1 Fog Linen Work Johan linen bag | $39 (the strap is long enough to wear across your chest, I love it!!)
2 Matt & Nat Mumbai vegan backpack | on sale for $94
3 Lotuff The Trip leather bag | $690 – made in the US
4 VereVerto convertible backpack/bucket bag | $384 – hand made in Spain, by-product leather
5 Baggu circle purse | $160 – made in the US
6 BOUTONNÉ CINCHED BUCKET TOTE | $272, hand-dyed, cut and sewn in San Diego, CA
7 Erin Templeton BYOB handbag (can choose a longer shoulder strap) | $375 – handmade in Canada
8 The Stowe Eloise Bag (buffalo leather) | $395 – handmade in Canada
Reader Wendy echoed my frustration lately with trying to carry a shoulder bag while wearing dropped shoulder or oversized tops/sweaters/coats: it’s not easy. We can’t be the only ones with this problem? Dropped shoulder sleeves and oversized coats/outerwear are modern and comfortable, but hard to wear a shoulder bag with. Am I right?
Wendy mentioned that she has the Erin Templeton bag above with a super-long strap (I love this bag!!! and I remember writing about Erin in 2008 when she was working a lot with recycled leather), but would love some other suggestions. So I’ve chosen some of my favorite longer strap shoulder bags, backpacks, and crossbody bags that would suit any oversized sweater or top beautifully. I LOVE a great convertible bag, which makes the VereVerto bag my top choice, but I would happily carry any of these 🙂
I went to Garmentory* first to search for bags because it’s my go-to source now for interesting, independent designer fashion – and you can shop with one cart. I’ve been shopping Garmentory for a while now, and have had nothing but very pleasant experiences every time. The shipping is usually pretty fast, or about a week if an item comes from Canada. Etsy would be a good choice too, but I get too overwhelmed at Etsy, and you sometimes have to weed through a lot of crafty crap, pardon me. Garmentory is like a highly-curated version of Etsy; only the good stuff!
What bag do you carry with oversized tops and coats?
*Garmentory is not an official partner of sponsor of Grechen’s Closet, but I love the company, the concept and the people at Garmentory, and I do receive $20 credit whenever someone makes their first purchase via my referral link. The best part? So do you. If you haven’t shopped Garmentory yet, I highly highly highly recommend it, and if you sign up via my referral link you’ll get a $20 credit in your account. They’re also really cool & fun and give random $20 or $25 credits throughout the year if you have an account 🙂
I have one more to add to your list – http://betosee.com/product/19734/50240
The one I have is very similar to this one, the differences is that there is leather along the trim and mine does not have hand held handles. I bought it 4 years ago and good to see another variation still being made. I have thrown the whole bag in the washing machine multiple times and it’s still in great condition. It’s my go-to carry on travel bag. Not only does the long bag drop work with oversized tops but also the perfect length to lay a cardigan or light jacket on the top of the bag and still wear the bag on your shoulder without having to hold the jacket on your other hand or tie around your waist. Am I creating a visual image that makes sense?
I meant to say TOP trim of the bag….
i love that bag, and know exactly what you mean! i do that all the time but with my gigantic scarves…
funny, the store i’m obsessed with and order all my organic by john patrick stuff from – baby & company, carries hannes roether, but unfortunately no bags…
I’m not a backpack person, but sign me up for 1, 5, 6, and 7! Gorgeous choices…and most of them pretty reasonable, even for me!
I like the choices on Garmentory, but I frequently get frustrated over the lack of availability of sizes…size Large, specifically. I hate to say it, but garment makers still don’t like the idea of larger women wearing their clothes. At least, that’s the way it seems. I can go to Madewell, and 9/10 times, the size XL will be sold-out while every other size is available. Same thing on other sites. To paraphrase “Field of Dreams”….”If they make it, we will buy!”