Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop Bags

It's summer and surprisingly hot here in coastal Vancouver. So I've been wearing my hair in a ponytail lately. And sporting rolled up jeans and oversize white oxford shirts. And I realised that I've been transported to the 50's and have become Ritchie Cunningham's little sister. Sock hops, slicked hair and poodle skirts are all the rage. And my saddle shoes are swell.

But I've got one thing Joanie didn't have - and that is the rockin' Black Candy laptop tote from Rainebrooke Designs. Steve from Rainebrooke sent me a Black Candy to try out. At first glance, the shiny patent handles and trim definitely make me feel like this bag will fit right in with my current 50's vibe. But don't fret, there is nothing old-fashioned about the Black Candy. It's definitely a modern woman's bag!

The Black Candy is a split-style laptop tote. One side holds your laptop and has a removable sleeve for extra padding. The sleeve holds up to a 15" laptop - but if you remove the sleeve, a 17" will fit on the laptop side. The Black Candy is very well padded, so even if you don't have the sleeve, I don't think you need to worry about your laptop.

The other side of the Black Candy is for all those bits and baubles that make our lives easier (or possibly just more cluttered). Rainebrooke has included three zippered pockets one one side and a bag-wide mesh pocket on the other. There are also the usual holders for business cards and pens - handy! The main holding area of this side is very generous - it will hold a number of file folders, a notebook and possibly your lunch.

One of the VERY smart things about the Black Candy is that each of the sides of the tote has it's own zipper - so you don't have to have the laptop side opened when you're digging through the bauble side - and vice versa.

The Black Candy has very generous handles for over-the-shoulder or in-hand carrying. There are four metal feet on the bottom to keep the bag off the ground. There is one zippered pocket on the outside for stashing a wallet or other small item. Very handy, but I do wish this pocket were a little deeper - it doesn't *quite* hold a boarding pass and zip back up.

The Black Candy is available in black with red or pink patent vinyl trim and handles. I find that the red is darker and not as fire engine-y as I expected from the pictures on the website. So if you're worried about the red one being too bright, don't be. The pink one though - Steve says its pink is like cotton candy!

You can purchase the Black Candy from Rainebrooke's site for $149 USD.

UPDATE June 2009: There is a sale on the Black Candy right now - priced at $79.95. And FREE Shipping (US only). PLUS Steve is offering my readers an incredible additional 20% off that sale price! Use the code CANDY on checkout. You can't beat that deal.

And if you decide that you want a different Rainebrooke bag, the code FUNCHICO will give you 10% off. Check out the Rainebrooke laptop bag selection.

I don't know if you're aware, but brown and pink is the new black. It's true! It's taken me awhile to come around to the brown/pink combo - I'm still scarred from the last time it was popular. But I must admit, I've wholeheartedly embraced it - ever since Matthew from Mobile Edge sent me a pink and brown ScanFast Element Checkpoint Friendly briefcase.

Such a vibrant pink! Such a rich brown! Such a delightful inner lining! I've been quite the smitten kitten with this bag.

I posted a review of Tom Bihn's excellent CheckPoint Flyer men's laptop bag on my Cool and Stylish Laptop Bags for Men lens, but this was the first time I'd had a chance to try out a TSA-approved laptop bag for women.

I tested the ScanFast Element out on a recent business trip and was very pleased with its performance in the security check. A quick unzip and the bag glides right through the x-ray machine, my laptop securely in place, the rest of the bag undisturbed. Very handy.

I felt quite smug being able to skip the "stuffing my laptop back into my bag" ritual that my fellow travellers were performing - in fact, the Element and I strutted all the way to the gate (with only a brief stopover at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - I did have all that extra time, you know).

Like all of Mobile Edge's bags, the ScanFast Element is extremely well-made and designed with your needs in mind. You can carry it by the handles, or use the nicely padded shoulder strap to carry it messenger-style.

The bag itself is divided into three main sections. The front area unzips to reveal:

• A pretty, colourful striped satin lining that makes it easy to see what's inside the bag


• A pocket featuring Wireless Security Shield technology, which keeps your Bluetooth Phone/PDA safe from spam, hackers and viruses (Love this!)


• Pen and business card holders made of sturdy faux-leather material


• Zippered area for your wallet/credit cards, etc.

There's a place for everything in the front section, but in case anything shifts during the flight, there are nice deep gussets on either side to keep the contents from spilling out.

The laptop area is nicely padded and offers great protection for your machine - both my MacBook Pro and Rosemary's ginormous Dell Inspiron 1520 fit in there with ease (not, obviously, at the same time).

The ScanFast also has plenty of room for files in the third zippered section, behind the laptop - great for documents, keeping receipts and whatever else you need. And at the very back of the bag is a pocket big enough to slide a magazine or slim book - easy to access without having to unzip the bag.

Another great touch is the little removable zippered pouch that comes with the bag. I used it a lot and found it perfect for those little items that get lost easily in my bag - lip gloss, mints, keys, etc.

All in all, I felt the ScanFast Element was *almost* the perfect business travel bag. My only caveat emptors about this bag are:

• The pretty pink suede marks up fairly easily - most of the time, you can remove marks or smudges with a little rubbing but in places where the bag is pressed against your body, marks are harder to remove. I had a book in the back pocket of the bag - between the weight of the stuff in my bag and the friction against my hip as I walked, the dark outline of the book is a permanent feature on the back pocket. Not a big deal to me, but if you pride yourself on a pristine bag, it's something to watch out for.


• There's no pass-through at the back - I've been spoiled with other bags and really find the pass-through handy when I travel. Maybe in the next iteration?

I would definitely recommend this bag to women who fly alot and want to look stylish and be organized while on the go! If you're not feeling the pink and brown, no worries - the ScanFast Element comes in Olive and Brown as well. The ScanFast Element Briefcase retails for a very reasonable $99 at Mobile Edge.

Funky, chic and cool in regards to a laptop bag can mean a lot of different things to different people. To me - the aesthetic aspect of design is a big factor (e.g. is it pretty :) ). As is functionality (I like it when designers anticipate some work-need of mine). But more and more I am finding myself defining funky, chic and cool as something that is a fundamental core value of a company. So if they offset their carbon footprint (like Rainebrooke bags) or create bags from recycled materials (like Act2).

Gnana is a new company that creates laptop cases and other professional bags using traditional Indian fabrics. Gnana (pronounced as Nyana) is a Sanskrit (the ancient vedic Indian language) word, meaning "knowledge of the ultimate truth". The bags are adorned with sequins and embroidery that has been done by rural women artisans in India. The bags from Gnana are beautiful, unusual and provide employment to women in an Indian village. Awesome. They sent over a bag for me to review - a briefcase style tote in some awesome orange fabric with silver piping!

I like the fabric very much. It is pretty and decorative and also quite sturdy. I've seen some bags before that have fancy fabrics but aren't ready for daily use (notably brocades and silks). This fabric held up to daily wear and tear - and doesn't show dirt.

The main interior section of the Gnana case has a well-padded place for your laptop. There are some small mesh pockets for gadgetry and notions opposite the laptop area. And behind that is a full zippered pocket, appropriate for documents, a notebook or other items you want to keep zippered up.

On the back of the Gnana is another roomy, full size zippered pocket. On the front, under the flap, is a final pocket with small sewn-in inserts for pens, business cards or other miscellany.

You can carry the Gnana by a handle on the top of the case or by the accompanying shoulder strap. The hardware on the Gnana is sturdy - both the zipper pulls as well as the shoulder strap fasteners. And there are thin rubber feet on the bottom which provide a modicum of protection from the surface you set it down on.

Gnana has a wider variety of styles and colours, including laptop cases, backpack and messenger styles. And good news for all you 17" owners out there - there are a number of Gnana styles that fit 17" laptops! Gnana bags retail for between $70 and $115 - depending on style and size. You can check out a variety of Gnana bags at CareerBags.com. The first one on this page is the closest in style to the one I reviewed here. You can also click through for bigger and more pictures of the Gnana.

I have a great affection for carpet bags. They always remind me of Anne of Green Gables, who arrived off the train at Bright River with all her worldly goods in an ancient carpet bag. Anne's carpet bag had to be carried a certain way or the handle would fall off - not very functional for the young orphan on the go.

Fortunately, the Veronica London Wirkin Laptop Carpet Bag is not your grandmother's carpet bag - it's definitely a carpet bag for the new millennium. It has a unique look and is really well-made; the vintage fabric is whimsical yet chic. The rich texture of the fabric and the pebbled leather trim and handles make the Wirkin a great marriage of classic and Bohemian style.

I'm a fan of the handbag-style laptop tote and the Wirkin's shoulder straps make for comfy carrying. I also liked that the Wirkin has the same fabulous little feet I loved so much on the Veronica London Monogram Laptop Tote. I was a little worried that the buckle closure on the front of the bag would be fussy, but it turns out the front is just a clever illusion! The bag actually zips across the top, which makes for much easier access.

There is a little gap at the top of the bag, even with the zipper closed - so between that and the vintage fabric, the Wirkin's not really a rainy day bag.

The Wirkin is very fun and fashion-forward but it isn't just about looks - inside, this bag's all business. It comes with a padded, removable laptop sleeve, which fit my MacBook Pro very comfortably (my MacBook also liked the leather detail on the laptop sleeve - a nice touch).

The laptop sleeve has its own compartment, which is also padded for extra laptop love. The laptop compartment is secured with a Velcro strap - if you're not toting your laptop around, the compartment is the perfect size for files, binders, magazines, etc.

The middle compartment has room for your eyewear, PDA, iPod, cellphone, pens, business cards and anything else you might need. None of the interior pockets are zippered, however, so I wouldn't toss small, hard-to-find items or loose change in there. The front compartment runs the length of the bag - more room for files, notebook or wallet.

The Wirkin is quite a roomy bag and has just the right amount of structure - not too firm, not too floppy. Even if you overstuff it a little (my Annotated Anne of Green Gables hardcover takes up a lot of room), the carpet bag fabric is sturdy yet forgiving, which I appreciated.

Ellen and the fine folks at Veronica London let me pick which Wirkin bag I wanted to test and review - it was a tough call, but I chose the green Wirkin (green does suit us redheads). The bag also comes in burnt orange carpet bag fabric, which I loved almost as much as the green. If you like the Wirkin style of bag but are not feeling the business Bohemian attitude, you can also get the Wirkin in red and black microfiber.

While I will always associate carpet bags with Anne, the design of the Wirkin bags are actually an homage to the famous Hermès Birkin Bag!. But while the Birkin typically starts at $7500 US, you can get a fabulous Veronica London Wirkin Laptop Carpet Bag for only $140 US at CareerBags.com.

The lovely Lisa at O Yikes! was kind enough to send me one of their sporty, colourful Slingback 9-2-5 Packages to try out a while back. It's a very compact, good-looking bag.

I did have a couple of size issues with the Slingback, however, so I was unable to perform my usual "week of use" testing prior to my review. Just wanted to let you know up front - I have touched, poked, prodded and admired the bag, but have not taken it into the fray.

