I've had a few requests to post a review of my Alesya Bag – something I first wrote about here and that I lusted after for quite a bit before jumping in and purchasing it.
After much internal debate, I decided on getting the bag in Equestrian Tan. I love a good tan leather, and figured no matter what outfit or occasion, it would match.
First, the packaging. I know I don't carry the package around with me, but seriously, it made me feel like I was opening a super luxe, fancy present!
Seriously, the bag goes with everything. It's an oversized bag, obviously, but never feels too bulky. My biggest concern before purchasing was whether or not it would sit comfortably on my shoulder. First, my arms are larger, so I didn't know if the handle would have a long enough drop. Second, I have shoulders that NOTHING will stay on, so I thought the size of the bag plus my sloping shoulders would mean an annoying bag falling off all the time. TOTALLY WRONG. It is GREAT. I can pack it with my Macbook, charger, headphones, big sunglasses wallet, checkbook, notepad, a few pens, keys, lipstick and even a bottle of water! The multiple compartments took about a week to get used to – I'm not used to having so many pockets and places to keep me organized!
I've gotten compliments on it from friends and strangers. I sat down at Panera and whipped out my laptop from that compartment and literally someone stared at me with surprise. Where did that pocket come from?!
I had a couple of people ask if it would fit their size laptop. The Alesya site says it will accomodate a 15 inch, and I have no doubt about that. I have a 13″ Macbook Pro and there is TONS of space for it. I tried putting my behemoth work computer in it (17″ and VERY thick) and it didn't quite work, but it was much closer than I ever could have anticipated. Here are some photos with a ruler if you need to judge, but you can always ask Alesya first, or refer to the exact measurements on the product page.
The quality is exceptional. The leather is soft, supple and thick. It smells FANTASTIC. The lining is beautiful, and the zippers are heavy-duty. It took a little bit for me to get the hang of zipping the laptop compartment because the zipper is heavy and can stick a little, but it's not a bad thing. I have no fears I'll have a zipper malfunction with it!
If you are a mobile worker or travel a lot, I highly recommend this bag for the function and style. Even if you don't always need your laptop, it's a great, stylish option for a laptop bag should you need one, or if you simply just like the looks.