Luxury Leather Totes and Briefcases for Women

Carrying the Best

If you're choosy when it comes to purchasing handbags, chances are you're probably a bit particular about the other bags in your life, too. Bags designed for professional environments, in particular, are worth the extra attention. For work purposes, you'll always want something that is made with high quality materials, designed with functionality in mind and luxurious, to boot.

Finding such an anomaly may seem a bit tricky, especially if you don't wish to pay an arm and a leg, but the good news is that carrying the best doesn't mean your bank account has to take a beating. Not only that, but there are plenty of styles from which to choose. There's something for every lifestyle, every individual need and every particular taste. Women who demand certain qualities of their totes and briefcases will undoubtedly find them in this very diverse day and age.

Choosing Luxury Leather Totes and Briefcases for Women

If you have your heart set on luxury leather totes and briefcases for women, you may be tempted to go overboard at first. There are so many choices, all beautiful and stylish. Knowing what to look for in your next luxury purchase will help narrow things down, though. Keep an eye out for these specific features and traits:

• Rich, substantial leather in a variety of natural shades. Natural leather will maintain its unique nuances (such as scars and color variations) and over time will develop a beautiful patina finish.

• Sturdy construction. Lightweight bags simply won't offer you the protection and reliability you demand of a carryall.

• Extra details. Key hooks, zipper pockets, organizer panels, credit card pockets, cell phone and PDA holders, pen loops and outer compartments are all ideal functional details for the busy professional.

What's Available

Though the market is rife with great designs, a few styles really stand out from the pack. Take a look at these picks for enduring, stylish totes and briefcases for women.

• The Majorca Briefbag by Levenger is a smart alternative to the traditional briefcase. Softly rounded at the edges and inherently feminine, it boasts roomy exterior and interior compartments, as well as a zippered interior compartment to keep more valuable items close at hand. Fill it with files, notebooks, supplies and even slip your cosmetic bag inside; this convenient bag will hold everything with ease.

• The Hartmann Triple Compartment Tote clearly tells you what you're going to get, but amidst all of that compartmental space is the beauty of smooth pebbled leather in classic shades of cream, navy and red. These neutral colors complement almost any professional ensemble beautifully, and the bag's handbag-like style and lengthy shoulder straps make it easy to carry everywhere.

• Coach is renowned for its timeless styles and attention to detail. The Transatlantic Lexington Brief is a great example of the company's genuine, enduring designs. This bag is constructed of smooth, weather-resistant glove-tan leather and matching trim. The smart camel hue is the perfect neutral, pairing well with just about everything. Users will have a great time discovering all of the pockets and compartments that populate the roomy bag, and no matter how much it's filled up, the leather handle guarantees will make it a breeze to carry.

• The ultra-stylish Town and Field Tote by L.L. Bean is a perfect example of an everyday tote that transitions well from the workplace to family life. Whether you're carrying your office essentials or toting the kids' goodies to the park, this roomy, elegant bag, made of full-grain leather, gets the job done with ease. It's available in three smart, neutral shades.

• If you're looking for a way to make lugging that hefty laptop around look slightly more glamorous, consider this bold leather briefcase with removable laptop sleeve from Target. Sharp, clean lines are the antithesis of the sexy red hue, but they work well together to create a stylish professional women's bag. Even with your laptop inside, there's room to tote a few other essentials, including office supplies and personal items.

Where to Purchase

You'll find high-quality leather bags at leather supply stores, and occasionally at department stores. There's also a fantastic selection on the Internet. Here are a few locations to set you off on the right foot:

• Leather Store USA
• Tumi
• Wilson's Leather