August 19, 2024August 18, 2024 by Beau H.

See Now, Buy Now: This WP Standard Messenger Bag Is a Perfect Everyday Carry Addition

Not even the best #OOTD for the office, for spring travel or for everyday outings is complete without the right accessories, yes? Take some of the best men’s leather goods, like a must-have messenger bag: A reliable companion that can serve as everything from a work essential (laptop, notebook, folders) to a daily must-have (a favorite volume for reading, a transporter of tech accessories and more).

And given that you’re toting around some valuables, it pays off to invest in one of the best leather bags for men — this, of course, you know well if you read the blog and carefully compose your daily ensembles. So, where’s a guy to go to find one of the best leather messenger bags? In my experience, WP Standard can sort you out in fine form, and that’s why we’re here today.

Learn more now at WP Standard

In fact, I trust a leather messenger bag most days of the week, and I’ve had a WP Standard leather messenger bag in my rotation of stylish EDC essentials for years now. And yet, this edition is a touch different, with some crucial updates — updates I look for when shopping for the best leather goods.

The WP Standard Meridian Leather Messenger Bag, as the reliable and stylish brand says, serves as an homage to “antique leather work bags but updated for modern function,” and that sounds like as great a place to start as any. A full-grain leather exterior and a pigskin leather interior boasts a laptop pocket as well as an interior pocket for streamlined storage of other valuables.

Plus, the WP Standard Meridian Leather Messenger Bag boasts richly crafted details like brass hardware and remarkably sturdy construction, something I appreciate — and that means this stylish leather messenger bag will only get better with age.

A handsome patina should develop the more you use it, and details like a comfortable padded leather strap mean you’ll want to use it plenty. What’s more, the rich Desert Black color shown above should age remarkably well, revealing what lies beneath — but any of three leather options for the WP Standard Meridian Leather Messenger Bag should deliver style, functionality and long-lasting utility. That’s precisely what your daily carry needs this season (and beyond), my friends.

April 25, 2023April 23, 2023 by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: Save on the Best Leather Goods and Everyday Carry Gear at Satchel & Page’s Warehouse Sale

Investing in the best is one of the more fun parts of building out your wardrobe of menswear essentials, and that goes for even the picks you’re not using every single day. Take one of the best leather weekender bags for men: They’re a bit more uncommon in the market, but when you find a brand that builds its bags the right way, it’s worth investing in.

And yet, what if I told you there were some savings to be had when it comes to some of the best men’s leather goods? That’s where the Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale rises to the occasion, and that’s where you’ve got the chance to save a few bucks (10 percent, to be exact) on the Satchel & Page Gladstone Weekender Bag (and more beyond that, of course).

Shop Satchel & Page leather goods right now

Hopefully, you know Satchel & Page from reading this very blog, and from the brand’s penchant for making one of the best leather jackets and one of the best men’s weekender bags (at full price as well as on sale). And if not? Well, shopping the Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale is one of the best ways to get an intro to a new brand while saving some hard-earned cash in the process.

Over at the Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale, you’re going to find leather goods and accessories that are truly worthy of the price, and truly worthy of the heirloom designation. Take the Gladstone Weekender or any of the brand’s Italian leather briefcases: They’re made with Gold-rated, vegetable-tanned leather with a pleasant thickness that can stand up to plenty of wear and tear.

And the Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale is also transparent about what’s on offer: These selections have been lightly used, but should arrive in excellent condition — that approach is all the better, seeing as you’re going to put your own stamp on these beautifully made leather bags and accessories.

Details like tobacco suede linings and rich, antique brass hardware put the handsome leather goods in the Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale a cut above the rest, too. And again, although these bags are pre-owned, it’s rare to find a discount on a future heirloom when it comes to the best leather goods for men. Shop accordingly, my friends.

December 31, 2022December 27, 2022 by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Shinola Canfield Messenger Bag – Best Bag for Your Everyday Carry

As the new year dawns, perhaps you’re like me and enjoy taking stock of those style essentials you can’t live without — and for this Brooklyn writer on the go, that means one of the best leather messenger bags is a must-have. But let’s get more specific on this, the last day of 2022: Let’s talk about the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger, one of the best bags for your everyday carry and a very worthwhile upgrade to your daily haul as we head back into the office next year.