The Slingback's laptop sleeve fits up to a 13" screen and my MacBook Pro is 15". FYI - O Yikes! *does* make a large laptop sleeve that fits up to a 15" laptop - but the large sleeve will not fit in the Slingback. The other thing the Slingback doesn't fit is me. I didn't get out the tape measure, but let us say this: if you are at the upper limit of size at Lane Bryant or are very large bosomed or barrel chested, the Slingback is not the bag for you.


That all being said, there's much to recommend the Slingback. The 9-2-5 Slingback Package (the Slingback, the matching laptop sleeve and accessories pouch) is a great value and makes for a very versatile bag. Leave the laptop sleeve out and use it as a diaper bag - or leave the Slingback at the office and take the laptop sleeve to your meeting (it has its own shoulder strap!).

The Slingback is made of sturdy nylon material with solid, good quality hardware (zippers, clips, etc.) I love the cheerful colours it comes in - I chose the Tangerine Raspberry colourway (my wedding colours!) but it's also available in more subdued tones if you prefer.

The Slingback itself is well thought out and offers plenty of organizational options. The smaller front compartment has a generous gusset and a mesh pocket to help keep things in place. The larger main compartment has plenty of zip pockets and pouches for your valuables and other daily essentials, from USB keys to talcum powder.

The Slingback's ergonomic strap fastens across your chest with Velcro and a buckle to keep it secure. And the chest strap has a holster pouch for easy access to your cellphone, mp3 player or PDA. I also like the exterior bottle holder - excellent for your water or, when riding public transit, your flask.

The laptop sleeve is as padded and sturdy as the Slingback. As I said, it comes with its own shoulder strap, but also has handles for easy toting. The laptop sleeve has a back pocket as well, for a notebook or similar, and it comes in the same bright colours as the Slingback.

The square accessory case was my personal favourite part of the 9-2-5 Package - it's big enough for my powercord and mouse and the see-through mesh pockets let me see what's in there without having to empty the thing out every time I was rooting around for a memory card or lozenge.

Would I recommend the Slingback to a smaller person with a smaller laptop? Without reservation. It's a cool, unusual shape as well as being a well-designed bag. And, in the spirit of disclosure, when I pass it on to someone who can use it, I'll be selfishly retaining the accessory case. Bigger gals with bigger 'books (or bosoms) should check out the O Yikes! 9.2.5 Messenger Package.

The O Yikes! 9-2-5 Slingback Package retails for $115.00 at CareerBags.com.

I have been an ardent admirer of Crumpler bags for a long time. But an admirer from afar. Like Dante who admired Beatrice from a distance and obsessively wrote her love poetry - so too has been my relationship with Crumpler bags. I've had a number of friends who have purchased them, but never have myself. But then, one of my dreams came true and Crumpler sent me a couple of bags to review! Awesome!

The first one I tried is The Luncheon. It's a super-cute, vertically-oriented messenger-style bag. Like most Crumplers, it comes in a variety of striking jewel-tone colours. I got the red one! The interior has two main pockets - a well-padded one towards the back for your laptop (holds up to 15.4" - my MBP fit, no problem at all) and another one towards the front which will hold a couple of books, accessories, etc.

There is also a very unusual external pocket in the front - it is under the flap so only accessible when the flap is open - you could fit a couple of smaller books or gadgets in here. Finally, there is a mesh zippered pocket on the interior of the flap. This is a good idea, in theory, a place to securely stash small items like pens or USB drives - but a little awkward to access.



The carry strap is sturdy and very comfortable with lots of length so you can wear it across your body. It is also removable which is a nice touch. In the back of The Luncheon, there is a carry-handle if you don't want to use the strap.

I LOVE the look and comfort of The Luncheon. It is good looking and made of high-quality materials. I do, however, have two beefs with The Luncheon. First, there is no external pocket. Why? WHY? Something where I can stash a boarding pass when I'm traveling? This annoyed me a little bit. Second, the padding for the laptop compartment is good, but not great. When I put The Luncheon in the trunk of my car, I heard and felt laptop connecting with the metal floor of the trunk. So, watch how you toss The Luncheon around.

The Luncheon comes in 4 striking colour combinations and retails for $100 CDN on the Crumpler Canadian site. Oddly, it's not listed on the US site (although it IS on the Australian site). The US site has its little brother, The Breakfast Buffet which holds laptops up to 12". It retails for $90. If you're interested in The Luncheon and are in the US, give them a call - they have a number of retail outlets and can help you find it.

I'm reading William Gibson's Mona Lisa Overdrive at the moment and am having a deep fantasy romance with London in winter. The layers of history - the rattle of the Underground - the soft hush of snow falling in the streets as I stride along, boot heels clicking on the sidewalk, the collar of my Burberry jacket turned up against the cold, my Laurex Silver Petal Messenger laptop bag gleaming against my hip, keeping my MacBook Pro (and cyberspace deck) safe from the elements...ahhhhhhhh.

The good folks at Laurex sent me a review copy of the Silver Petal - I knew as soon as I saw it that it would fit nicely into my cyberpunk fantasy for several reasons.

First of all, I love the Silver Petal's sleek messenger shape, its light silvery colour and the unique graphic design on the front flap. Secondly, the Silver Petal is made of durable, water-repellent PVC material - good for both real and fantasy snow. Thirdly, "Petal" is the name of one of the characters in William Gibson's book. Three for three, Laurex!

Even when my London fantasy breaks down, the Silver Petal continues to hold up. It's very lightweight for such a structured, well-padded laptop bag. And its wide rubber feet keep the bag from flopping over, even when it's fully loaded. The adjustable shoulder strap has a detachable pad in the same silver fabric as the bag, which makes for very comfy carrying. And the brass rings decorating the strap are a nice detail.

The front flap of the Silver Petal fastens with Velcro. Underneath the flap is the front zippered pocket with structured spaces for your iPod, PDA and pens. There's also plenty of room in there for your wallet, phone or paperback, like Mona Lisa Overdrive.


The main compartment has a removable laptop sleeve that fastens with a wide strip of Velcro. The sleeve itself is quite well-padded and fits most 15.4" laptops (I tried both my MacBook Pro and Rose's Dell Inspiron 1520 - both fit nicely).

An aside about the laptop sleeve - all of the Laurex messenger bags come with their own removable laptop sleeve. But if you're looking to upgrade (or if you just want a sleeve that makes a splash), each of Laurex's unique prints are reproduced on her laptop sleeves (I reviewed the Laurex Blue Illusion Laptop Sleeve on my Laptop Sleeve lens.)

Back to the main compartment - with your laptop in there, there's still room for all your power cords and other peripherals - or you can take the laptop sleeve out and fill the bag with books and binders. The main compartment also has a zippered pocket at the front near the top - good for secret things, like biosoft dossiers of key players in the London Mob.

At the back of the Silver Petal, there's a deep Velcro'd pocket, great for magazines, files or a notebook - anything you need easy access to on your commute.

I want to give an extra mention the excellent overall padding of the Silver Petal - it will definitely keep your laptop snug and protected. I wouldn't toss your laptop off Tower Bridge in it, but I wouldn't hesitate to toss it in the overhead compartment on a trip. To London. Perhaps this winter.

My snowy London fantasy blurred just a little when I discovered that the Burberry coat I have my eye on would cost me a month's rent. Fortunately, the Silver Petal transcends fantasy with a very reasonable price tag! The Laurex's Silver Petal Laptop Messenger, along with six other fabulous Laurex designs and colours, retails for only $69.99 over at CareerBags.com.

It was Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend and I spent the holiday weekend with my spouse, in-laws and hound on beautiful Vancouver Island. Traditional dishes were prepared, the dog was walked, and while the others were distracted by frolicking, I got a lot of work done! So over the turkey dinner, as I gave thanks for my multitudinous blessings, I made sure to also give thanks to Steve from Rainebrooke for sending me the Metro-Traveler Laptop Bag in time for my trip.

The new Metro-Traveler's functional design, solid construction and uncluttered look made it the perfect bag for my working weekend. I basically needed to bring a pared-down version of my office over to the island with me; the Metro-Traveler helped me get organized and keep things simple.

I tested out the "traveler" part of the Metro-Traveler early on - the bag has a back flap that you can either use as an extra pocket (for files or magazines) or as a pass-through with your rolling luggage. When you're not using it, the pass-through is zipped closed at the bottom and Velcro'd shut at the top, which keeps the bag looking sleek.

Behind the back flap is a large organizer pocket with pockets and spaces for phone, pens, business cards, PDA, etc. The back pocket has mesh gussets to keep things that may have shifted during the ferry ride from flying out - a very nice touch. I tucked my moleskine notebook in there for easy access in case a brilliant idea struck me; it was great to be able to reach in and grab it without having to rummage around in the main part of the bag. Handy!

The main compartment of the Metro-Traveler is divided into two areas - there's room for up to a 17" laptop in the nicely padded laptop compartment and plenty of space in the second compartment for your power cords and other accessories. The second compartment also has spaces for electronics, a zippered pocket and a key tether - love the key tether. The Metro-Traveler is very lightweight and quite roomy - I managed to take my MacBook Pro and cords along with a couple of books and files without distorting the Metro-Traveler's lines.

The Metro-Traveler's envelope-like front flap fastens with a thick strip of Velcro, keeping the contents secure. And the two front pockets are great for whatever you need access to - phone, iPod, or, in my case, snacks! That ferry ride goes a lot faster when you've got enough M&Ms.

The handle of the Metro-Traveler has a nice, textured rubber grip on it, which makes it easy on the hand. I have to say that I have the same beef with the single handle and the handle placement as I did with the handle of the Metro-Lite. But I mainly used the sturdy, padded shoulder strap to carry the bag, which was fine.

While the Metro-Traveler's exterior is fairly plain, it does come in four hot colours (I had the royal purple)! The Metro-Traveler is on sale now for $59.95 over at Rainebrooke's site (a great deal in these uncertain economic times). And don't forget, Steve offers my readers a 10% discount! Simply use the code FunChiCo on checkout!

Few things captured my imagination as a child like space travel. I loved all of those '70's space adventure shows, where swashbucklers carried phasers as they sought out new life and new civilizations. I especially loved all of the technology - the computers, the robots, the hand-held healing rays - I believe these shows planted the seeds of my now-flourishing gadget and gizmo obsession. And, of course, there was the fashion. In the future, everyone's hair was perfect, the alien princesses had the coolest jewelry and everything they wore was shiny.

The Shine Glossy Laptop Bag in Silver brought a big smile to my face when Alan revealed its silvery goodness. The shiny silver vinyl cover with white nylon piping made me feel like my laptop and I were blasting off into the future! The Shine Glossy is a delightful combination of space age camp and modern style.

The Shine's glossy vinyl exterior will slick off light rain (the kind you'd encounter while strolling through the spacecraft's hydroponic gardens). It's extremely lightweight and surprisingly roomy, as all laptop bags of the future should be.

