The Bag That Gets Compliments Everywhere I Go

SHOP $550, coach.com

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Somewhere around the middle of this year, I decided I needed a new bag for the daily commute. Something polished, but not stuffy. Functional. Relatively affordable. It seemed like a simple thing. But I managed to Inception myself, letting a small idea twist and corrupt itself in my mind until it was an impossible obsession. Eventually, I was on the hunt for the bag. The platonic ideal. The one and only.

I will spare you the details of my long hours scouring enthusiast forums and retail sites. I will mention only briefly that I started to consider spending a month’s rent or more on a bespoke option. I will let the moments of existential panic recede quietly into the rear view.

And then I’ll tell you this: After going damn near crazy searching for the perfect bag, I came to the only possible conclusion, which is that the perfect bag does not exist. There is no one and only. I abandoned my quest and decided to give it time. Maybe, I thought, the universe would provide.

Months later, no longer consumed by obsession, I came upon the Mott messenger bag by Coach at a preview of the brand’s recent accessories. I picked it up and slung it over my shoulder. Unzipped the top and peered inside. And I realized that while I hadn’t found the perfect bag—again, it does not exist—I had just discovered something very, very close. Here’s why it might be (nearly) perfect for you, too.

First, the basics

The Mott messenger is, above all else, a study in minimalism. You’ve got a large main compartment, a small snap pocket inside of that, a zip closure at the top, and a strap—all made from supple (but, crucially, not delicate) leather. That’s…well, that’s about it, to be honest. But that’s the beauty of this bag. You can throw anything and everything into it and be on your way. As the day progresses, you can throw even more things into it. It’s a holdall, in the literal sense. I’ve shoved my computer, a hat, a scarf—hell, even the lightweight mac coat that I was wearing on the way to an event—into that cavernous main pocket, and there was room to spare. That means, of course, that you have to be mindful. It wouldn’t be prudent to put your passport into the bottom of the bag before you head for the airport. Nor would it be a great idea to pack a computer without some sort of case, as the Mott lacks the padding to protect sensitive electronics. But when you couple it with a couple of easy-to-find (and generally affordable) additions to protect your valuables, it really shines. Bags that presuppose to have your organizational situation worked out are immutable. With the Mott, you can choose a light version of chaos and root around for what you need—you’ll find it eventually—or add a few deftly chosen accessories and turn it into a great-looking bag that’s compartmentalized for your specific needs.

SHOP $550, coach.com

Next, the looks

Let’s be real: There are a lot of things I said in the last section that could be easily transposed into a story about a canvas tote bag. But walking into a fancy restaurant or an important business meeting with a big ol’ tote that was initially designed to transport ice or firewood slung over your shoulder is, in most instances, not the move. The Mott looks the part, is what I’m saying. Like it or not, style is a visual language. And the Mott confers a sense of professionalism and poise that’s tempered by a slightly slouchy silhouette that means it plays nicely with outfits ranging from pretty formal (I wouldn’t fault anyone for carrying this bag with a suit, though traditionalists might prefer an attaché) to casual. With a dressier rig, it knocks the stuffing out. With something more relaxed, it offers polish—even to jeans and a T-shirt or, as I often wear it, a field jacket and a pair of wide-leg trousers. It’s a little bit chameleonic in its ability to pair with all sorts of styles, and that versatility is absolutely worth paying for.

SHOP $550, coach.com

Finally, the perks

The first time I ever wore the Mott out for the day, I got a compliment from a stranger. “Oh my gosh, that’s really lovely!” This is not something I experience with any regularity (but a few more have followed). The next time, a coworker—far chicer than I and possessed of a collection of bags that make the price of my bag look like chump change—asked about its provenance. I’m not saying we all have to dress to for the praise of the people around us, but it still feels nice. The third time I wore my bag out, I shuffled through one of the newer New York subway gates—one of those retrofitted versions that’s designed to stop fare-hoppers but doesn’t really succeed and just jams you up on the way through—and scuffed it against a sharp bit of metal. I was initially distraught; I’m the kind of guy who freaked out about the first dent on his first car, and I haven’t ever gotten over the time a favorite pair of pants was ruined when a ramekin of oil-soaked olives landed on my thigh on a dinner out. Then I took a closer look at the bag. The scuff would be imperceptible to anyone more than three feet away. But from my vantage, I realized that it would take a whole hell of a lot more than an errant bit of metal to fuck this thing up. It’s got a sheen of fanciness, but ultimately, it’s tough. Resilient. And now, I’m just looking forward to putting it through its paces and seeing how it winds up.

SHOP $550, coach.com

Photographs by Florence Sullivan