Please help me work out what type of bag I need/will look good?

[SandwichMakerHater]

I am fed up of always losing track of my purse, notebooks, pens, lip balms, etc because I use different bags depending on outfits.

I want one bag that I will use for work and weekend daytimes, so everything can be in one place. I can't find any that fit the bill.

• Needs to be cross-body: i cycle to work with a laptop backpack plus I am too absent minded to want a bag in my hands at weekends.
• Slouchy/soft rather than structured design. Cross-bodies that bump me when I walk or cycle put me in a very bad mood!
• Big enough for essentials but not huge - maybe around A4 paper sized?
• I'm thinking navy? I wear both warm and cool tones so this feels most adaptable for colours and seasons. I don't really like black bags.

Budget is low, max £75, but happy to see expensive bags as it's the style I need help with, trying to work out what sort of thing will fit my needs. Then I can look for secondhand.

Another option might be to buy a handbag liner, not sure if that’s the correct term, but basically it holds everything you’ve described and you just move it from bag to bag so all your belongings are always in the same place.

I have a Kipling bag that fulfils all those criteria. I've just switched from a rucksack because I was sick of taking it off my back every time I needed my phone, water etc.

They come in a variety of sizes, colours and styles and are often discounted from quite a high RRP so it might take a bit of hunting around but I have several Kiplings and find them well made and practical.

The one I have is similar to this:

https://eu.kipling.com/en-gb/products/gabb-kpki57404ga?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=**BL_|UK|Performance_Max|Shopping|Zombie&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21466833997&gbraid=0AAAAAD8OEJGCk_j99-KqzFZUpfYBOgRx&gclid=CjwKCAjw_eLVBhBEEiwAeaYZfHUgEmqgnII9eXO_F41kxM0UtkFxrxrLgNWVFb7jHldtn8BPhru0jRoCRwQQAvD_BwE

But I would definitely go with a 'landscape' bag rather than 'portrait' as with the latter, stuff just falls deep into the bottom.

@Bjorkdidit Kipling is a great shout. I've only ever noticed really big bags or phone bags by them in local shops but the site is great. There's one that is almost exactly A4 size with lots of pockets, slightly smaller than the one you linked.

Agree re landcape design too!

One question though, online the bags look quite structured but maybe that is to fully show their size and shape as I think they are actually soft fabric, aren't they?

i got one of these from amazon and move it between bags it also helps keep things organised as it has little pockets to put tissues/tampax/ pens in - cheap and great!

Yes they're like a fine lightweight water resistant canvas on the outside and a coarse satiny lining. You could roll one up into a sausage shape if you wanted, ie not structured

As well as Kipling themselves you can get them from Amazon and the large bag sellers such as Wardrow. They also have stores at some of the outlet malls if you want to see before you buy.

Thanks all.

Kipling looks like it has a lot of variations on sizes that might be good.

Will also look at the idea of a liner to see if that would work.

QVC sell Kipling bags, even if you don’t actually buy from them it’s worth having a look because they have a little video demonstration of each bag so you can get more of an idea of useable size

@FlorenceBlack thanks, that's really helpful so I can narrow down what will be suitable.