Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

It has been WAY too long since we've done a roundup of the best work bags for women — which are your favorites right now, readers? Do you prefer backpacks for work, or another style?

For my $.02, a great work bag for women:

• has a closed top like a zipper
• has organizing features like pockets, water bottle sleeves, sometimes even a zippered outside compartment for your commuting shoes/gym shoes
• isn't too heavy — my preferred material has always been nylon; faux leather is also going to be pretty lightweight; leathers and coated canvas are the most durable but add weight
• is large enough to fit a folder with your resume in it (if you're interviewing)
• IDEALLY has additional thoughtful details like metal feet, a long interior keychain, and one pocket accessible from the outside

I've rounded up a ton of options: splurges, super affordable bags, laptop bags, bags with trolley sleeves (to fit over your rolling suitcase for business travel), smaller/indie brands focused on bags for work, and vegan brands.

Readers, have you bought a work bag recently that you love? Which are your all-time favorite work bags for women, and why?

In the past, we've pondered whether totes or backpacks for work are the best, talked about how to organize your bags, shared silly thoughts about what your tote bag says about you, and asked the readers how many bags they bring to work.

In addition to this roundup, we've also rounded up the best bags for interviews, the best briefcases for women, the best work backpacks, AND the best stylish work bags for petites. (We've also rounded up the best bags for law students!)

Regarding designer bags, we've rounded up the best luxury work bags, answered questions from readers wondering if businesswomen MUST have a designer bag, as well as questions from the intern with the $9,000 bag (our first viral post, aw!), and a young lawyer who wondered if she could buy a $2,700 bag even though she was just starting out.

Our Latest Favorite Work Bags for Women in 2024

Some of the best work bags for women as of 2024 include great totes from Cuyana (with a zipper), Tumi, Tory Burch (lightweight, a laptop tote), Lo & Sons, and Madewell (north/south). Also try this highly-rated organizing insert or these clever pouches with some of the less structured bags! If you're looking for a budget tote (or one in a specific color) check this Amazon seller (22K+ good reviews) or this Amazon seller (60K+ good reviews).

(Looking for a luxury work bag? Here's our latest roundup…)

Our Latest Favorite Affordable Work Bags for Women

Looking for a great work bag under $100 in 2024? Some of our favorite spots to check include Nordstrom Rack and T.J. Maxx. Specific styles include this Amazon tote under $15 and this affordable line from Samsonite (especially this backpack). Everlane's great ReNew bags are also under $100. The very trendy BÉIS bags are usually under $150 as well. If you just want a lightweight, basic nylon tote, this Amazon one looks great; Quince also has one that's getting great reviews.

Our Latest Favorite Laptop Totes

Here are some of our favorite laptop bags for work in 2024: 

Our Latest Favorite Work Backpacks

Update: Hunting for the best work backpacks? Some of our favorites in 2024 are below — see the full post for all the details!

The Overall Best Work Backpack

Tumi Celina Backpack

$475 at Nordstrom

The Best Convertible Laptop Backpack

Lo & Sons Rowledge

$485 at Lo & Sons

The Best Affordable Backpack for Work

Samsonite Mobile Solutions Classic Backpack

$79 at Amazon

Our Latest Favorite Luxury Work Bags

As of 2024, some of our latest favorite luxury work bags (large enough to hold papers and a laptop!) include Bottega Veneta, Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Kaai, and Demellier. Of course, note that a lot of our readers who are in big jobs note that they love their (more affordable) Lo & Sons bags, as well as their Tumi.

Looking for work backpacks to splurge on? Montblanc, MCM and Senreve (also!) are great, and readers are always huge fans of all things Tumi. Some of our favorites…

Our Latest Favorite Professional Purses

I generally consider professional purses to be smaller than a work bag, but maybe that's me!

Hunting for a great professional purse? In 2024, readers are loving affordable crossbody bags like those from Cuyana, Tory Burch, Lo & Sons, and Madewell.

In terms of a designer bag to suit your life as a professional, readers have been loving affordable(ish) luxury brands like See by Chloé, Polène, Strathberry, DeMellier, and Mansur Gavriel, as well as more designer bags like Chloé (particularly the Marcie line) and Mulberry. (If money is no object, Loewe and Bottega Venetta are always worth a look!)