The Shine Glossy has two handles that can be snapped together, for easy carrying. The bag also comes with a matching padded shoulder strap (and trust me - when you're using the bag to bring geological samples back from the planet's surface, a shoulder strap comes in handy).

At the back of the Shine Glossy is a large pocket big enough to fit a few files or magazines. The interior of the bag is lined in bright orange nylon - I love the splash of colour and the bright fabric makes it easy to find what you're looking for.

The main section of the Shine Glossy has a lightly padded built-in compartment to fit your 17" laptop. The laptop compartment fastens with a Velcro tab. When I say "lightly padded", I mean it - the Shine Glossy definitely needs to be strapped in for take-off and you probably don't want to take it on away missions to the centre of a volcano or other bumpy environment.

Inside the bag, opposite the laptop compartment, are two large open pockets, perfect for cords, tricorders and other peripherals. The main section offers plenty of space and would easily accommodate your binders, books, notebooks, holy texts of an alien culture - whatever you need to tote around from Engineering to your quarters.

The Shine Glossy's easy access front pocket has everything you need to keep you organized - a small zippered pouch for cash or bus tokens, a D ring for your keys and spaces for pens, cellphone, business cards and even a book (nights can get lonely in space).

The Shine Glossy is a sleek and stylish way for you and your laptop to travel, whether you're headed for the moon or just to the office. The Shine Glossy Laptop Tote by Ice Red Designs comes in Silver, Pink and Black and retails for $74.95. Check out all three Shine Glossy 17" Laptop Bags over at CareerBags.com.

The 1980 classic Xanadu came on the TV the other day and as I watched Olivia Newton John sing and dance her way through a myriad of costume changes, I was overcome by waves of nostalgia. The music! The roller skating! The voluminous pants! The "special effects!" Oh, how I loved it all. I've had the Xanadu soundtrack on permanent rotation ever since. Magic.

When the lovely Lauri from Clark & Mayfield sent the Parkside Laptop Bag for review, it evoked many of the same nostalgic feelings. The white leather and silver-studs! The buckles! The leather zipper pulls! The cheerful striped lining! The little fringe detail on the front pocket! If Olivia Newton John had carried a laptop bag in Xanadu, it would have been the Parkside.

Crafted of white Napa leather with silver stud detailing, the Parkside is a nicely structured and beautifully made bag. The Parkside also boasts unusual hardware and fun details; the handles and shoulder strap are both attached with big silver hoops and the zipper pulls are covered in the same white leather as the bag. The Parkside has four little silver feet on the bottom under the front compartment, to keep the bag balanced when your laptop's inside. All it's missing is a disco ball keychain! Fortunately, I have one. Xanadu!

Of course, the Parkside isn't just about turning heads at the roller rink; it's also practical and versatile.

The Parkside has two main compartments and a front pocket which fastens lightly with a magnet. A word to the wise - don't overstuff this front pocket, as the closure only works properly when there's not much in it.

The front interior compartment of the Parkside is lined with interior pockets of all shapes and sizes to organize your gadgets, business cards, pens, bubblegum lipgloss and "Love's Baby Soft" mini-spritzer. The colourful striped lining adds a nice burst of colour to the bag and also makes it easier to see what you're carrying around with you. The front compartment also contains a removable laptop sleeve in the same striped twill. The sleeve is nicely padded to both keep your laptop protected and protect the other contents of the bag from getting mashed by your laptop. Removing the laptop sleeve leaves a nice space for books, shoes, toiletries, etc. Although not quite enough space for roller skates.

The rear interior compartment has two accordian-style dividers with plenty of room for files, papers, magazines, etc. There's quite of bit of space in the back compartment and because the bag is so structured, you can fit a lot in there without destroying the shape of the bag.

The Parkside has a large zippered pocket in the back of the bag, perfect for travel documents you want to keep handy and for keeping receipts when you're on a business trip. Unlike some of the other bags I've seen, where the back pocket converts to a pass-through, the Parkside has a rear strap that you can use to attach to upright rolling luggage instead, so that the back pocket remains intact. When you're not using the strap, it stays flat to the bag, attached with velcro. Nice.

The Parkside's leather handles are wide and padded for a comfortable grip; it also comes with a generous shoulder strap, also padded to keep it from slipping around. As with all leather bags, I was worried the Parkside might be heavy to carry and that it would scuff easily - both fears were unfounded. The Parkside is actually quite light and after a week of business trip fun, it remains pristine. That said, the white leather makes me a little paranoid - I've been very careful to keep uncapped pens away from my Parkside.

The Parkside comes in white only, but you wouldn't want it any other way. The bag's laptop sleeve fits laptops up to 15" (as always, measure twice!). You can find the Parkside laptop case over at CareerBags.com for $199 USD (disco ball not included).

I'm delighted to feature laptop bag designer, Lexie Barnes', new collection across the FunChiCo lenses this week. She has three fantastic new patterns as well as a new sleeve, laptop backpack and ultimate tote.



The Echo Laptop Case which I've reviewed before has also gotten a facelift and comes in her three new patterns for fall.

My 20-sided dice skittered across the table. "Yes, a 19! Tabitha pulls out her MacBook Pro of Doom, hits CMD-SHIFT-7 and sends a denial-of-service attack to Lord Spam-meister's network. His servers start to crash! W00t! Spammers be gone from this realm! What? You didn't know I was carrying a laptop? You thought this snazzy leather Bag of Holding was my purse? Wrong, Spam-meister! This bag is packing MacBook."

OK, so it's been a while since my Dungeons and Dragons days. But I'm confident that my favourite character, Tabitha Bronwynn - a 25th level magic user, would have been delighted by a bag I just received. New to the design scene, KjB Bags specialize in hand-tooled and carved leather laptop bags. Julie, one of the owners of KjB Bags sent over an Ellie and a Lady Kathryn for me to review. When I pulled the bags out of the box, I immediately wanted to rush to put on my emerald cape and hit the nearest Renaissance faire. KjB Bags indicate that their designs are "Asian inspired" but I find them more Celtic in nature.

Both bags are made from hand-stiched leather. The Ellie has a lovely chrysanthemum medallion on the front; the Lady Kat has a carved leather criss-cross pattern. Both bags have carrying handles as well as include a detachable strap for carrying. The strap is very generous in length but it is fairly narrow and unpadded - so it may dig in a bit if you stuff the bag full. The hardware on the strap and on the attach points as well as on the feet of the bag is quite nice and sturdy.

There is a small external zippered pocket on the back of both bags. It would hold a cell phone, your glasses case or a small wallet. The interior of each bag is lined with a soft cotton material that sports an unusual "cats and bags" print (you can see a close up in the photo below). There is a separate pocket for your laptop. I was actually quite surprised. The Ellie looks quite small, but my MacBook Pro 15 did fit and I was able to snap the closures. If you have a thicker laptop, though, you will need to confirm measurements!

There is a main pocket in the interior where you can store cables, accessories, notebooks, etc. Both bags have a built-in business card holder, pen holder, large open pocket and a smaller, snap-closed cell phone pocket. There is also a small zippered pocket in the lining of the laptop compartment. And the bags zip closed entirely to keep your contents private and secure.

The interior sleeve is padded well-enough for a day to day commuter bag; road warriors won't really want to toss it around. And I have to say, the Ellie and the Lady Kathryn bags are some of the most non-laptop tote looking bags that I've seen. Plus, that leather smells really good.

KjB Bags is currently carrying two other styles in addition to these: a messenger bag and an unusual hunter-green bag called the Chantilly. Prices range from $229 to $289 depending on the bag, although they seem to be having a summer sale right now. You can check out these unusual leather laptop bags at KjB Bags online store.

I attended the BlogHer08 conference in San Francisco for the first time last weekend. 1000 bloggers! One place! It was pretty wild. Naturally, I wanted to arrive prepared. I had an extensive pre-conference to-do list and spent much of the week beforehand thinking: Do I have enough business cards? Do I have time to get my roots done? What's my one-liner description of my blog? And, most importantly, what laptop bag will I bring so that the other bloggers will think I'm cool??

After carefully considering my latest crop of review bags, I settled on the Hip Tech from Chelsey Henry's Sport Collection in the very en vogue Apple/Coco colourway. The delightful and helpful Fae from Chelsey Henry sent it over a few weeks ago. and this was a perfect occasion to use it.

Of course, at a blogging conference, you'll see a lot of laptop bags. And I have to say that in a sea of other funky, chic and cool laptop bags at BlogHer08, the stylish Hip Tech totally held its own. But looks aren't the only reason I chose the Hip Tech as my conference bag.

The first thing I noticed when I picked up the Hip Tech was how light it is. Made of nylon with an apple-green cotton twill lining, it's one of the lightest laptop bags I've ever used. This is key when you're toting your laptop around from breakout room to ballroom to hotel room to lounge to parties while meeting, greeting and making merry with 999 other people. At the end of the day, you want to be exhausted by the greatness of it all - not by your heavy bag.

The Hip Tech is also quite roomy - it fit my MacBook Pro nicely and had plenty of space for my notebook, pens, camera, wallet and conference swag. Because I was keeping things light, I didn't fully explore the volume of the Hip Tech, but I could easily have fit much more stuff in there - files, textbooks, a sweater, you name it.

Part of the reason the Hip Tech is so light and roomy is that it's more flexible than structured. It has a lightly padded compartment with a Velcro closure to give your laptop some protection, but I wouldn't recommend casually tossing the bag around with your laptop inside. Definitely more a commuter bag than a road warrior/devil-may-care bag.

There are four external zippered pockets (two in front, two in back) on the Hip Tech. The pockets on both front and back include one large document pocket with three additional pockets inside and one small zippered pocket for keys or cell. The zipper pulls are attached with a double ring, which is a cute touch - sometimes, though, the double rings catch on each other a little, making it unexpectedly fiddly to open and close some of the zips.

The Hip Tech has two hand-grip handles for easy lifting. It also comes with a long adjustable and removable strap made of sturdy, seat-belt-like nylon. Note: the strap isn't padded, so depending on what's in the bag, you may experience some shoulder stress. It also has little silver feet on the bottom, which is another nice touch. I did, however, observe that because the bag is floppy, the feet only come in handy when you've got enough in the bag to balance the weight of your laptop - otherwise, you have to lean the bag up against something (or someone).

All in all, I couldn't have picked a better conference bag for BlogHer. I think this bag would also be great for commuters (plenty of room for files or office shoes) and for students (plenty of room for books) . Back-to-school shoppers take note!

The Hip Tech comes in Black/Ocean as well as the Apple/Coco colourway and currently retails for $74.25 (it's regularly $99 USD but there is a sale on right now!) at chelseyhenry.com. Even if you're not feeling the Hip Tech, it's worth a visit to the Chelsey Henry website - last time I checked, you could enter to win a free Chelsey Henry Tote!

Eco-chic. It has to be more than a fad. For the health and future of our species and the planet. I try to do my part. Reuse. Reduce. Recycle. And I'm excited when the eco-friendly thing to do is also aesthetically pleasing.

