Anthropologie’s Fine-Ruled Satchel ($268) is a curious compendium, the combination of an old-fashioned doctor’s satchel, a traveler’s day bag an architect’s bag. From the fine lines that add an air of Parisian chic to the contrast-stitched leather accents, this bag’s details had me drooling the second it hit the website. I have been looking for a nice mini-bowler and decided that this satchel could fit the bill. I set out on a hunt of the 4 NYC Anthros to see this bag in person.
I eventually found success at the Chelsea Market Anthropologie. I was instantly smitten by the look of the bag, which translates well from website to real life. The stripes could be navy but they looked black to me. I noticed the bag on display had slight tarnish on the brass clip holding it closed. The store was nice enough to pull two more from backstock for me and they too had a bit of tarnish on the clip. We decided the bag is meant to be this way. It doesn’t detract from the overall look but wasn’t clear from the product shot.
A few things to note: this bag was smaller in real life than I expected it to be. When I think “satchel” I think large bag, but as you’ll see from the photo below of the bag on me it’s only about the size of a loaf of rye bread. The bright green lining is cheerful and inside the bag has a cell phone pocket, large pocket and one zippered pocket.
Structure-wise this bag is built to be sturdy. The bottom lays flat thanks to an unseen slat of cardboard on top of thick leather. There are also four large metal feet which keep the bottom from touching ground directly. The sides of the bag are pliable leather with stiff plastic tops. This bag closes like an old doctor’s bag — there are two mechanical pivots which allow the bag to open and close, and the front closes slightly under the back. If you look at the first product photo with the magnifying zoom, you can see a peek of green from where the front folded under the back to close.
The satchel can either be worn on/over the shoulder comfortably or carried via a thick short strap. I was at ease either way. I did notice that even when clipped closed the front of the bag slid open more than I would like. This was fixable by playing around with the sides of the bag, massaging them like clay until the bag sat in a naturally closed state. But it is an odd quirk of the design. Overall I’m very pleased with this bag and have been using it as an everyday work bag.
If you like the look of this bag but not the size, check out its smaller sister the Pinstriped Bag ($148), which is a cute mini-crossbody.
Green, green, you wonderful thing! Anthropologie’s Soho store (NYC) had the Cocora Bag (now $100) on display soon after the bag was released. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Unlike the pea soup color of the online shot, in real life the bag is more of a mossy green, a Kermit the Frog green if you will. It can appear as that pea soup color in dimmer lighting. I was seriously tempted to buy the bag at its full $448 price tag until logic got the best of me. I decided to play the sale waiting game, telling myself that if the bag escaped me by selling out at full price it wasn’t meant to be. Soho sold through their stock quickly.
Luckily by the morning it went on sale Soho had received a few more of the bag so I was able to pick it up locally. And a couple of weeks later this bag received a second cut which meant I got almost $130 back. Not a bad deal at all!
The bag has one harsh review on the website and at full price I’d agree with the detractors. The bag closes via a small round magnet at the top middle which doesn’t always stay closed if the bag is full. The bag is wide, tall and thin so no it doesn’t stand on it’s own. However there’s a lot to love. The details on the outside of this bag are so cool. I love the two diagonal zippers with their long leather pulls. I love the side and strap accent with the leather punch closures. Inside the bag has plenty of room with one zipper pocket, a cell phone pocket and a larger open pocket. The leather of the bag is soft and has weight to it allowing the bag to slouch nicely on your shoulder.
The model shot of this bag is rather deceptive — I think it makes the bag look smaller than it is. You can get the bag to hang in a similar squat fashion by leaving it open and allowing the side straps to pull down the sides via gravity. But if you wear the bag by its side straps it’s considerably larger, about the size of my HP 15″ Envy laptop. I wouldn’t use it as a laptop bag but my iPad fits inside easily with my wallet, necessities and such.
Though the bag is sold out online a few stores still have it in stock. If you’re thinking about this bag I say grab it! It’s my top weekend bag at the moment. If you’re not familiar with this bag’s designer Martine Sitbon here’s an excellent recent interview with the under-the-radar artist.
Here are the two bags to give you an idea of the size. The Fine-Ruled Satchel is about 2/3 the height of the Cocora Bag and not quite as wide. Anthropologie has truly outdone themselves with bags this year. I’ve found too many to love!
