and at the back, there’s a zippered pocket for anything you might need to grab on the go.
The Fiona is just as well-equipped, but on a much smaller scale. It comes in a really lovely steel blue shade that’s accented well with gold hardware and brown leather straps and pulls. It features a zippered outside pocket, an open back pocket, and inner pockets to keep your belongings organized.
I always use my inner zippered pocket for “bathroom cupboard” things like tampons and Advil, and keep my keys and tissues in the open inner pockets. I know they make purse organizers for this, but I just don’t see the point of carrying around the extra weight of a smaller bag inside of your already-small bag! It’s great when a bag comes equipped with them, and luckily enough, most do.
Backpacks to fly for: fall fashion bags from TUMI
Fall fashion doesn’t end with city pieces, though, and TUMI is a traveller’s go-to for stylish bags. These three backpacks are well-suited for both a day flight or city wear, and come with TUMI’s high standards of craftsmanship.
I love a good lightweight backpack, so the TUMI Voyageur line speaks to me more than the Alpha Bravo range. The TUMI Voyageur Calais Backpack in Mink is made from lightweight nylon and trimmed in leather, and the Calais style sits on the larger end for a backpack. A dedicated compartment fits a 15″ laptop, and the glossy bag looks professional enough to take into business class.
The Voyageur Calais has four exterior pockets (one is hidden smoothly behind the TUMI logo), padded straps, and a leather top-carry handle. It also has a back strap to secure it to a retractable luggage handle, and its centre compartment is separated into a main section and four smaller pockets to hold electronics and other items.
For city wear, the TUMI Voyageur Halle Backpack in Crimson sits a little smaller. It fits up to a 12″ laptop (making it great for a MacBook Air user) in a padded section in the main compartment. It also has interior organizers for your smaller electronics, as well as a generously-sized interior zip pocket.
Like the Calais, this Voyageur backpack is made from lightweight nylon with metallic hardware and leather details, including a gold TUMI monogram tag that attaches to the front of the bag. (If you prefer your luggage personalized, the tag would be a great place to have your initials etched in.)
I’m not usually a fan of red accessories, but I really like the Halle in Crimson–the tones of the bag go just perfectly with the gold hardware.
Finally, the TUMI Alpha Bravo 43.8L Brief Backpack in Anthracite is what I imagine James Bond would carry … If he could put his Serious Spy Man briefcase down for two minutes and blend in with the rest of us. It’s a deluxe backpack that oozes testosterone, and it’s made from ballistic nylon for maximum durability.
The Alpha Bravo backpack features space for both a laptop and a tablet, and it’s great for the rainy days of 007’s home city: it even has a waterproof exterior pocket for storing a wet umbrella.
This bag secures firmly to a piece of luggage, and has a “secret pocket” that lies flush behind ample back padding. On the side opposite the waterproof pocket, there are two smaller pockets that are ideal for electronic accessories and small items–things like earbuds and key fobs. The secondary compartment at the front unzips almost fully and expands to reveal additional organizers, including an RFID-shielded compartment.
These fall fashion bags may not be “fast,” but they’re durable, well-made investment pieces that will last for the long haul. Whether you opt for a bag from Fossil, TUMI, or Frye, you’ll be in good hands!
