I have two Longchamp Le Pliage bags – a mid-blue Large with short handles and a black Large with long handles.
These are lovely bags. Light, hardwearing, good leather, has brand snob-value without the huge price, and they look very understated and clean. They go on sale fairly often – mostly the seasonal colours and collaborations, but usually you can find a few classics hidden among those on the sale table as well. Airports also always seem to have special editions and sales.
For travelling there is nothing better. You can pop one or two into your luggage (they are light and don’t take up any space when folded) and use them for day trips or to carry excess purchases home with you. You can also use them as beach bags, weekenders or carry-on luggage without worrying about damaging them. They tough and water-resistant and, for a ‘designer’ handbag, the price is very good, particularly if you find them on sale.
Until about two years ago, I had never been able to use them as handbags. I need a more structured bag with proper internal or external pockets – these just have one small slip pocket inside on the older models and two in the newer ones. Everything tends to fall into a heap at the bottom.
A couple of summers ago, however, I started using one as a bag in my free time. It worked so well I tend to go through periods of using them intensively for work as well. I still do have the problem of organisation inside but that is outweighed by the fact that it is so light and takes a beating while still looking professional.
I have been using my black one for work for a while now because it is lighter and fares better in the constant rain we have been having than my leather ones.
This is my mid-blue Large with short handles
To the right is a purple weekender with long handles. I sold this one to one of my readers so it went to a really good home.