HER-design has taken eco-chic to a new level. Their respect for the planet is evident in both the designs of their bags as well as the materials they use to construct them. I was delighted when Christopher at HER Design sent over a Leaf Laptop Bag in one of their new spring colours for me to review.

Let me start by saying that the overall PRESENCE of the Leaf is extraordinary. Not just the appearance of it (which is beautiful) but the entire design aura of the bag. The organic form, inspired by its eponymous "leaf", seems to self-generate positive chi. The refreshing green colour calms my mind and lightens my spirit. The texture delights my fingertips and warms my heart. And the vertical orientation of the bag is super-chic.



When you open the languorous flap, the softly structured interior of the Leaf is revealed. The main compartment is relatively roomy with ample space for laptop accessories, a notebook and/or file folder. A separate compartment cossets the actual laptop - protected but not overly padded (road warriors take note). There is a stitched-in mini-pocket for business cards or a mobile gadget and a key fob on which to hang your keys. On the front of the bag, under the flap, there is also a small zippered pocket for a small wallet or other valuable.

For carrying, there are two options: a hand strap on the top of the bag as well as a shoulder strap. There are 5 little feet on the bottom for protection. The only other hardware is the elegant silver clasp at the base of the flap.

The Leaf is made of micro-suede that is from 100% recycled content and PVC-free synthetic leather trim, with recycled PET lining. But this isn't your father's recycled material. As I mentioned above, the Leaf is very touchable - the micro-suede is quite soft and luxurious to the touch.

Even the smallest details are made as eco-friendly as possible. The Leaf is shipped in the smallest box possible without damaging the bag. And when packaged, it is wrapped in bio-degradable material for protection rather than a felt or plastic sub-bag.

I am delighted in every possible way by the Leaf (ok, except for the not-very-generous shoulder strap (plus size gals take note!) - but I can forgive it in this case). This bag makes my heart and my spirit sing.

The Leaf Laptop Bag fits 15" (including the MacBook Pro 15) and smaller laptops; the website says it will fit some 17" - you must measure very carefully. It retails for $270 USD and can be purchased online at CareerBags.com.

We're not all road warriors, weaving through airports, treating our laptop bags with a devil-may-care attitude as we toss them into the overhead bin and settle in for a bad in-flight movie and not enough free peanuts. And that's OK. Sometimes you just want a nice bag to stash your laptop in along with your lunch, your heels and the book for book club tonight after work.

The folks over at The F'ace Brand sent me one of their casual Luan bags to check out. It fits the bill for a bag that makes the trip from home to office to cocktails with the girls. The Luan is made from durable faux leather and has a vintage crushed finish - so wear and tear doesn't really show. It has two carrying straps which you could use to carry the bag my hand or over the shoulder (though I did find this a little tight). There are two shallow front pockets which could easily hold a paperback, but do be careful - the pockets are shallow and loose; I wouldn't put valuables in there - keep them inside the bag.

The interior of the Luan is a nice chocolate brown to match the exterior of the bag. One side has all the specialized slots you would expect for pens, cell phone and business cards. The laptop sleeve is built into the bag. A note of caution here: the interior sleeve is not well padded so if you like to drop, toss or throw your bags - this may not be the one for you. There is not a lot of protection for your laptop.

The best thing about the Luan is its roominess. I could fit a number of items (including above mentioned shoes and lunch) along with my laptop. So if you need to carry a lot and aren't too reckless with your bag, this might be a good fit. If you are considering it, make sure you check the dimensions of your laptop carefully. My MacBook Pro 15 *barely* fit from a depth perspective. The F'ace Brand posts the dimensions of the bag on their site. Unfortunately, their site is in flash, so I can't link directly to the Luan's page. But if you visit TheFaceBrand.com and select "Collection" from the navigation, you'll be able to find it by its picture.

The Luan sells for 74.99 USD.

I did a quick round-up of funky wheeled laptop bags awhile ago, but had never had the opportunity to try one for myself. Until now. The super-nice Lauri from Clark & Mayfield sent me one of their Stafford Leather Rolling Laptop Case for my first actual review of a wheeled laptop bag!

As I've mentioned, I travel pretty often and spend a lot of time slogging through airports. When I emerge triumphant through security only to discover that my departure gate is in a whole other time zone, well - it's enough to make a road warrior fall on her own spear. But on my latest trip, the faraway gate posed no problem - I strolled towards it with ease, my Stafford Rolling Laptop Brief gliding smoothly and stylishly behind me.

Smooth is the operative word with the Stafford - this bag handles like a dream. The set-in wheels turn on a dime and I managed to make it all the way to the gate without taking anyone out (even when I wanted to). I haven't taken the bag off-roading, but on the sidewalk and in the airport, it's a sweet ride.

Ride aside, the Stafford is one good-looking bag. It's made of durable top grain leather and comes in three colours - I have the Sunset Orange model, though I feel it's more "pumpkin" than "sunset". It has clean, simple lines and solid, high-quality hardware, right down to the leather covered zipper pulls. There's a layer of rubber on the bottom to protect it from inclement floor situations, like the one I encountered near the Tim Hortons.

The Stafford is very sturdy yet surprisingly light for a leather bag with the wheels built in. The telescoping extension handle is just the right length - plus, it pulls out and folds up really nicely. When you're not using it, it zips up in its own little compartment. The bag's two leather hand-grips are sturdy and comfortable - they also snap together, so they stay upright for easy grasping.

The Stafford is also extremely roomy. Its interior is a funky striped fabric that makes it easy to see what you've got in there (and, as advertised, made me smile every time I opened it). The bag has three main storage compartments and a strap across the back of the bag that can function as a pass-through if you want to set the Stafford atop your other rolling luggage.

The back compartment has lots of space with built-in dividers for documents, files or magazines. The middle compartment has a removable, padded laptop sleeve which fastens with a velcro strap across the top. Like the bag, the sleeve is roomy and easily fits a 17" laptop. And if you're not bringing your computer with you, you can take out the sleeve and fill the space with other items like books or shoes.

As a side note, I was a little skeptical about putting my laptop in the middle compartment - most laptop bags put your laptop in the back compartment - but it turns out that having the laptop in the middle actually balances out the weight of the wheels at the back, making the bag even more stable.

The middle compartment also has three deep, padded pockets which are open at the top. I'm not really sure what the design intent was for these pockets - they're really deep and kind of an odd size. I used mine for a small toiletries pouch and my folded up travel documents.

The front compartment of the Stafford has a structured leather pouch for your PDA or iPod, three stretchy pen holders and a slot for business or other cards. It's also spacious enough to fit your inflight book or two. The front compartment also has a fashionable faux buckle closure, which conceals a functional magnetic snap - handy.

The Stafford's wheels and handle can't be removed, and the bag does not include a shoulder strap - so if you're looking for a rolling bag that can convert into a laptop messenger bag, this isn't the bag for you. But if you're in the market for an attractive, non-nerdacious wheeled laptop briefcase for your next business trip, definitely consider the Stafford. Especially for you gals who are wielding the 17" machines. Finally, some relief!

The Clark & Mayfield Stafford Leather Rolling Laptop Case comes in Sunset Orange, Red and Black. It easily fits a 17" laptop and currently retails for $239.00 over at CareerBags.com.

There's something undeniably glamorous about the Coakley Timeless Tweed Everyday Tote. Its classic lines and coy hues would be at home in the boardroom or at High Tea. When mine arrived (Sand Beige with Cognac leather trim and pearlized gold hardware), I felt an irresistable urge to hop in my convertible, throw a silk scarf over my perfect coif and breeze down to the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara for some client meetings followed by a mimosa and hot rock massage. I was halfway out the door before I remembered that I don't have a convertible and Santa Barbara is a 20 hour drive away. So my Coakley, my silk scarf and I were forced to go raise the tone at a local coffee shop instead.

California Dreamin' aside, the Coakley is an elegantly designed yet very practical laptop tote. First, let's talk looks. The Timeless Tweed is stunning. The fabric texture is high-end and luxurious; the leather handles and trim serve as an excellent accent to the fabric. This bag is classic in its visual style.

The Coakley Everyday Tote is classic in its function as well. The (adjustable!) leather handles fit nicely over my shoulder but aren't too long for me to carry the bag by hand. It's got a wide gusset and eight little brass feet, so it's up off the floor and doesn't tip over. There are four exterior pockets, which makes it easy to keep travel documents and other things handy. Three of them are stretch neoprene and one is a hidden zipper pocket - items are kept nice and snug. I liked the pockets at either end of the bag - they are water resistant and make for good storage for your water bottle or umbrella (a key item here in Vancouver). And the pocket at the back can be unzipped and used as a pass-through over the handle of your rolling luggage - always a great feature if you travel as much as I do.

The interior of the Everyday Tote has been arranged with the utmost of function as well - different compartments designed with different functions in mind. I was dazzled by the rose-coloured interior but once my eyes adjusted, I appreciated the interior stretch neoprene pockets (in a complementary tan colour - see picture) for bulkier electronic gadgets, structured leather holders for business cards, pens and PDA and zippered pouches for secure storage of my wallet and other valuables. There's also room for files or a book - and if you need more space, you can pop the posts on the the sides of the bag to expand it!

The Coakley also has separate, structured compartment for your laptop. It's quite a large compartment - my 15" MacBook Pro fit nicely but was also easy to remove, which is good - you don't want to break a sweat or lose your cool wrestling your laptop out of your bag while going through security!

The closure of the Coakley Timeless Tweed Laptop Tote is unusual. There is a stretch neoprene flap that can be zipped either over JUST the laptop pocket or over the entire bag. I found connecting the zipper on the flap to the zipper on the bag was a little bit fiddly and it took me a few tries to get it lined up correctly. Even with the flap zipped up, the bag is still open at the edges, so if you have loose items in there, I'd be careful tossing it around - and be sure not to spill your mimosa on it.

The Coakley Timeless Tweed Everyday Tote is one of the most elegant bags I have seen. The hardware and appointments are truly impeccable. And the design of the bag is exceptional. A lot of thought and care to meet the needs of the modern business woman has gone into this bag. Little details like the small leather snap-loop for your keys as well as the small detachable matching compact mirror along with the materials and construction truly make this bag stand head and shoulders above many others.

The Coakley Timeless Tweed Everyday Tote comes in Begonia, Lilac, Bamboo Green and Sand. It fits up to a 15" laptop and currently retails for $355.00 over at CareerBags.com.

I have a confession to make. I'm a snob. Or, maybe it's that I'm a reverse-snob. I prefer indie music, documentary films and foreign food. I mock my friends' obsession with celebrity culture and make fun of their People magazine subscriptions. And I generally prefer my laptop bags to be eco-friendly, highly functional or boardroom sleek. Anything with even the whiff of Hollywood glam makes me turn up my nose. Especially if it's a bag that looks like Paris Hilton might carry it.

