https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:04:02 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1632241 Sat, 19 Mar 2016 22:22:42 +0000 unfrumped 1632241@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ETA I put an update in the original post. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1631737 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 23:34:50 +0000 Dottie 1631737@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a Cole Haan tote that I use for work every day and LOVE it. I got it on sale on Haute Look, I believe. &nbsp;This one is similar, but mine does not have the "flap/buckle." It is a little stiff, with a flat bottom, but fits an 8-1/2 x 11 datebook nicely along with wallet, checkbook, small makeup bag and inside pockets for phone, pens, etc. without bulging. &nbsp;I carry mine by the handles and removed the strap.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1631472 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:56:38 +0000 cobalt 1631472@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Have you looked at Cambridge Satchel? &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cambridgesatchel.com">http://www.cambridgesatchel.com</a>&nbsp; Their east-west and north-south totes come in a variety of colors and neutrals, and occasionally go on sale as they cycle new seasonal colors. &nbsp;I have their music bag (which I believe is now called the folio bag -- it's a slim briefcase) in navy and it's held up beautifully for the past two years. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1631344 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 14:44:40 +0000 unfrumped 1631344@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, it's good I am taking a "think" on it and will maybe visit the bags while wearing a potential outfit and mainly see if&nbsp; one of the colors is also something I'd really love to use as an everyday errand bag, either a neutral or accent color that isn't represented already and that adds something.<br />I have persistently been a shoulder-strap lover and currently so many straps are for cross-body and can't really be adjusted to ride high enough. I do find occasional short-handle bags with a shorter additional "long strap". Some straps could be modified by a good cobbler but others seem difficult. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630961 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 20:35:30 +0000 rachylou 1630961@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree about totes for work/interviews. I like taller shoppers, not wide totes, because of the way weight is distributed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630955 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 20:19:49 +0000 Anonymous 1630955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, unfrumped, I really like the bag you've chosen. I think it's got a lot of structure and is not too dressy nor too casual. Of course I like it best in the teal, but that might not work for interviews (are you the interviewer or the interviewee?). I would get the black, but if you're also using it as a summer bag, then the grey, but make sure it works with your footwear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630913 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 18:49:56 +0000 unfrumped 1630913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for helpful suggestions!<br />I go to and fro about things like the tumbled leather, Diana! One one hand, I like looking less "precious" as long as it's not truly distressed leather, but tonal, because I am in a kind of in-between zone for the effect I want, and also that can hide marks. OTOH, if the leather is too shiny and crisp (this&nbsp; is a kind of glossy finish), it can scratch, as you say.<br />I'm a fan of pebbled, supple leather too for durability.<br />So actually there could be a less dainty and more&nbsp;under-the-radar bag that gives a more no-nonsense look.<br />Hmmm...... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630880 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:33:17 +0000 Diana 1630880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So I haven't seen this Hobo bag in person, but my general impression of Hobo bags is that they tend to look casual, because of the soft, tumbled leather.&nbsp; In my experience, they also start to look beat up quite fast for the same reason - the leather scratches really easily.&nbsp; So, I think it would be a good general work bag, but maybe not spiffy enough for an interview.</p> <p>For interviews I tend to prefer a more structured bag personally.&nbsp; I like this Kate Spade one, for example.&nbsp; (It's the same style as my floral one and comes in a lot of different colors).&nbsp; It has a zip closure (a must-have for me) and the bigger one fits my laptop (which I am likely to need to bring to interviews).&nbsp; If you don't need the zip, there are tons of similar looking structured totes available at many price points.&nbsp; I like a bag that I can set down on the floor without it flopping over sloppily.&nbsp; </p> <p>That said, my "interview bag" is a boring old black pebbled leather tote.