Notes If You're Looking for a Very Specific Type of Women's Work Bag

• Usual Suspects (reliable brands or stores to check first): Cuyana, Tumi,  MZ Wallace, TJ Maxx, Lo & Sons
• Under $100: Amazon brand ($12) — also check your local Nordstrom Rack or T.J.Maxx!
• Splurges: (see all of our favorite luxury work bags here!): Bottega Veneta, Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Kaai, and Demellier… lesser splurges include Lo & Sons bags, as well as Tumi!
• Laptop bags for women: Lo & Sons, Tumi (also check for laptop sleeves from Society 6 and, of course, Amazon)
• Backpacks for work: Tumi, MZ Wallace, Lo & Sons (convertible!), Herschel (see our whole roundup of stylish backpacks for work!)
• Briefcases for women: (see our roundup of the best briefcases for women!): Dooney & Bourke, Carl Friedrik, Mulberry, Cluci, and Hermes
• Leather clutches / large leather folders: Leatherology, Etsy, Cuyana, Smythson
• Nylon/lightweight work bags for women: Tory Burch, Lo & Sons, Tumi,
• Trolley sleeves for business travel: Tumi, Lo & Sons, Vera Bradley, Herschel, and Baggalini
• Former reader-favorite brands that may be rebranding/closing (just speculation since they're really hard to find right now in the usual places): Lodis and KNOMO London
• Smaller/independent brands focusing on bags for work: Cuyana, Lo & Sons, Dagne Dover, Gigi New York, Alesya, Shinola, Jemma Bags, July, Daame
• Vegan: Matt & Nat, Gunas New York, Senreve
• ORGANIZING INSERTS for totes: Omystyle (12,000+ good reviews at Amazon), Olunsu (5,600+ good reviews at Amazon)

The Best Work Bags for Women – Office-Friendly and Great for Work Outfits

The Best Amazon Work Tote: Nodykka

Amazon is hard to beat in terms of affordability, but you do usually get what you pay for, so watch out for that. Still, this bestseller from Nodykka has 22,000+ glowing reviews and comes in over 100 colors (!!!), with reviewers loving how affordable, lightweight, and versatile the bag is.

(Another great Amazon tote bag option: this tasseled tote from Dreubea, with 60,000+ great reviews.

If you're looking for a tote with more organization/pockets, do keep in mind that you can buy extra inserts for tote bags for around $15 on Amazon — Omystyle and Olunsu are both incredibly highly rated. You can also get a ton of plain laptop sleeves at Amazon or a HUGE variety of styles at Society 6.

Some of our favorite spots to check include Nordstrom Rack and T.J.Maxx — a specific styles include this Amazon tote under $15 and this affordable line from Samsonite (especially this backpack). Everlane's great ReNew bags are also under $100. The very trendy BÉIS bags are usually under $150 as well.

The Best Lightweight, Professional Tote: Tory Burch Ella

I've never been a huge fan of the big Tory Burch emblem (where does this fall on the “cheugy” continuum, if you care?), but it's hard to find highly-rated nylon bags that are lightweight and have stood the test of time. This one has been a bestseller for YEARS — if you're looking for an affordable classic and lightweight interview tote, it's a great investment. It's $198-$228 at Nordstrom, and it's wonderful to see that they now offer a version made from recycled nylon.

A more affordable but floppier option is this Tumi Voyageur bag, on sale for $69 — but that one has a trolley sleeve for your rolling bag. Also look to Lo & Sons for excellent nylon bags, many of which are 50% off right now.

The Best Convertible Work Bag for Women: Lo & Sons

There are a TON of Lo & Sons bags that have been loved by the readers (they're always on our lists of the best work bags!), many on sale right now — the Seville laptop bag, the OG. I'm featuring the Rowledge here because it's that unusual bag that is a business-appropriate backpack for work that converts to a north/south tote with a top handle. If you're looking for something like this, definitely consider Lo & Sons.

Another super popular north/south tote (but not a backpack) is Madewell's Transport tote.