Well, folks, I have been wrong. I was sent one of Gina B's Luca Bella laptop totes in Winter White to review. I had only seen the picture that was emailed to me and I thought, "Oh, no! This bag is WAY too L.A. for me. How can I even try it out?!"

Once the Luca Bella arrived, I regarded it with some suspicion, but then pulled up my socks and did my duty. I carried it with me to a client meeting. Then to book club. And then on a business trip. And then to martini night. And now, well, it's nestled beside me here as I write this.

My first surprise: carrying a white bag is refreshing. And carrying a white bag with a bright pink interior is not only refreshing, but joyful.

My second surprise: this bag has a lot of smart, intuitive functionality built in. The Luca Bella is, first and foremost, quite roomy. There are two large interior compartments. The first has a built in zippered pocket, pen holders, a key holder and a small slip-pocket for a cell phone or other gadget. The compartment has plenty of space for either computer accessories (power cord, mouse, etc.) or personal items (wallet, thermos, toy poodle).

The second main compartment has one of the things I like the most about the Luca Bella - a removable laptop sleeve. But its not just a sleeve! Clever Gina has included an outside compartment on the sleeve that also has a couple of pen holders, a gadget pocket AND a business card pocket.

The Luca Bella is made of 100% genuine leather with a cotton canvas interior. There is a small pocket on the outside which also doubles as a pass-through if you want to slip it over your rolling luggage. You can carry the Luca Bella laptop tote by the braided handles or the generous leather strap. You can also remove the strap from the larger bag and use it on the sleeve for when you want to travel light. Handy! The Luca Bella has four metal feet to reduce wear and tear on the bottom panel.

The only potential drawback to Luca Bella is that it is a relatively open-top style. The closure is a clever magnetic strap, but it does not fully seal the bag. If you carry a lot of small pieces loosely joined, you'll want to be careful that you don't just dump it in the back seat or in the overhead bin. Also, not great in torrential rain.

The Luca Bella from Gina B comes in both black and winter white. The sleeve holds most laptops up to 15.4". It is currently retailing for $250 USD over on CareerBags.com.

Dum, dadda, da dum. Bum, badda, ba dum. It's spring time. I've got a bounce in my step. Easter is near. Time to throw off the shackles of winter, dear. Dum, dadda da dum .... Bum, badda, ba dummmmm.

OK, so I'm not MUCH of a songwriter. But after all the snow that is hammering a fair chunk of North America, we need to be singing about something. I've been desperate to cast off my heavy winter coat. Junk my clunky boots. Trade in my big bulky laptop bag for a light-weight slim, colourful case. And Abbi has just the thing. They sent over a briefcase from their new Erin Collection to test drive and hopefully perk up my winter blahs.

The Erin Collection has three great bags and is decked out in four springy colours. I tested the Erin Briefcase in "Dusty Miller".

Now, like spring, I am a little fickle and slightly peevish. And I'm conflicted about the Erin Briefcase. I am DELIGHTED by its silhouette and form. It is slender and lightweight. The exterior is water-resistant nylon and the trim is patent leather. I particularly like the hardware appointments: the zipper pulls, accent rivets, rings and buckles are high-quality. However, I feel the carrying strap is a real design mis-match for the Erin Briefcase. The camel colour of the strap matches only one of the bags and the texture disconnect between the patent leather and the nylon strap (in my mind) reduces the richness of this bag. Also, the strap isn't long enough to wear the Erin across your body if you're dashing somewhere in a hurry.

The Erin does come in a surprising colour range: cherry blossom and lime green - perfect for spring; dusty miller - for those for whom grey is the new black; and saddle brown - when you want a bag that will go with EVERYTHING! Oddly, the interior colour of the Erin Briefcase is a neon orange. It is extremely well padded and soft, but, it is *orange*. The Erin is meant for those who travel light, so there isn't a full internal compartment for your laptop - simply a strap that will keep it from banging around. There are two other pockets for cellphone, wallet, etc. There is also a pocket on the back of the Erin Briefcase that can hold your power cord, boarding pass or other sundries.

I took the Erin Brief with me on a four-day trip to Toronto. It was light and comfortable to carry through the airport. However, getting through the security line quickly was difficult. The strap that holds the laptop was awkward to unfasten and pull out the laptop for inspection; it was IMPOSSIBLE to then put the laptop back in after going through the detector without pulling out everything, strapping the computer in and refilling the bag. So, I cannot recommend this bag for road warriors at all.

However, if you want a light, stylish bag for carrying your laptop to and from the office (particularly if you have a power cord and other accessories at each locale so you don't need to carry much), the Erin Briefcase is perfect. This is one case where it really does depend on your lifestyle and what you need from a laptop bag.

The Erin Briefcase retails for $149 USD, fits laptops up to 15.4" widescreen and is available from my preferred online supplier, CareerBags.com. The Erin Collection has two other pieces in addition to the Briefcase - the Erin Slim Carrier and the Erin Clutch - available in the same great spring palette and designed to meet your laptop carrying lifestyle.

UPDATE - Dec 2008: Flicka Bags is currently on hiatus and are not taking new orders. We hope they start up again soon!

If I had gone to a certain music festival in the 60's, the conversation would likely have gone something like this:

Sunshine, get in the van!

Wait, I have to pack my laptop!

You know we're picking up the Peace, Love and Rainbows commune on the way to Woodstock. There's no room for bulky, downer, black bags, man.

No, no .. it's a Brief Bag from Flicka Bags ... it takes up no room at all. And look at these trippy colours!

Whoa, Sunshine. That is PSYCHEDELIC! I might have to get one too.

OK, so maybe that's not *exactly* how it went down ... but when I opened the Brief Bag that Alice from Flicka Bags sent over, I definitely had a flashback. Me in tie die and hemp; my MBP spacing out inside the Brief Bag's bright pink "Posy" pattern. Totally cool.

The Brief Bag really lives up to its name. Think minimalist - like one step up from a sleeve. Designed for gals who want to keep it simple and easy-going, the Brief Bag holds a laptop and a thin file folder or magazine in the main pocket. There is an external zipped pocket across the front where you can stow your power cord, thin wallet or other essentials. But remember .. it's a "brief" bag, so you're not carrying a lot with you.

The Brief Bag has water-resistant laminate coating on the external fabric and comes in three eye-popping fabrics! The interior is lined in black nylon and has an inner foam core. It provides reasonable protection for your laptop, but I would exercise caution before tossing it in an overhead bin in a plane.



Two things I'm really impressed with are the hardware for the detachable strap as well as the shoulder pad on the strap. The hardware is quite high quality and lends a stylish air to the bag. And the shoulder pad is thicker than most (even on bags that weigh another pound or two more) which makes it very comfortable to carry.

The Brief Bag does have top handles for carrying the bag. I found them a little too "hidden" (Alice makes them small deliberately to keep the lines of the bag sleek) for my meaty paws. But if your hands are smaller or delicate, you won't have any problems. The one disappointment in the bag were the zipper pulls (I know .. they're zipper pulls). They are small rubber disks rather than a more substantial piece of hardware (like the attachments for the strap) and I found them a) incongruous with the other hardware and b) a little difficult to grab onto. Again, that could be my meaty hands.

I really like the look and design of the Brief Bag and it definitely fills a niche - something a little bigger than a sleeve, but still sleek and stylish. If you need a bag that carries just the essentials, check out a Flicka Brief Bag.

Flicka Brief Bags retail for $80 USD (Alice also has sleeves in similar fabrics for $60). You can see the different styles and purchase at www.flickabags.com.

UPDATE - Dec 2008: Flicka Bags is currently on hiatus and are not taking new orders. We hope they start up again soon!

I just got married! Yay! The wedding was fantastic and our honeymoon was excellent. We arrived back in Vancouver after being away for almost 4 weeks and I was feeling a little blue. You know ... post-holiday let down or something. I had forgotten that I had a couple of bags in my review queue, scheduled to arrive while I was gone. I pounced on my pile of mail and by a happy coincidence, the first one I opened was the Supreme Love Story (SLS) bag by Plastic People Designs. I took this as a sign that my marriage would work out. :)

But, enough of me, onto the bag!



First and foremost, I am completely charmed by the look of this bag. Shannon, the designer, is interested in the effect that happy accessories have on other people. The bag makes me smile every time I see it. I was sent the pink version and I adore it. The bright colour with the pristine white trim ... it makes the world (and my technology) seem happier. Just for the sake of experimentation, I put the SLS bag next to a plain black laptop bag. Completely different emotional vibe. My MacBook even seems to have more potential when it is snug inside the SLS.

The SLS is made from an animal-friendly imitation leather. The feel of the material is quite nice; the handles, in particular, are very soft and comfortable to carry. The bottom of the bag has four metal feet to protect it if you set it down on the wet ground. There is an external front pocket across the width of the bag that closes with a clever magnetic strip. There is also a pocket on one end of the bag, suitable for a mobile device or iPod.



The interior of the Supreme Love Story is a light grey. On one wall of the interior are two zippered mesh pockets. They are big enough for a thin wallet or small gadgets/accessories. There are no additional cubbies for pens, business cards, etc. Depending on your personal taste, that is a plus or a minus. Personally, I find that my pens never fit anyway.

There is a removable sleeve for your actual laptop. This is quite a clever design feature really. The sleeve is held to the back wall of the bag by a velcro strip. Once you've zippered your laptop into the sleeve, another fold-over strip offers an additional mechanism to keep your laptop from flopping around.

The material for the sleeve seems water-resistant and it is lightly padded. But it would not stand on its own as protection for your laptop. Inside the SLS, it will keep your computer from getting scratched and nicked and the SLS affords additional padding, but I would not recommend flinging this bag down the aisle of a plane and into the overhead storage compartment willy-nilly.

All of Shannon's bags come with a matching zippered clutch/makeup case and a lovely heart-shaped mirror (see above pic). This is a very thoughtful extra detail and really embodies Shannon's design philosophy.

The SLS comes in three colour versions ... it will fit your style if you're pretty in pink or looking for a more subdued tan or brown. My main concern about the SLS is for road warriors who are tough with their laptops. And my only complaint is that as a creampuff (plus-size woman), I would prefer it if the handles had about another 1.5 inches of give. They fit over my shoulder right now, but only just and would not be comfortable for long walks.

That all being said, I am absolutely delighted by the Supreme Love Story bag. I've gotten nothing but smiles from people who have seen it and it makes me happy to carry it.

The Supreme Love Story bag retails starting at $165 USD for the "Standard Sally" (15") size and $175 for the "Large Lucy" (17") size. You can get more info and place an order at plasticpeople.com.

I am a child of the 60's. The really late 60's, mind you, but the 60's nevertheless. As such, certain colours, shapes and textures hold a special place in my heart. Like aluminum glasses and FiestaWare. Kitchens decorated in orange and brown. Marlo Thomas who played Ann Marie in "That Girl".

I often think of Ann Marie in her kicky beret, fashionista mod wardrobe and charming smile. Now Ann had to take a number of temp jobs to support her budding acting career, a few of which were in a corporate environment. I don't think she would sacrifice her mod style, but she would dress appropriately for the job.

