One of the most tenuous aspects of a daily commute, especially for those of us who have to contend with the hordes of travellers on the tube to get into the office, is the constant battle to fit the required contents into our chosen laptop bag. (Read: An emotional support water bottle, tangled wired headphones, the latest watercooler paperback and a fistful of lip products like liners, oils and glosses.)
I myself am a self-proclaimed perpetual schlepper, so I know the feeling all too well of lugging around what feels like a weighted medicine ball over your shoulder. The result is always the same. No matter how pure our intentions are, a zealously stuffed laptop bag will lead us to feeling dishevelled and flustered, even if the outfit we’ve put together is the acme of chic.
The solution is to invest once and invest well. After road testing nearly every iteration of a work tote imaginable throughout my entire career, I’ve learned that the best laptop bags must adhere to a few ground rules.
Integrally, aesthetics must be taken into consideration. It may seem frivolous to you, but there is no way to mean business if you have your work paraphernalia packed into a garishly orange Sainsbury bag. (The only exception to this rule is if you wield one of Teflar’s new jumbo plastic totes or take a designer route with Saint Laurent’s Icare maxi shopping bag.)
The bag you purchase must be complementary to your expensive-looking wardrobe, meaning it’s suitable enough to take you from a 9 AM boardroom call to a 5 PM after-work drinks session at your favourite small plates and wine bar.
I’m coining this the Jacob Elordi effect. The Australian actor’s penchant for transporting around a covetable Bottega Veneta bag at all times is not only admirable, but also aspirational for how we all should look when lugging around our respective laptop bags. Remember, it’s not about what you carry, but how you look doing it.
Silhouette is on par with durability and practicality when it comes to primary concerns. Of the latter, I can not stress enough how important it is to select a laptop bag that’s cavernous in size. Quips about the shape being “ludicrously capacious”, to quote Succession’s Tom Wambsgans, aside, it really is essential to ensure the style is spacious enough for any last-minute items you need to pack.
I can not tell you how many times I’ve taken essentials home after a long day at my desk, only to look like Blair Waldorf after she went on that extravagant Parisian shopping spree in the fourth season of Gossip Girl.
After much trial and error, I’m fortunate enough to have a few chic laptop bags on rotation—A slouchy woven leather style from Byron Bay-based label St. Agni, and a scrumptious blue suede Le Cambon 35 from Manu Atelier.
I firmly believe that the best laptop bags are once that will help us romanticise our journeys to and from the office.
So, rather than grabbing any old dusty tote and heading out the door, I’ve entrusted the advice of Manu Atelier's Beste Manastır Bağdatlı & Merve Manastır, the beloved Türkish brands' co-creative directors, to bring you the comprehensive guide to choosing the best laptop bags for your needs.
From high-street finds to designer iterations, keep scrolling for a style insider’s edit of the best laptop bags, below.
The 18 Best Laptop Bags for Women
The 2010s might be staging its return, but Bottega Veneta has taken us back a decade prior with the reissue of the Campana. The archival silhouette is inspired by a shape originating from the Spring 2004 collection, but is fittingly revisited for a period marked by oversized shapes and slender fits. With dual intrecciato leather straps and generous proportions, the unlined woven fabric is an invitation to embrace simplicity and refinement in mundane acts.
The name of this cushiony COS style is certainly misleading. Coming in at a room 40cm width, this bag will fit any 13inch laptop with ease. However, it's the tufted grey fabric and classic bowling shape that makes this worthy of your attention. See how elegant is pairs against this navy trench coat? Truly an enviable pairing.
The embossed detailing makes this an extremely lust-worthy piece, but what's most appealing is its Mary Poppins-esque size. This is a bag that really packs a punch, both literally and figuratively. I'd recommend in investing in some quaint pouches so you can keep your items organised. (No more loosing things to the abyss that's the bottom of a bag!)
Deer prints have usurped leopard, cow and snakeskin as the animal patter du jour. If trainers aren't your forte, try this voluminous top-handle from & Other Stories. With side flaps that protruded out like folded paper and short leather ties that loop around the side, this is a style as considered as it is stylish.
Ah, the Andiamo. One of the most coveted bags of all time, this Matthieu designed creation has remained the object of affection for style insiders since the moment it debuted in the Italian maison's autumn/winter 2022 collection. Translating to “Let’s go”, this shape is one that encourages movement, making it the ideal contender for the best laptop bag crown.
