To say that the Lauren Ralph Lauren Newbury Double Zip Satchel (buy here) was inspired by the Prada Saffiano Tote (reviewed here) would be an understatement. But I don’t fault LRL for bandwagoning this trend, there’s serious demand out there for a bag of this design.
I also thought there’s an uninspired quality to the bag, which is a minority opinion as the bag appears almost universally loved if online reviews can be trusted.
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| Top: Prada Saffiano Lux Tote | LRL Newbury Double Zip Satchel Bottom: Michael Kors Large Selma Satchel | LRL Newbury Double Zip Satchel |
The textured leather is palpably thinner and more pliant than the leather used to construct similarly priced Michael Kors Selma Satchels (reviewed here).
The workmanship is, imo, amateurish, at least concerning the one pictured here. Some stitches started to unravel when I took the bag out of its packaging.
The size may be slightly daunting for those who prefer lighter and more compact handbags.
It is fairly heavy at close to 3 pounds empty. I am somewhat used to lugging heavy bags around but if I had kept this for personal use, I would not last an hour running errands carrying something of this weight and size.
I am also lukewarm about the LRL luggage tag, but this feature is detachable so really a non-issue.
The size reviewed here measures 15 inches wide, 11 inches tall, and about 7 inches deep. The handheld straps have a 6-inch drop, and the detachable/adjustable shoulder strap has an 18-in drop.
The bag does come with a feature that I personally consider indispensable: protective metal feet.
I ordered this bag as a potential gift for a friend but ultimately chose something else. The gift recipient is much smaller than me and I didn’t think the weight of the bag was conducive to long-term orthopedic health.
The satchel also comes in a smaller size: the Newbury Double Zip Shopper, which is 12″ in width, 9″ in height, and 5″ in depth. The shopper is only $30 cheaper than the size reviewed here.
The Lauren Ralph Lauren Newbury Double Zip Satchel can be found here in a half dozen colors.