Learn more at Shinola

It’s coming at you courtesy of Detroit-based Shinola, long one of my favorite brands — and for much more than just the best leather goods or one of the best watches for men (period!). Yes indeed, the all-American company has built a true lifestyle brand in every sense of the word, and that extends beyond just your wrist and right down to the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger as you transport your daily gear from point A to point B.

Crucially, the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger is all about durability, starting with its Wisconsin leather from Seidel Tannery. Known as Navigator leather, that material means the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger will only get better with age (and hey, don’t most leather goods look just a bit better with a bit more wear on ’em?).

This stylish leather messenger bag boasts two interior pockets, one for your phone and one for other EDC valuables, and only gets more useful from there. The Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger also boasts a padded laptop sleeve and a card pocket for, perhaps, a stylish Shinola leather wallet.

Beyond that, it latches with a magnetic closure for ease of access on the go, while the gunmetal brass hardware on the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger is a cool, refined touch. The shoulder strap adjusts with ease (and can even be removed if you so choose), turning the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger from a bag fit for work into a bag fit for, well, a little bit of everything. To head back to the office and hit the road in 2023, make sure the Shinola Canfield Leather Messenger is right by your side.

October 18, 2022October 15, 2022 by Beau H.

The Tuesday Steal: The Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale Offers the Best Deals on Leather Bags for Men

As you take stock of both your travel gear and your everyday carry essentials, perhaps you like to invest in the best leather goods for men, the kind of gear that lasts — and lasts, and lasts. But there’s a catch with shopping for stylish leather goods: The process can often be expensive, so what’s a guy to do? Here’s my best answer — head right now to the Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale, a well-crafted offering of handsome and rugged leather goods for men.

This rather astounding sale is offering deals on quite nearly the entire lineup of Satchel & Page leather goods, from the brand’s famed Leather Weekender to its Slim Mailbag and even the brand’s Padfolio. These pieces are heirloom-worthy, made from rich brown leather designed to get better over time, to say the very least. And the deals are just as great, running anywhere from 15 percent off to 30 percent off the best men’s leather goods.

The Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale doesn’t tend to stick around very often, and it’s no wonder why: When you can get an exceedingly handsome, well-crafted leather weekender — with plenty of packing potential — why not knock off a few dozen bucks to snag that bag for under $600? Precisely, my friend.

Even the brand’s smaller goods are on offer in the Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale, including a stylish leather backpack. A word to the wise: These pieces from Satchel & Paige do arrive lightly used, and yet, should still be in great enough condition to allow you to make your own mark. Remember: The Satchel & Page Warehouse Sale won’t last forever, so shop early and often.

April 20, 2016April 21, 2016 by Beau H.

Style Q+A: Moore & Giles

Editor’s note: To catch up on other Style Q+A entries, click here.

Built for the road ahead — it was great to catch up with team at Moore & Giles (makers of the Benedict Weekend Bag) seen here. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Whenever I get the chance to stop by various #menswear events happening around NYC or around the country, I’m always intrigued and curious to see who I might meet, or what brands I might discover. At this past December’s Pop-Up Flea in New York City (a cornucopia of great lifestyle and men’s goods brands all in one spot), it was hard not to discover the stunning leather goods on display at Moore & Giles. I got to chatting with the brand’s Director of Marketing, Daryl Calfee, about some of the stellar product the brand had brought (seriously, it was museum-worthy). He just happens to be good friends with my pals over at Brothers & Craft, so we naturally hit it off talking all things men’s style. I also got to know the brand a bit more, and it’s a worthwhile one to know. In addition to a massive collection of fine leathers, they also produce their own line of jaw-dropping bags, renowned for their heritage quality and style (in fact, I covered the Benedict Weekend Bag for GearMoose). Throw in a well-curated, stellar assortment of home goods, and you’ve got enough gear to make your head spin (the 33 Chair in particular is Wish List-worthy).

Given the brand’s affinity for quality and nuanced design, it was great to be able to send over a few questions to Thomas Brennan, the brand’s Director of Design for Bags & Accessories. After you get a look into the Moore & Giles process, you very well might want a bag for yourself. Enjoy this one, folks!