And if Ann had had a laptop, she would have carried an appropriate laptop bag ... something mod, yet a little understated. Something a little retro corporate chic.

Well, I have the perfect bag for you gals who have a special place in your heart for Ann Marie and share here sense of style. I knew it from the second I opened the new GiddyUp from Pinder that Bob sent over for review.

The GiddyUp tote's shape is reminiscent of a vintage bowling bag .. slightly tapered with gently rounded corners. The GiddyUp has a great array of base colours (Black, Chocolate, Dark Green, FIre Red) and coordinating trims (Lime, Pink, Red, Grey - among others). The GiddyUp is made of water-repellent ballistic nylon. The handles as well as the trim are faux leather (Pinder doesn't use animal products on their bags for ethical reasons) and the hardware is all nickel plated. The handles on the GiddyUp are generous - easy to sling over the shoulder or carry in traditional handbag fashion.

In addition to the shape, my favourite thing about the exterior of the GiddyUp tote is that the colour trim on the front isn't just decorative! It cleverly conceals the zipper and pull for an external pocket! Finally, a sleekly silhouetted bag that has an external pocket. Thank you, Pinder! A place for Ann to keep her compact and her giant sunglasses! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the feet. I'm pleased to see the trend for stylish laptop totes to have feet. Because no one wants to get the bottom of their bag sticky from whatever is on the floor of the Metro.

The design of the interior of the GiddyUp is as sleek as the exterior. The GiddyUp has two separate compartments; both are lined with a bright coloured nylon lining in a complementary colour to the trim. The back compartment is where you stash your laptop. It is well padded and generous. If you are concerned that it is a little TOO generous, especially for those of you who have an ultra-thin laptop, then you will likely want to add on a Pinder THIN sleeve to your GiddyUp.

The front compartment is where you stash the rest of your gear. There are two smaller pockets on the back wall, complete with velcroed flaps for other electronics, pens, etc. The front wall has a zippered pouch, handy for important travel docs, receipts, etc. The rest of the front compartment is very generous and easily holds my power brick, mouse, and camera. Plus my lunch.

Both the front and back compartments are zippered with coloured zip tabs. The ones on the back compartment have an additional nickel decorative rivet so you can distinguish which one your laptop is in by both look and touch. The zippers extend quite far down the side of the GiddyUp which allows easier access to its contents. But Pinder has cleverly included a gusset on each side to prevent items from slipping out of the compartments. Well-designed!

I am a big fan of the GiddyUp tote by Pinder. I love its retro chic lines and its colourful modern interior. So "That Girl!" The GIddyUp regularly retails for $125 USD, but Pinder has an extreme sale on right now - $69.95 - until Nov. 30. The savings on the GiddyUp would also let you add on a THIN for less than the original price. Check out both the GiddyUp and the THIN at Pinder's website: www.pinderbags.com.

"Hi, Jen. Yeah, sorry, I can't talk right now. My agent just called. Yeah, I know ... FINALLY. Anyway, she wants me to meet with Steven. Yes, THAT Steven. What part? Well, it's very Po-Mo ... I'd be playing an actress who just got discovered and blogs about it! I KNOW! Yeah .. so lots of shopping, both clothes and gadgets. Plus I think there are a lot of scenes with me in Starbucks, typing on my Mac (so much cooler than a Dell!) and making eyes at Matthew. YES! THAT Matthew. I hear there are some pretty sexy scenes. Yum! Anyway .. I have to go. Must put on my face and grab my Veronica London bag. Show Steven that I've already got the character down. Kisses!"

This was the call that played in my head as I opened the Veronica London tote that the friendly, fashion-forward ladies over at CareerBags.com sent me to review. Ellen and her team are located in LA and a lot of their clientele are very fashion-conscious celebs. So I got out my Oscar de la Renta suit so that the bag would feel more at home.

The Veronica London is a good-lookin' bag! It's a handbag/over the shoulder style made of super-soft chamois suede micro fiber with some nice leather detail. Classy nickel hardware. It has a single zipper closure on the top with no external pockets (think fashion rather than function). Also, a really nice decorative bag detail - a place for a monogram. You can choose your initials or, interestingly, the very pretty National Association of Women Business Owners logo. Which just goes to show you that Career Bags is fashion-forward AND business-minded. As an aside, CareerBags.com has a neat advisory board and mentoring program partners. You can get more deets at their website.

OK, back to the bag .. possibly my favourite thing about the exterior of the Veronica London tote are the little feet, especially the extra one in the middle of the bottom. I know it sounds a little ridiculous (really, the feet?). But sometimes, ladies, you need to set your very stylish bag down. And what if you're at the Starbucks and they haven't mopped the floor recently? Do you want your bag touching someone else's spilled Caramel Macchiato? I didn't think so. Little feet = good thing.

Onto the interior of the bag. The black VL tote has a bright blue nylon lining; the brown model has a brown nylon lining; I'd like to see that splash of colour in both models. The main pocket of the VL Tote also contains a removable sleeve for extra protection of your laptop. It is held in place, along with any file holders, portfolios, or headshots by a Velcro-ed strap.

The other interior pocket of the VL tote is rife with little pockets. Eyeglasses, mobile phone, OTHER mobile phone with secret number, pepper spray to ward off the paparazzi ... LOTS of pockets. There is this weird, half-height divider pocket that I'm not a big fan of .. I find it a little flimsy and unnecessary. But hey, I'm not a newly discovered ingenue, trying to make her way on the mean streets of LA.

The Veronica London tote is comfy to carry, really well-made and looks HOT! It will definitely suit any business or social situation and make you look like the star that you are; it will also stand up to being pulled in and out of the back seat of your convertible. The interior is not my favourite, but it is highly functional and your laptop is well protected. So, if you inhabit the fashion end of the spectrum, the Veronica London is a strong choice! It retails for $140 US at the CareerBags.com site.

I have never been on safari. I don't really like sleeping out in the open and, well, you know .. the lions. I can see myself as the gal that stays back at the lodge ... drinking whisky and writing furiously on the veranda for the newspaper that originally sent her on safari, ready with her trusty laptop to capture the quotes from the intrepid souls who made it back alive. But Meryl Streep I'm not.

Even if you're staying behind at the lodge, you need to look the safari part. And I have found the perfect bag to complement my pith helmet and full-body mosquito netting. It's the Jo Jo - Carrie by JoJo Designs. JoJo Designs is a new Vancouver-based shop on the scene, headed by bag designer Jonathan Chan. I had the opportunity to sit down with Chan recently, and he gave me a Carrie to try out.

I adore the look of this bag. It really does remind me of warmer climates and vacations - this is not a boardroom bag, but a bag for the gadget gal on the go who doesn't want to LOOK like a gadget gal. The bag is constructed from sturdy canvas with PVC trim and brass hardware. The Carrie has 2 magnetic snaps, just below each of the handle connection points, that close the top of the bag. One of the really cool features is a drawstring, just below the magnets, that lets you cinch the top closed. Note - this does not make it waterproof; however, it does create a really nice shape for the bag, looking even more like your "vacation" bag and way less like your "biznass" bag. The handles themselves are quite comfortable and are adjustable, so you can make them a bit bigger to sling them over your shoulder. There are no external pockets.

The interior of the Carrie is lined with a mocha-coloured nylon. Soft and shiny. There is one large, padded sleeve for your laptop (fits my MacBook Pro 15 with ample room - it should fit most 17" laptops) that is held closed with a velcro-ed strip of faux leather. Opposite the laptop sleeve are smaller pockets for cellphone, pda, business cards and pens. There is also a small zippered pouch for change or other incidentals. The main pouch of the Carrie is quite roomy and can hold guidebooks, suntan lotion, spyglasses, lion-repellent and even your extra mosquito netting.

The Carrie is very comfortable to carry (it also comes with a removable shoulder strap so you could wear it like a messenger if you like) and certainly roomy enough to hold your laptop and all it and your vacation accoutrement. I would definitely tote the Carrie if I were headed to the coffee shop or to the cottage.

I do have two cautions, however. The first ... for airplane travelers. The padding in the built-in sleeve will not stand up to a lot of rough and tumble. If you're a gal who tosses her bag in the overhead compartment and doesn't worry about it - this bag may not be for you. Or, pack it in your suitcase to carry onto the beach after you've arrived at your destination. Secondly, although the bottom of the bag is defined (meaning you can turn it over and the bottom is stitched in and reinforced with an insert), the Carrie doesn't always like to stand upright. If I placed just my laptop in the bag, often it would flop over; I had to make sure I was carrying other items to balance the weight.

All in all, I really love the look of the Carrie and use it for casual, kick-back situations where I don't need hardcore padding. Perfect for a writing jaunt on the veranda or a sleep-over with the girls. The Carrie comes in both light and dark brown. It retails for around $90 USD. You can see both the Carrie and JoJo Designs other, more traditional bag, the Amy, at CareerBags.com.

I grew up smack dab in the middle of the Bible Belt. Consequently, I spent a lot of time at church, listening to evangelical preachers exhorting sinners to join the flock. One of the most common motivational questions I heard was "Do you know that you know that if you died tonight you'd go to heaven and meet Jesus?" I always thought this was a pretty good motivator - a little fear, a little hope and the promise of schmoozing with one of the biggest celebrities around.

What does this have to do with cool laptop bags? Well, two decades later and I still don't know if I'd go to heaven, BUT, I know what laptop bag I'd take with me to meet Jesus. And that bag, my friends, is the Maddie Powers Cutebug Laptop Messenger Bag - brought to you by Mobile Edge. When Matthew sent over a review copy, I thought I HAD died and gone to heaven. This bag is as close to perfection as possible. Let's break it down ...

First, the look of the bag. I adore anything vintage. Maddie Powers bags and accessories all sport covers from authentic pulp novels and digest magazines from the 1940's and 50's. Tres chic! This messenger bag has a cover from a novel called "Bright Promises". The rest of the exterior is black except for the back pocket. Flip this bag over and you have an exterior pocket that is covered in a royal purple faux-velvet. Read that again: Royal Purple Faux Velvet! This same material covers the shoulder strap pad. So HOT! Now, I only have tested it for a week, so I'm not sure if over the long term (and especially in the winter) the material will pill or not, but so far, so good. The back pocket seals with a small strip of velcro.

OK, let's flip open that front flap and see what the interior is like.

Yup, no vintage in here. This is all modern, sure to please any 21st century geek girl.

The main interior pocket has a self-contained sleeve that is made from SafetyCell [tm] ... a cool "lining" for the sleeve that has all these independent foam bumps. They function as "object deceleration" .. which I think means that they absorb more of the shock than regular single-layer foam cores if you drop the bag. Nice. Outside the sleeve is a large pocket that will easily hold several files, a notebook, magazine, power cord, etc. It also has a zippered pouch which would be good for items like plane tickets or travel docs that you want to keep separate and handy.

