This bag comes with me from work to the gym to dinner - it's no wonder why NYC women love them
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
- Finding a versatile bag that's actually practical and doesn't sacrifice style can be a tough feat.
- MZ Wallace started making bags in 2000 to meet the needs of modern women who value both fashion and function.
- The Large Sutton bag ($245) embodies these ideals and, for it's timeless style and practical features, has been my go-to-bag since moving to New York City.
A good bag is not only an integral part of your outfit, but integral to the flow of your day. I need a bag that can hold my gym clothes for the morning, my lunch to bring to work, keep my metro card easily accessible so I don't create a line at the subway turnstile - and of course, look nice enough that I can feel good about bringing it out to dinner at a nice restaurant. If you think that's a lot to ask from a bag, you haven't met MZ Wallace.
Monica Zwirner and Lucy Wallace Eustice, the company's founders and namesakes, set out to meet needs like mine - and more - in 2000. Their goal was to create thoughtful, unique accessories for the modern woman.
As two native New Yorkers with experience in the fashion industry, they have a strong sense of what today's woman wants and what looks great. If there's a secret sauce to finding the fine line where fashion meets function, you can be sure MZ Wallace has it. In Manhattan, I spot their signature quilted-nylon just about everywhere I go - while I'm riding on the subway, waiting in the line at Trader Joe's, packing up in the locker room at the gym, or walking down the street. As an owner of an MZ Wallace myself, I understand why the bags are popping up on shoulders everywhere - the brand just gets it.
MZ Wallace offers a wide variety of styles, from trendy little belt bags to large weekender bags, and plenty of shapes and sizes in between. After hearing friends and family rave about the bags for a while, I decided it would be a perfect work bag. I settled on getting the Large Sutton, and it's since proved to be an amazing choice - I use it just about everyday.
At $245, the Large Sutton bag is not cheap, but I think the price is fair for what you get. For starters, you're paying for high-quality materials. The bag is made with a soft, lightweight nylon that's both water and stain-resistant - a feature that proves particularly important when braving the elements of city streets and crowded subways. I chose the color magnet, which is a nice, deep gray that's a great neutral for everyday. There's a nice sheen on the quilted fabric, which, along with the nude leather accents and gold hardware, make the bag undeniably stylish. The look of the bag is timeless, something that you can wear with any outfit today, or in a few years. This all makes sense given both of the founders' fashion backgrounds, but what really sets the Large Sutton apart is its functionality.
MZ WallaceA peek inside the Large Sutton in Camo.
It's like the founders of MZ Wallace predicted all of the qualms you could have with the bag and found the solutions before you even had the chance to experience any frustration. For example, since the bag is so large, it can get pretty heavy, depending on what you fill it with. If you find the handles - which are padded for extra comfort, by the way- to be too much to hold, clip on the adjustable nylon strap, convert the bag from a tote to a crossbody, and give your shoulder a break. You can also clip down the sides of the bag to make it smaller if you'd like it to be more compact.
I've already made my case for the outside of the bag, but the interior of the Large Sutton is just as impressive. To give you a sense of how much you can hold, it's large enough to fit a 15 inch laptop, and the inside has plenty of pockets and pouches to keep you organized. There are three detachable pockets - a small, medium, and large size - which I've found to be super practical. Keep the pouches clipped in the bag for easy access or un-clip them and move them around. I like to keep the pouches filled with some everyday necessities, like travel-sized toiletries and pens, in case I ever need. And, since the pouches are already full, I can easily move them to another bag.
You'll also find six interior pockets, some zippered and some open, to keep items easily accessible. The phone pocket keeps your device close for those inevitable times when you need it at a moment's notice. My personal favorite feature is the key ring strap, which saves me from fumbling for my keys at my front door, especially on those freezing New York nights.
Ultimately, my purchase of an MZ Wallace bag proved to be a great move - and if you're looking for a bag that's equally smart and stylish, I think you might like this one.