&nbsp; It's fine but not particularly spiffy. I probably should get a better one, but given the way my job hunt is going it does not seem too likely I"ll need it, and it's not a particularly exciting purchase. So, in the grand scheme of things, I don't really think it's worth it to buy a bag JUST for interviews, but only if you are going to use it for other purposes as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630872 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:17:25 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1630872@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>p.s. I'm guessing the one I proposed is larger than you're looking for. My thought was the Hobo bag seems kind of in between a handbag and tote, which it seems is just what you're looking for! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630870 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:15:20 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1630870@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like the Hobo Friar for what you describe. Here's another one that admire, from Madewell. It's in dark charcoal. There's a black one, too, but the black has tan handles, which seem a bit sporty and less businesslike to me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630854 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:50:04 +0000 kkards 1630854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like this Hobo style, and i'll try something else into the mix<br />a couple years ago when I was interviewing, I used this bag. not cheap, but it worked really well, big enough to carry a folder with extra resumes, a notebook for taking notes, my ipad, and pockets to hold all my other stuff neatly...(.on the mz Wallace site, this bag comes in other colors) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hobo-friar-tote-input-on-interview-bags#post-1630847 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:34:15 +0000 unfrumped 1630847@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am putting together options for "interview" outfits and similar more formal, adminstrator-type meetings though with a non-corporate outfit aim (professional business casual). Also I would say that for me and for the target purpose, something very luxury-line or status-symbol (not that that would be recognized) would be inappropriate.</p> <p>The type of bag I think is most appropriate is something that is<u> tote-like </u>, i.e. could hold&nbsp; some letter-size documents, but not too big (tends to overwhelm me), and able to either carried hanging down or put over shoulder, because that is more the environmental norm than "carry-on-arm" &nbsp;satchels and such.</p> <p>What I think I mean is, something that is not necessarily the full-on large tote I might use&nbsp; &nbsp;for my highest volume needs for lunch bag, shoes, umbrella but still looks a bit more business-like than a fashion handbag, if that makes sense. </p> <p>I already have something in black that is almost not big enough for papers but it was the best I could find last year for some occasions.<br />I have for some reason not liked lots of totes even at TJMaxx, which is quite a good source--SO many nameplates and&nbsp; &nbsp;logos, too big, too stiff, wrong hardware, and many with very short handle drops.</p> <p>However, my outfits tend to have a lot of black--pants and shoes, for example--and everything look so somber that I am exploring having the option of light neutral vs dark neutral depending on what's the rest of the outfit.</p> <p>I came across this Hobo Friar tote. I have always been&nbsp; a Hobo fan but don't want to let that skew me. Really it's more that it seems like a less obtrusive, sleeker tote that does not bang around like a larger bag. It's small enough that I could also use it as a normal "shopper" handbag for any everyday outfits that work well with the color. </p> <p>What do you think of this style for that purpose?&nbsp;</p> <p>Second,&nbsp;it's hard to choose a color! I like more than one of the available colors!&nbsp;There is this gray and&nbsp;then a lighter gray that is also lovely. (I have been tempted to bring both home and&nbsp;see which one works best with my current outfit options).&nbsp; There may also be berry colors which I love, but I'm less sold on that for versatility for <u>this</u> purpose. There is a promotion going on which gives a price break, though not a "steal".</p> <p>Any comments welcome. </p> </p> <p><b>ETA</b> I brought one home, since I neglected to take "stuff" to the store to practice fiting into them, and found this tote will <u>no</u>t hold a letter-sized folder and still zip up. It's just wide enough but not tall enough, by just an inch or so.</p> <p>So disappointing because I really like the "tote lite" aspect and it looks really great in terms of proportions with my outfits, and is extremely lightweight, and&nbsp; I love both the gray and the black. So it would still work if I had a high need for a lot of variety in just "business-looking" handbags, but I really don't. I was okay with its not being a "laptop" kind of bag or a schlepping tote, but I think it would be a mistake to focus on this bag and not be able to carry papers in it. Not even just for "interview" but a few office items. Was still waffling because of how sleek it looks. Phoo.&nbsp;</p>