The other interior pocket in the front of the bag has the usual sets of pouches: mobile phone, pens, etc. It is big enough to house a power cord, wallet or other miscellaneous items. And it, too, has a zippered front pouch for additional docs or other important papers. The non-removable shoulder strap is very comfortable and can be adjusted to be quite long - so us big-busted gals can do the full across-the-body carry. The entire bag is really well constructed and is made of an easy-to-clean, water-resistent MicroFiber.

The whole thing closes with opposing velcro straps and they are long enough so that you can "over stuff" (really, can you ever carry too much stuff?) For the quality of the material and construction, the Cutebug Messenger doesn't feel any heavier than other bags of its class. It is, however, a little larger both in width and depth; I ended up wearing it a little lower on my hip than other bags.

Overall, I am really impressed with the quality of the Cutebug Messenger, let alone the funky quotient of this bag! There are only two tiny things I would change. One, it doesn't have feet on the bottom - most messengers don't have them, but I think they would really enhance this bag. Plus I'm finding that I really appreciate them, in general, to keep the bottom of any bag dry. Secondly, like all Maddie Powers bags, it comes with a set of Lucky Seven dice fastened to one of the shoulder strap attachments. Super cute, but super annoying after about 3 minutes of walking. Luckily, they are removable.

I love this bag .. like seriously. To me, it is the archetype of a funky, chic and cool laptop bag. I really hope Maddie Powers continues the line. I'd love to have some additional options available for the exterior picture, or, a way to swap front flaps, depending on my mood. Product extension?

You can find the Maddie Powers Cutebug Laptop Messenger Bag on the Mobile Edge site where it retails for $89.99 USD. You can also find its cousin, the Maddie Powers Cutebug Laptop Sheba Bag - made for laptops 14.1" and smaller.

Oh, and as a reminder, the good folks at Mobile Edge offer Free Shipping to all Squidoo customers. Simply type in SQUIDOO upon check out and receive free shipping on all purchases through 2007!

"Purple is woman's darkest secret. You may deny it but purple had once or has always touched your heart."

I so WISH the above lines were mine. But they're not. They are stolen directly from the description of the Champs Elysees Business Bag from Metstyle. These lines also stole my heart and was one of the main reasons I was quite giddy when they sent over a bag to review.

The Champs is gorgeous. The deep purple is rich and luxurious; the bag quilting is stylish. The leather detail is exquisite. Everyone who sees it stops me, touches it and asks about it. From an appearance perspective, the Champs rocks.

But, from a workhorse, get me-and-my-laptop-through-the-day perspective, the Champs falls short.

I'm a creampuff (read "plus-size lady") and when I tried to shoulder the bag, it was extremely uncomfortable - the handle size is quite small. I asked a couple of my skinny colleagues at work to try it out. They were able to wear it, but both commented that it would be a spring bag only - it would never sit-well over a heavy winter coat. One also said "the coefficient of friction in the handle vs. typical coat material is all wrong. It's too slippy." (thanks, Selma!) Straight from the mouth of a geek-girl.

Opening the bag created some disappointment as well. The inside lining is flimsy. There is a dedicated laptop sleeve that held my MacBook Pro 15, but it is not as well padded as similar bags. There are two small open-top pockets and a zippered mesh pocket inside as well. They were very easy to access when carrying a full bag, but they feel a little loose, like my wallet or cell phone could fall out if I jostle the bag too much.

So, I'm torn. The Champs wins 100% on form, but falls short on function. If you need a laptop bag that looks good and you won't be hiking the urban jungle from one client meeting to the next, then the Champs is a good bet. However, if you need funky, but also a bit of the workhorse, you might want to look elsewhere.

More details on the Champs Elysees (there is a whole series) can be found on metstyle.us. You can purchase the bag (suggested $75 USD) through a number of online retailers, including CareerBags.

I like to fancy myself a gal about town ... dashing off with a wave of my taxi-hailing arm to the spa, a cocktail party, some shopping at Pottery Barn or an afternoon of gabbing with the girls. Since I'm gadget-girl, my MacBook Pro 15, Moto KRZR and Palm go with me *everywhere*. Often, I would have to change bags to suit the occasion. Not anymore. For two weeks the Milano from Mobile Edge has been with me every step of the way and has proven perfect for every venue or activity.

I'll admit that I was pretty skeptical about the faux-croc finish on the Milano tote (hello, sad Hollywood washout!), but once Matthew sent over a review copy and I saw how subtle and elegant it is with the great silver buckles and zips, I was hooked.

The shape of the Milano is quite stylish and very comfortable to carry. The handles are generous, making it very easy to sling over the shoulder (even with a thick jacket or coat), but not so generous that it drags the ground when you carry it in your hand. Opening the split zipper of the main compartment reveals a deep red faux-suede interior that would make even the most jaded saloon dancer swoon.

The laptop compartment is in the centre of the bag which provides easy access as well as a nicely balanced bag. There are compartments on either side: one designed for folders and papers, plus a velcro-closed interior pocket; the other with all the small pockets and pen-rings you'd expect in a business tote. Two features of these compartments are worth noting. First, one of the pockets has a wireless security shield that protects Bluetooth devices from hacking - essential for gadget girls! The other is a detachable matching cosmetics mini-tote. I didn't think I would have a use for this, but lo and behold, after about a week, I did!

The ONLY negative that occurred to me is that it doesn't have an outside pocket. But that would completely destroy the aesthetic of the Milano, so it's not so much a complaint as a caution. If you want to see the bag in action, Mobile Edge has a video review on their product page that is worth watching (every designer should do video reviews!).

Sum-up: I really love the Milano. Here's how much ... usually I give my review copies away to friends and colleagues who need a little "funky, chic or cool" in their lives. Not the Milano. It stays with me. Get yours at Mobile Edge's website.

My recurring daydream: Me ... dressed in a knock-out Chanel suit, striding into a board room (recall "Working Girl"). I march up to the table and slam my fist down, declaring, "Gentlemen, let's close this deal!" The bag I'm carrying ... the Barcelona by Zegari.

When Veronica over at Zegari emailed me to let me know a sample was on the way, I was giddy. When it arrived, I was practically apoplectic. First, it comes cosseted in its *own* bag. Second, when I peered in, the smell of leather wafted out. Almost brought this Texas-raised gal to tears.

Now, I have heard the phrase "buttery leather" before. I had not experienced it until I opened the flap of the Barcelona. So soft and smooth. Delightful!

The main pocket of the Barcelona contains a well-padded laptop compartment that fits my MacBook Pro 15" perfectly. There is a slot for files, a smaller zippered pocket which is fronted by slots for business cards, a cellphone and pens, and the general interior slot where I kept my power cord.

There are two outside pockets: the front one is protected by the flap where you can stash a folder of papers; the back one will accommodate file folders or a small book. There are also two side pockets, one for thin cell phones - my KRZR fit only under much protest - and one zippered one for your water bottle (personally, I find a water bottle pocket incongruous with the rest of the Barcelona's personality).

The craftsmanship on the Barcelona is incredible. It has an adjustable leather shoulder strap that is very generous. The bag's hardware is high-quality and impeccable, including small metal feet to keep it off the ground. One of my favourite things about the Barcelona is that its fasteners are all magnetic, including the clever hidden ones in the flap of the bag. It makes the physics of the bag *feel* right when you close the flap - quite impressive.

On a day to day basis, it's pretty comfortable to carry. It *is* leather (and therefore heavier than a synthetic bag) so I do fret a bit about scratching it and getting it caught in the rain. Veronica assures me that any light rainfall can be wiped off but I should avoid getting it soaked.

I love the Barcelona ... I feel ultra chic when I carry it, and some very classy women have stopped me to ask where I got it. Next up: testing its ability to shatter glass ceilings.

The Barcelona retails for $325 USD and can be purchased online at Zegari's site.

UPDATE: The Barcelona now comes in a 17" model! Yay!

I expect my laptop bag to do a lot ... essentially function as my entire office. Sometimes, that's a good thing because you will likely have everything you need with you. And sometimes, this just gives you a back ache. So it was very refreshing for both me and my back to try out the Metro Lite Laptop Bag from Rainebrooke. Steve, one of the nicest bag designers I've met, sent over a Hot Pink one to test drive.

The first thing I noticed with the Metro Lite is that it lives up to its name - this bag is *really* light! It weighs hardly anything at all (technically, 15 oz) and has an incredibly slim silhouette. I was a bit worried about fitting in everything I wanted to carry, but that was part of my mission - to trim down the bulk. So, I gathered my essentials and got down to business.

The front pockets on the Metro Lite are perfect for small wallets, business cards, cell phones and keys. I found it quite handy to have these pockets - no digging around in the depths of the bag. As an FYI, if you have an old-school style cell phone, it could be tricky to fit it in.

My MacBook Pro 15 fit nicely in the main pocket. It is well padded so you don't need an additional sleeve. I also kept my Mac power brick in there as well. Because there is only one central pocket, I had to be careful where I put my power cord to avoid scratching my MacBook. The main flap as well as the small pockets in the front all have strong velcro closures.

The pocket in the back held my Moleskine notebook, a magazine, some papers and a couple of pens. It, too, has a velcro closure but only in the centre of the bag. What this means is that smaller items are at risk for escape if you happen to flop it down on the floor of a pickup truck. Guess who did that :)

The removable carrying strap is a standard strap with your choice of 2 shoulder pads (black or matching colour). My one beef with the Metro Lite is the handle. There is only one (not a pair) and it's positioned on the back of the main bag. Depending on how you pack your bag, this can make it a little awkward and unbalanced; also, it's uncoated/unwrapped nylon - depending on how heavy your laptop is, it could wear on your hands. I always used the strap when carrying this bag.

That being said, I love the colours, the construction is solid and the Metro Lite forces you to lighten up. All at a price point of $34.95 USD. Check out Rainebrooke's site for more details.

Steve, the owner of Rainebrooke (review of the Rainebrooke Metro Lite is above) is offering my lens readers 10% off any order. Simply use the code FunChiCo on checkout. Thanks, Steve!!

Note, Steve doesn't just have the funky Metro Lite bags. I found this hot Verona bag seen on the right (among other faux leather bags) while poking around Rainebrooke's site. Check it out!

Note: this review is for the 2007 Echo; improvements to the 2008 version have been noted at the end of this review.

Let's face it, one of the reasons I love funky laptop bags is that I like to stand out in a crowd. It's one more way to assert my individuality. And I like to be known as a bit of a fashion maven. So, when I met up with a good friend last week and the first words out of her mouth were "Oh my gosh, is THAT your laptop bag?! How CUTE!!!", I knew I had a winner.

The bag that made her gush is the ECHO Laptop Case from Lexie Barnes.

Since I wasn't able to make it to MacWorld this year where Lexie debuted the bag, she sent me over an ECHO 15 in the Viona pattern (shown here). The ECHO spent time as my sleeve in my backpack as well as made several stand-alone appearances.

