Show me your favourite cross-body bags?

It's Christmas-list-making time, and the #1 item I want to request is a great cross-body bag that will also function as a diaper bag. Can you indulge me and show me what you've seen online (or purchased) recently? Under $250 would be great. Here are my personal requirements, although I'm happy to see any cross-body bags you've loved lately!

- Leather or faux leather--not fabric or vinyl or suede (love patent though)
- Must have a reasonably wide cross-body strap so that the bag will be comfortable even when full of cloth diapering supplies, baby bottles, toys, extra clothes, wallet, makeup bag, etc.
- Must have lots of pockets (ideally interior and exterior, zippered and open) to help me stay organized
- Must have long enough short straps that it can be worn comfortably on the shoulder as well as cross-body
- In black or a versatile color like cobalt, cyan, olive, grass green, charcoal, etc. (no red or white or brown unless it's bitter chocolate brown--Mike says brown bags make him think of the '80s in a bad way).
- Has interesting shape, detail, or texture
- Large but not luggage-sized!
- Relatvely lightweight
- a nice long opening at the top so that it is easy to access contents
- Preferably a zipper closure to keep out rain here in rainy rainy Vancouver
- No patchwork, bows, big ruffles, or other fussy/overtly girly detailing
- pewter, brass, or silver hardware (not gold)

I don't ask for much, do I?

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Maybe I'm mistaken but isn't all faux leather vinyl? I can't help much on this subject since I don't really carry anything that large or for that purpose, but I thought I'd ask about this for clarity!

Ariadne

Good point. I was thinking vinyl like the kind that some diaper bags are made of--the type that doesn't look like leather.

cciele

Tano has reasonably priced leather bags. How about this one:
http://www.lunaboston.com/Prod.....21520.aspx

I'd go for vinyl, and not because I am pushing my vegetarian agenda, but because it is more lightweight and I think you already have enough to lug around. Also vinyl is naturally waterproof and ridiculously easy to clean. Unfortunately the option I had in mind no longer seems to be available anywhere which is a SHAME because it meets all your requirements!

http://www.endless.com/Matt-Na.....B001E5CS6E:

This is just for size:

http://www.lunaboston.com/Prod.....18883.aspx

RoseandJoan

I very much like Radley bags, however I have left my cross body bags in favour of shoulder bags. I have two young children (26 & 9 months) both on the go, and when moving in two directions to try and control the little monkeys I often find my cross body bag, on the floor, around my ankles like a hula hoop! LOL!

Here are the bags I like
http://www.radley.co.uk/Catalo.....goryId=912

Great ideas! Thanks! Maya, especially thanks for reminding me about Matt & Nat--I always forget about them, probably because they're so ubiquitous! I actually found this on their site that might be PERFECT:
http://www.mattandnat.ca/produ.....FIFTY-FIVE

It's such a great price that I might just order it straight out as I have some consignment $ to play with (yay!). Black or mustard, black or mustard? I'm a black-lovin' girl but that mustard is pretty hot too.

I love that Tano one too--but I can't afford to order it now and I'm afraid it'll sell out!

marianne

Active Member

That is a great bag, Brianna. I think I prefer mustard, even though it looks more like "banana" on my monitor. I also really like the bags Julie posted, but they seem to have limited options in US.
I had a couple of posts recently about cross-body bags here and here. They are smaller than what you are looking for, but I thought you might want to check them out. I also think if you do want a larger size, you might want to go non-leather route, since leather ones tend to get really heavy as they get bigger. let us know what you get!

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