Everlane Form Bag Review

Day-to-day for the office, I’m all about functionality. I like my outfits to be comfortable enough to move around in, my footwear able to withstand almost two hours walking per day, and I want my work bag to have the capacity for all my daily needs, and then some. Generally, this means relying on the tote bag (I love this one from Cuyana, the most) – it’s a total classic – but when I had a chance to try out the new Everlane Form Bag, I was curious to see whether this sports luxe leather shoulder bag would be a good contender for daily wear.

Wearing H&M sweater (old but I love this one, and this is cute), Dr Denim skinny jeans (similar), Everlane v heels, c/o Everlane Form Bag, Acne Studios Canada scarf

I don’t think I’ve ever received quite so many requests to review a single item on my blog. After using the form bag practically daily since receiving it, I figured now was a good time to share my thoughts, for those of you thinking about making the splurge.

QUICK FACTS

Price: $235USD
Available in three colours: Black, Cognac, and Dark Green
Made in: Florence, Italy
Fabric: 100% Italian leather. Unlined interior
Care: Spot clean

SIZE & QUALITY

SIZE: The dimensions of the Everlane Form Bag measure 10.5 inches wide, with a height of 13 inches and a strap length of between 27 to 55.4inches. For comparison against my frame, I’m 172cm of 5’8” tall, and I find that the bag is really well proportioned for my height. While this doesn’t fit my lunchbox, it does fit all my other essentials for work; two coin purses, my keys, gloves, work pass, a hefty book, and a calico tote bag. I have to admit that I was surprised to find that it does indeed fit my 13” Macbook horizontally, however as the opening of the bag is quite narrow, it was quite difficult to remove. Vertically, my laptop peeks out the top of the bag. One thing to note if you do overstuff the bag, as that it will gape at the opening – the magnetic closure will only snap shut when there is the optimal – or fewer – items in the bag.

FABRIC COMPOSITION: While I can’t see any reference to the kind of leather used (aside from 100% Italian leather), experience would leave me to surmise that it’s a calfskin, with raw leather interior. The interior has been treated, unlike the Day Market Tote, so it has a smooth feel to it, and the exterior is smooth and shiny, and feels malleable to the touch. The strap is fabric with leather and stainless steel details. One thing to note about the leather is that it is quite delicate. When my hands have slipped, I’ve found myself scratching the leather at the opening, which will be visible if you don’t buff it out. Generally smoothing over the surface with your finger will release the natural oils in your skin and buff out the scratches, however I would be a little more gentle with this bag for that very reason.

DETAILS: This isn’t really your typical ‘work’ bag. The Everlane Form Bag has a sports luxe style strap, which you can adjust depending on how you want to wear it: over the shoulder, or worn across the body. The bag has a magnetic closure at the opening, which automatically snaps shut, and inside the bag is an interior pocket within easy reach, for storing your essentials like a card case or your keys. The bag also has structure. The base is quite flat, and due to the stiff nature of the leather, it stands up on its own. The branding on the bag is very minimal and subtle, so much so I almost missed it. You’ll spot the brand name at the centre base of the bag. As someone who doesn’t wear too much overt branding, this is a little design detail that I can really appreciate.

FINAL VERDICT

As I said earlier, I love my work bags to be practical, but I also want them to look stylish and sleek, and the Everlane Form Bag ticks those boxes for me. The fact that it doesn’t fit my lunch isn’t a deal breaker; it’s actually quickly become my go-to option for days when I’m planning to have a simple sandwich, or pick up lunch from a nearby cafe, and the streamlined design sits well against my body, without feeling too cumbersome.

Working in a professional yet relaxed office environment, I have to say, I’ve really been enjoying wearing this bag. It combines form and function, and I love the sports luxe vibe of it. That being said, this isn’t the kind of bag that I think would be appropriate to wear to the office if you were employed in a corporate environment, nor would I really consider taking this as my handbag for a nice meal out (in all honesty, I’d probably opt for my Chanel). And I think it’s the fabric strap that’s going to be an area of contention for some. Personally, I wish that the bag had the option to detach the fabric strap for a leather one, to really elevate the look. That being said, I think it’s great for creative types, or for a modern – yet sleek – option for the weekend.

I will admit that I was skeptical that the bag would fit my Macbook (I literally double checked this just now), though as the base of the bag is wider than the opening, it conceals that fact that you’re carrying a laptop, plus with the wide strap, it feels quite comfortable to carry on your shoulder. On the flip side, I found the laptop rather difficult to remove, and that was without any other items in the bag. I do think that depending on how you organise the interior contents, you could end up with some creasing or dimpling from the edges of your laptop, particularly if you’re prone to overstuffing your bags.

The magnetic closure at the opening feels quite secure, and I love the fact that it snaps closed without any effort. The bag is reasonably roomy inside (it’s no tote bag but it fits a lot considering!), and it’s got great structure – it’ll stand on its own.

What do you think of the Everlane Form Bag? x