The attention-grabbing factor was only one of the positives. The Echo cossets my MacBook Pro 15 perfectly. It slides in the centre-padded section and has enough room for a regular size file folder to keep it company. The main pocket has two zippers, so you can zip right to left or left to right, depending on your mood.

I kept all my accessories and power cords in the front zippered pocket on the Echo. I was actually quite surprised with how much it held: my Mac power brick and cord, cell phone, wallet and biz card case. Plus a couple of pens. The back of the Echo has an additional pocket where I kept my large Moleskine notebook and the new issue of Wired.

The handles on the Echo are one of my favourite features. I know, I know .. you're thinking, "the *handles*?!". Yes, the handles! They are wrapped with the same water-resistent fabric as the rest of the bag and really are super comfortable!

Here's my one beef with the Echo: the shoulder strap, while adjustable, is not removable. It is pretty generous in length, so I can wear it across my body, but when I wasn't using the strap (e.g. when I used the case as a sleeve in a larger bag), it was a little awkward. I usually ended up shoving the strap in the back pocket.

That being said, the Echo is a joy to carry (particularly on the plane) holds all my gear, is water-resistent, and is great-looking. The Viona is one of three eye-catching coated fabrics that it comes in. You can purchase the Echo ($95 USD) from lexiebarnes.com.

Update on the 2008 Echo Laptop Case:
* Three new fabric patterns!
* The strap is now removable! (thank you, Lexie!)
* New additional "hidden" key pocket (shhh...)

Available in three sizes and starting at $90, check out the new and improved Echo laptop case at LexieBarnes.com.

I spend a lot of time digging around in the bottom of my bag. Digging for keys, for jump drives, for a pen, for my gum - you name it, it's in my bag, lurking on the very bottom. And I think, why aren't there more pockets in my laptop bag?

Well, Ice Red Designs heard my rummagings and sent over a UNI Cargo Laptop Tote for me to try out.

The UNI is a vertically-oriented bag (something I've been wanting to try) with an austere exterior. I have the gun metal grey, and at first glance, you might think it wouldn't qualify as funky, chic and cool. But wait til you open it! The bright orange lining pops right out at you. But more importantly, so do all the pockets! So many pockets. And pockets in pockets. Check out the photo - the UNI keeps you organized. And you can put your whole office in there!

My MacBook Pro 15 fits snugly in the interior protected sleeve. The edge of my laptop peeks out which makes me a little uncomfortable, although there is a zipper on the top of the bag to protect all the contents, including your machine.

I really like that there are a number of outside pockets too, particularly handy on the plane when you just want to pull out a magazine and not fuss inside your bag.

The UNI is a comfortable over-the-shoulder style tote. And for those who really do take the entire office with them, the UNI expands an additional 2 inches through a clever side zipper.

The UNI holds laptops up to 15" and retails for $55 USD. Check it out at iceredbags.com.

Ever been at the airport and had to use one of the airline's paper tags to identify your bag? Kinda tones down any "funky, chic and cool" mojo that your laptop bag might be workin'.

Well, these gems from Tepper Jackson enhance even the dullest bag. Found on Plum Party, you can also check out their passport wallets. Hey, think of it as your contribution to funky-ing up the border!

Hat-tip to Rob and company over at TravelerWire for the head's up!

Talk about luxurious. The Messenger from Vaja is the epitome of luxury. All leather, sterling silver logo, padded flaps. It has it all.

You can also customize it .. anything from colour combinations to detachable gadget pocket. Unfortunately, the neopryne notebook jacket is not a standard feature (it's a kinda pricey add-on).

But, you can't beat the colours and if you want the full-on leather experience, the Vaja is the way to go. Oh, it is made for 15" laptops, so if you have a larger model, you might have to wrap it in a different type of luxury.

As you can imagine, it doesn't come cheap .. the basic "wide" model starts at $400. Vaja does have a slimline which starts at $220 .. so if you don't need to carry anything else, that may be the way to go.

OK, I need to face facts ... we all have differing degrees of "Funky, Chic and Cool" that we're comfortable with. And that's *OK*. So, if you're not ready for the 70's retro bag from M. Avery Designs, but you REALLY don't want the standard-issue black snoozer that all the gents in your office have, then the new Monaco from Mobile Edge just might be for you.

The Monaco is still your basic black, but has exterior stiching accents of either pink or red - just enough to stand out from the boys. The interior is all colour (which could be your little funky secret) and matches the exterior accent. There are several interior slots for file folders and accessories. As well as a padded compartment that fits laptops with screens up to 15.4".

Oh, and for those of you who are uber-concerned about privacy, it comes with a Wireless Security Shield pocket that protects cell phones & PDAs from hackers as well as new passports and RFID credit cards from identity theft. Now THAT is some geek chic!

The Monaco lists for $99 USD on Mobile Edge's website, mobileedge.com.

Who better to create funky bags than people who are experts in daily wear and tear of bags? This is one reason I love Baggallini! Baggallini was founded by two flight attendants who wanted both funkier and more functional totes. Right on!

They have a huge selection at Baggallini. One of my favs is their Courier Bagg shown here in the Tomato/Mango colour scheme. It is 14" x 13" .. so will hold a mid-size laptop. Both interior and exterior pockets. And it closes with a magnetic closure (no more riiiiiiiiiiiip sounds from all that velcro! though I don't know if the magnet impacts your laptop or not.)

Suggested retail is $75. You can visit their site to find retailers near you.

The VertiGo from Waterfield is understated chic. Simple black bag with two big features. A great swatch of colour. And a vertical orientation. Great new take on the messenger.

The VertiGo comes in four sizes to fit most laptops. The inside has several compartments. Outside, there is a cell phone pocket and a front pocket for easy access. Love it! Clearly designed for folks on the go.

The VertiGo itself isn't padded for your laptop, but, Waterfield does offer a SleeveCase. And there is even a special VertiGo Mambo Combo which offers a discount when you get them both together.

The VertiGo ranges in price from $79 to $89 (without the Sleeve); the Mambo Combo ranges from $115 to $119. And Waterfield has other models if this one doesn't strike your fancy, including Cargo and Cozmo bags in some fetching colours.

A friend of mine (a *guy* if you can believe it!) sent me a link to the creative and funky folks at aGaiN NYC. Once you get past all the InterCapping, you can see that they do some pretty cool stuff. aGaiN's mission: rescue and repurpose JUNK and transform it into modern accessories (i.e. FUNK). And they do an amazing job.

The bag shown here seems to be mostly one of a kind. I *love* the look of it (and their other bags). This one retails for $165 USD. It's 14" wide, so maybe only good for smaller laptops. I wish their site had an inside pic. But they do say it's padded.

You can visit their site at www.againnyc.com. It's in Flash so you can't link directly (drives me CRAZY!) but you can browse their store to get a sense of their products.

Enjoy!

ZAUM! Fun to say. And fun to wear. This new Boston design lab is creating some very funky and cool messenger bags. Zaum's bags are all handmade and they are all one of a kind. Most have a vinyl exterior and a matching padded cloth interior. The one shown here is from their Portabile Grand line. This particular bag is sold, but they have a number of others in their line.

Zaum sells all their bags online at the ZaumLabs Store. They size for Apple laptops, so make sure you check your measurements. The bags range in price from $60 to $200.

Zaum also has a blog where they announce new lines, talk about their design and construction process and offer other little design tidbits.

Check out Zaum at www.zaumlab.com!

I admit it .. I have a penchant for orange. Bright orange. And when I saw the Retrostriper, I knew that this could be the bag for me. The Retrostriper is made from polyester with PVC backing. It comes with a removable strap (strap matches the detailing on the front) and a metal foot (a couple of my bags have these and I love them -- really protects the bottom.) The Rertostriper fits laptops up to 15" and sells for $89.

Oxio has a couple of other bags as well: the Wholly Denim and the Xransporter.

Check out Oxio

The "Steve" bag from Case Closed is my original funky, chic and cool bag. I *love* my Steve. Case Closed is a New York City based designer. In addition to the Steve line, they have a number of other bags that include the "Todd", "Neil", "Mike" and "Teddy" collections. They focus on great fabrics and sturdy case construction. Case Closed offers iPod and cellphone cases too. If you're in New York, sign up for their email list; you'll get notified of sample sales and other special events where you can get some great stuff for a steal! Case Closed bags are currently sold in stores around the US and a few places online. Check their website for links.

http://www.caseclosedbags.com

Casauri has an extensive line of laptop cases, portfolio bags, weekend totes, backpacks, wallets and iPod cases. Citra and Omni are their "fun colour" collections. Citra is bright and tropical, featuring a water-proof nylon fabric; Omni has warm style colours made from refined polyester. Their final collection, Odyssey, is futuristic, technie and made of quited PVC. Casauri Cases are sold online and around the world in retail stores. Check their website for specifics.

http://www.casauri.com

Ever want to pretend that instead of dashing through O'Hare to catch a flight, you're actually in Milan, strolling across the piazza and sipping a delightful limonata?

Well "The Minimalist" from Zegari can help make that fantasy come true, at least for your laptop.

Texas-based company Zegari has created a sleek, stylish, yet cleverly pocket-ful bag that will hold not only your laptop, but your phone, PDA, MP3 player and some files from the office (or that issue of Vogue Italia you've been hiding from your assistant).

After spending the $285.00 for The Minimalist, you might be eating more spaghetti dinners at home, but it will be worth it, especially if you look as good as the model does in this photo! Now *that's* amore!

Visit http://www.zegari.com/

An ACME MADE bag was the first "non-traditional" laptop bag that I spotted. Acme has amazing fabrics and patterns on their extensive line of bags. Their "Designer Slim" line is my favourite with stain-resistant and water-resistant textiles from Japan, Switzerland, Denmark and the US. ACME also has wallets and cases for your iPod as well as iCovers for your PowerBook or new Cinema display.

http://www.acmemade.com

M. Avery Designs (founded by designer Megan Avery) specialises in custom bags. As it says on their site: choose the bag, choose the fabric, choose the extras ... and in 2 weeks, it's yours. And if 2 weeks is too long to wait, she also has a "ready-made" section with some very funky fabrics. Shown here is Chocolate Retro.

The "Patricia" is her laptop bag; a messenger-style bag with an interior sleeve and extra padding in all the right places.

The Patricia Laptop Messenger Bag

STM is an Australian company that has focused on protecting our digital gear. Not too many flashy colours or styles ... but just hip enough to set them apart. They have laptop bags with vertical orientation (something the Crumpler has as well - is this an Aussie thing? I like it!) and plenty of protected pockets for all the requisite accessories. Shown here is their Loft bag, medium size.

The Medium Loft

Sent to me by a reader. This bag from Highway was featured on Popgadget. I love the look of it (it also comes in orange). The padding, the nylon, the PVC ... makes me think my laptop will be well cossetted.

Highway Bags has a site, but you can't but directly from them. I did find this bag on Click! Design that Fits. $145 USD.

And thanks to Kim, an alert reader, for pointing out the previous broken link!