As mentioned in my Polene Numero Un review – I’ve been on the hunt for a stylish non-tote work bag that doesn’t look like a laptop bag and isn’t the ubiquitous Longchamp Le Pliage. Not to knock on the Le Pliage, I have two of them and they are fantastic at hauling around a ridiculous amount of stuff.
The Polene bag didn’t work out as it was slightly too small to fit a 13” Macbook Pro. I was almost about to pull the trigger on the much much more expensive Celine Seau Sangle until I had the idea to check out Everlane.
Funny enough, I didn’t pay attention to the Everlane Form Bag when it first launched despite being a long-time Everlane fan. It wasn’t until I was manually browsing Everlane’s website that I stumbled upon it. I decided to buy and give it a try, as I’ve had good success with their leather goods over the years. I have an older first generation Petra tote that has lasted 7 years and is still going strong!
Size
The Everlane Form is just large enough to fit the newer 13” Macbooks / Pro / Air sideways, which allows you to actually close the top magenetic closure. Having some kind of top closure was important to me, as I take the subway / bus to work and don’t want my laptop hanging out and easily accessible (read: stealable).
In the event that I need to carry more in my bag, I place my laptop vertically and can accommodate a few more items, such as a toiletry bag and snacks when I’m traveling. It doesn’t quite fit under an airline seat when upright, but it’s close enough that I haven’t yet been forced to lay it down flat.
While I wear it slung over my shoulder, I’ve carried it crossbody a few times when I needed my hands free. It’s a little too big for me to wear crossbody all the time – I have to generally place it in my front or in my back – but I do like having the option to do so when needed.
Quality
While the leather is thinner than that of my Everlane Petra tote, it is also stiffer and holds its shape well. I was a little concerned about the lack of “feet” on the bottom of the bag, but I’ve plopped this thing down everywhere (short of scraping it against concrete), and it’s remained relatively unscathed. This is my first bag with smooth grain leather, and I was also concerned about scratches showing up on the outside. I needn’t have worried after all – I’ve bumped this bag into walls, subway doors, and chairs, and nothing has happened to the leather quality.
Comfort
What really drew me to the Celine Seau Sangle, and now the Everlane Form, is the wide fabric shoulder strap. Previously, I’d run into issues overloading my bags and having thin straps dig into my shoulder. On a regular basis, I fill up the Everlane Form with my 3lb. laptop and a glass Tupperware of lunch, which is quite heavy. The bag still remains comfortable to carry due to the weight dispersion across the wider strap.
Style
Not much to say here – overall, I think this bag is a classic shape and style that is appropriate for both work and weekend wear. And minimalist in true Everlane fashion.
Overall, I think the Everlane Form is a great work bag at a price point that won’t break the bank. At $235, it is significantly cheaper than some of the other popular design options – the Celine Seau Sangle runs $2,000+ ($1,600+ if you buy pre-owned) and the Senreve Maestra runs $800+ and is a much heavier bag. It also comes in a nice variety of colors – I stuck with my tried and true black, but it also comes in a lovely ice blue shade!
Hope you find this review helpful – would love to hear your thoughts if you’ve tried the Form bag as well.
