5 of the best traditional leather bags
Words: Charlie Thomas
A quality pair of shoes are the perfect way to finish off an outfit, but a striking leather bag completes the look. Essential for storing daily items, business documents or clothes, depending on the occasion, a leather bag is quite simply a gentleman’s essential. Whilst it might be tempting to purchase one with trendy details or in an eccentric colour, we’d recommend going classic. Look for one in a timeless design, the likes of which have served gentlemen well for decades. Here are 5 of the best traditional leather bags from Mayfair establishment, William & Sons.
FLAPOVER BRIEFCASE
Constructed from supple black leather, this classic single flap briefcase is brought up-to-date with its twin cream straps. Perfect for laptops, it features a sturdy metal key lock, a large inside compartment and leather carry handle.
Flapover Briefcase, £1,510 from William & Son
DOCTOR’S BAG
The smooth brown leather of this doctor’s bag is allowed to shine thanks to the lack of detailing on the exterior. Although more formal than the briefcase above, its large size ensures it has almost Mary Poppins-levels of storage, making it ideal as an alternative weekend bag.
Doctor’s Bag, £1,800 from William & Son
TRAVEL BAG
For a proper weekender though, you’ll need something like this 18-inch travel holdall. The stunning calf leather will age beautifully the more you use it and let’s face it, with a bag this good-looking that will be a lot.
Travel Bag, £1,680 from William & Son
DOCUMENT CASE
Sometimes a full-on briefcase is too cumbersome, especially if you’re running in and out of meetings all day. Something slim and lightweight like this document holder should do the trick quite nicely, especially if finished in a deep charcoal leather with contrast cream stitching.
Document Case, £435 from William & Son
ATTACHE CASE
For the ultimate in gentlemanly aesthetics though, a solid old school briefcase like this is the way forward. Constructed from hand-stitched bridle hide, it’s an opulent thing of beauty with its conker brown tone, interior document compartments and brass push-open locks.
Attache Case, £2,300 from William & Son
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Further reading
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From vision to masterpiece: Charting the personalised journey of a bespoke Swaine creation