(Editor’s note: In the meantime, got a brand or style personality you’d like to see answer some zingers?Let me know via Facebook or Twitter).

The Style Guide: Take me through the background of Moore & Giles and how you approach your work?

Moore and Giles: The brand was founded in 1933 as a materials supplier to local shoe manufacturers. Donald Graeme Moore traveled around the area sourcing and selling everything from shoelaces and eyelets to nails and leather. Eventually his offerings narrowed to strictly leather and his regional hunt gradually expanded into the global quest it is today to uncover hidden gems at tanneries in all corners of the world. The company develops, sources and sells millions of square feet of leather a year across a variety of industries including furniture manufacturers, private aviation companies, and high-end homes and hotels.

The bag division developed in 2007 when our president and vice president decided to take advantage of their access to such magnificent material and made a few travel and work bags to bring with them on their travels. The line has grown organically from that point into the extensive, well curated line of bags and accessories that exists today.

Our products are unapologetically traditional. Artisans have been tanning hides for millennia and hand-sewing the resulting leather into useful objects for just as long. Both the material history and the history of our own company add welcome layers of authority, grandeur, and natural beauty to our bags; my job is to simply accentuate the existing beauty of the material with understated designs that will age as well as the leather.

Just one of the exceptionally high-quality bags produced by the brand. Photo courtesy of Moore & Giles.

TSG:Where do you find your biggest sources of inspiration?

M&G: The leather itself is the primary inspiration. We are fortunate to have close relationships with a 150-year old tannery in Italy, which means that our “product development” begins with prototyping leather colors and experimenting with different finishes, various combinations of waxes and oils, milling times, and ironing treatments. These design decisions affect the finished product long before I ever sit down to sketch a specific silhouette. When I do sit down to design a bag, I tend towards clean exteriors, traditional shapes, discrete details——decisions that keep the natural beauty of the leather front and center.

Reading books, talking with creative peers, and sifting through vintage stores all provide great creative fodder but for the ultimate design inspiration, nothing beats close observation of day-to-day routines. Take going on a business trip, for instance. As I’m packing, I want to make the job easier, tidier, more secure and I want my shoes kept separate from my shirts; when I’m going through airport security I need a convenient, safe spot to tuck my wallet and cell phone; when I’m putting my bag in the overhead bin I want easy access to my notebook or a magazine but don’t want to rifle through the body of the bag; if I’m meeting with a new manufacturer I want to have my business cards close at hand. I aspire to be more organized than I am and more put together than I often feel. Our bags help me on both fronts.

TSG: What, in your mind, can a great leather accessory do for a guy who might not have given it much thought before?

M&G: In a lot of ways, having a great leather accessory is like be the owner of the easiest pet ever: It will never cease to amaze you how happy you get when you see it; you’re going to feel more fond of it the longer you have it; strangers will stop you and ask you about it. Added bonus: you don’t have to feed it and it arrives at your door already housebroken.

TSG: Are there new product categories that you want to expand into in the coming seasons?

M&G: What’s proving more interesting than expanding out across new categories is finding new ways to give the existing line more depth and texture. The sheer volume of colors and finishes of leather we have at our fingertips is dizzying. The collection of artisans who tan, stamp, hand-stain, carve, and etch, to whom we have access is incredibly deep. Eight years in, we’ve only scratched the surface of what the bags and accessories can look like. As an example: we introduced a bespoke program during the holiday season last year that has given our customers a chance to participate in the creative process by selecting from a more expansive palette of hides to use on a custom travel or work bag. Seeing the colors that customers gravitated towards——reds and purples and golden tans and cool grays——and the types of leathers they’ve responded to———leathers that are exceptionally rare, have more history, or age in unique ways——informed several recent releases (like our Modern Saddle collection featuring vegetable tanned leather) and inspired a roster of upcoming releases.

TSG: What’s one thing every guy should have in his closet in terms of style?

M&G: Wherever you sit along the style continuum between a tailored suit and leather lace-ups and raw denim and sneakers, our classic Benedict Weekend Bag is a worthy compliment. It’s simple, beautiful, and functional. Unlike some other sartorial decisions, I guarantee you’ll still be proud of yourself for owning one ten years from now.

To keep up with all things Moore & Giles, follow the brand on Instagram or via Twitter.

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Tag / best leather bags for men