Another designer bag that's vying for a place in your wardrobe is the Saint Laurent Icare. Carried by the likes of Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz, the sumptous quilted leather, trapeze shape and generous gold YSL logo embossment will bring a polished but languid ease to any look.
For something slightly more understated, this Le 5 À 7 Bea in latte suede should be at the top of your list.
Suede bags really are set to be the biggest bag trend of the 2025. However, this gorgeous tignanello colour is a hue we really see in the textured material. Like how the red top trend instantly adds an intriguing element to your ensemble, this style will do the same, all just by simply swinging from your shoulder.
"As part of the Cambon family, the Cabas carries our signature gold buckle detail—modern yet timeless, instantly distinctive," explains Manu Atelier's Beste Manastır Bağdatlı and Merve Manastır. "And with its shoulder straps and removable pouch, it embodies our philosophy of beauty meeting purpose."
Toteme's T-Lock bag is a style that has deservingly stolen the spotlight for years. However there is far more to the Scandi fashion brand than just that one slouchy shape. Enter, this doctors-style dark chocolate top-handle in embossed croc. I've seen Jennifer Lawrence carry a very similar style, so pick this up now to ensure you beat the mainstream for when this shape starts leading the charge.
When a bag has Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung's (also known as the holy trinity of British It girls), tick of approval, what more is there to say.
For those who are after an elongated style as opposed to an East-West style, this relaxed tote bag from COS will serve your needs. Because those dusty canvas bags you collected from galleries while travelling abroad aren't up to scratch...
Sure, this Nere style is slightly more oversized than the typical day-to-day laptop bag. But for the price point and the considerable storage options, this is a one-and-done piece you'll revel in.
A great alternative for The Row's Margaux, Reformation's oversized Patrizia bag is stuff of a city slicker's fantasy.
This style comes with a handy cross-body function, especially useful for mornings when you need to go hands free. (Read: Stopping for an iced latte.)
There's quite a Phoebe Philo quality to this understated style. Minimalist, yes. Impactful, indeed.
This boxy style has a discernible origami quality that is so useful for travelling.
There is something so decedent about blue suede. It's not the most obvious colour choice when it comes to the burnished hide, but it's this exact quality that makes it so opulent. The rich navy, one of the biggest autumn colour trends of 2025, will pop against everything from blue denim jeans to black tailored trousers, making it a versatile wonder.
What Laptop Bags are in Style in 2025?
According to experts, the best laptop bags that are in style for 2025 are the ones that strike the perfect balance between style and functionality. “For us, it’s about designing pieces that keep their shape, stay comfortable to carry, and adapt to the reality of women’s lives,” explains Bağdatlı and Manastır. “The future lies in modularity and transformation—bags that evolve with women throughout the day. Today, no one wants separate pieces for every occasion; they want one design that can shift effortlessly from desk to dinner, weekday to weekend.”
This is something the founders tell me they prioritised when creating the new Le Cambon Cabas. With two elongated handles that fit snug over the shoulder, the style bridges the elegance of Manu Atelier’s signature trademarks—a belted accent and luxurious material—with ease. “The [style] was born from our desire to create a true everyday icon,” they added.
“We began by asking ourselves a simple question: What would we and the women who inspire us want to carry every day? From there, it became about combining sophistication with effortless functionality—an object that would be reached for in any situation.
“Our work totes are born from lived experience. We know what it means to step out with a laptop, documents, chargers. That reality shapes the way we think about weight, handle drop, interior space, and overall comfort.”
What to Look Out for When Buying a Laptop Bag?
"A beautiful bag must also live up to the demands of daily life," Bağdatlı and Manastır explains. "That’s why details like multi-carry options, modular components, and thoughtfully considered interior space are integral."
It's these factors, like specifications about the strap length, gross dimension and whether the bag boasts any inside pockets, that are crucial to finding the best laptop bags.
How to Style a the Best Laptop Bags
The best laptop bags are those that compliment your personal style, without feeling too techy or utilitarian. Styling laptop bags are a matter of embracing oversized shapes, so you can choose to play with proportions and reach for tailored staples, or lean into something that's slightly more billowing too, like a floaty dress.
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We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.
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