Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Jacket Maker and included gifted product. All opinions are my own. Options and product may vary.
I’ve been looking for a laptop bag for awhile now. In all honesty, it’s been years since I had a laptop bag to travel with. Even if it’s just for a trip to the coffee shop or library to get some blogging done. I’ve been making do with just a laptop sleeve, which isn’t very safe and has a broken zipper. But I knew a time would come when I needed to invest in a laptop bag or briefcase. In comes The Jacket Maker with the perfect leather briefcase.
Adulting with a Leather Briefcase
When The Jacket Maker reached out, I wasn’t sure it would be a worthwhile collaboration. I love a good leather bag, but I don’t have much use for leather jackets in Florida. (I do own one, but it’s for traveling to much colder places. Not for Florida). When they offered for me to try out one of their handcrafted leather bags, I figured it would be the perfect time to see if a laptop bag was still a need that I had. (Spoiler: It was!)
I’ve been told that the grown-up version of “laptop bag” is a briefcase. Before trying this leather briefcase from The Jacket Maker, all I envisioned was my dad’s old briefcase from the 90’s. You know, a hard case briefcase with a combination lock and two snaps to keep it closed. And while I’m all for some 90’s trends coming back, I don’t need them all to come back. (Even though, it’s very clear that they are all coming back). This leather briefcase seemed like the perfect item to elevate not just my wardrobe, but my work style.
My Honest Review of The Jacket Maker Leather Briefcase
Overall, I’m really impressed with the leather briefcase from The Jacket Maker. The quality of leather is on par with items I’d purchase from Kate Spade, or my current favorite bag maker, Neely & Chloe. My only negative would be that the hardware on the removable strap doesn’t seem to be the best quality. The metal has some damage, almost like it wasn’t buffed out at the end.
Other than the hardware on the removable strap, I have no other complaints. It fits my 15″ MacBook Pro, which is always a struggle to find. (Yes, I went with the “bigger is better” mentality when I bought my MacBook). It’s a bit of a snug fit, but certainly better than it not fitting at all. I realize that most people are getting smaller and smaller laptops, but I still like having a larger screen to edit photos and create with.
The Captain Leather Briefcase from The Jacket Maker comes in 3 different colors, black, midnight blue, and my selection, brown. While this can be targeted as a men’s leather briefcase, I’ve found it to be gender neutral. Both Michael and I have enjoyed using it since it’s arrived. Now let’s talk about the inside features. A good briefcase should have more than just one pocket to hold your laptop, but not too many that it becomes bulky and unmanageable. The inside of this briefcase has the following:
- One (1) large pocket for your laptop
- Two (2) pen holders
- One (1) card holder
- One (1) phone pocket
- One (1) large zippered pocket
Yes, all that in this one bag! Truly amazing. It also features a removable strap and trolley strap for travel.
Finding Work Life Balance
I’ve been trying to work more on maintaining a good work/life balance. While I feel like I do a good job in the evenings at leaving work at work, it’s not always the easiest to do on the weekends. As a social media manager for a property that is open almost 365, it’s hard to unplug completely. However, I’ve been trying to take more days to work from home, particularly on Fridays, to help me maintain some work life balance. This leather briefcase has really come in handy when transporting my work computer back and forth. I haven’t been very good about taking as many work from home days, but hopefully this briefcase will help make the transition easier. (And certainly, more chic).