The Best Leather Tote with a Zipper: Cuyana

If you're looking for a classic leather tote bag with a zippered top, I think most readers would agree that the Cuyana bag is the one. It's a smaller brand, people rave about the leather and durability, it comes in 10 colors, it can be monogrammed, it has inserts or tech sleeves you can add on — and it's only $195. The brand's website also notes that they are LWG Silver certified, “ensuring the leather is tanned responsibly against measures like traceability, resource consumption, and effluent treatment.”

The Best Splurge Work Bag: Bottega

Looking for a splurge tote? There are so many great bags here. I think the one I'm currently drooling over is the pictured Bottega Venetta East/West Tote — it just looks so cool. I'm always a fan of Bottega, though, because I feel like their leather and craftsmanship is impeccable, but the brand recognition is lower than some of the more logo'd brands.

The pictured bag is $2450 at Neiman Marcus; NET-A-PORTER also has some options.

In addition to Bottega's totes, if you're in the market for stylish work bags, I'd also consider Bottega Veneta, Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Kaai, and Demellier. Of course, note that a lot of our readers who are in big jobs note that they love their (more affordable) Lo & Sons bags, as well as their Tumi.

More Great Work Bags for Women – Recently Featured

Quince Revive Nylon Tote

If you're hunting for a really lightweight laptop bag, this nylon tote from Quince is getting great reviews, and it has a laptop sleeve. It doesn't have a top zipper, which isn't ideal especially for laptop totes — but otherwise I like the recycled leather trim, as well as the external slip pockets. It looks perfect!

The bag is selling for $89.90, and currently comes in five colors.

Quince

This large nylon tote from Quince looks like a great lightweight tote interview bag for women — and it's getting great reviews. I like the leather trims (all recycled leather), as well as the external slip pockets and internal laptop sleeve. Perfect!

The bag is selling for $89.90, and currently comes in five colors: oxford blue (pictured), black, latte, olive, and a really pretty mulberry.

Madewell

Madewell's North/South Transport tote has been a reader favorite for years (and years) — but it's nice to see that they've got a more traditional tote in the same collection. I love that it has a zippered top, and two interior pockets for smaller items like keys and phone.

It has a 4.75″ handle drop, and a adjustable crossbody strap that is 15-19.75.” The bag is 11.75″ tall, 11-16 inches wide, and 5.5″ deep. It's $198.

Liselle Kiss

If you like a bag with an open top (great for shoving more stuff inside, am I right?), this leather tote from Black-owned brand Liselle Kiss looks fabulous.

The bag, sized 18″ W x 6″ D x 12″H, is $425 at Bloomingdale's.

Readers, do tell — which do you think are the best work totes for women in 2024?

Social media picture credit: Shutterstock / Superlime.

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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See all of the best women's suits in 2024, right here!

The post The Best Suits in 2024 appeared first on Corporette.com.

From time to time, people ask me: Where can I get washable suits for women?

As you may expect, there aren't a TON of places out there making washable suiting, at least for the entire suit — but there are a few — so we thought we'd round them up!

Before we get to all the advice on washable suits, though, here are our latest favorite washable suits for women:

Table of Contents

Where to Find Washable Suits for Women

• Washable AND Travel-Friendly Suits
• Washable Workwear in General

How to Wash Washable Suits

Specific Washable Suits for Women:

• The Best Washable Suit Overall: Ann Taylor (shop / read our thoughts)
• The Best Affordable Washable Suit: Banana Republic Factory (shop / read our thoughts)
• The Best Washable Suit to Splurge On: Hobbs (shop / read our thoughts)
• The Best Trendy Washable Suit: Madewell (shop / read our thoughts)
• The Best Plus-Size Washable Suit: Lands' End (shop / read our thoughts)
• The Softest Washable Suit: Brooks Brothers (shop / read our thoughts)

Where to Find Washable Suits for Women

In general, there are a few noteworthy brands making washable suits for women in the past few years:

• Ann Taylor – in fact almost all of their basic suiting styles are washable! (Here's our last discussion on the best Ann Taylor suiting line…)
• Banana Republic
• Banana Republic Factory
• Brooks Brothers
• Hobbs (also at Bloomingdale's)
• Lands' End (regular and plus sizes)
• Madewell (regular and plus sizes)
• M.M.LaFleur (select styles up to size 20) – their OrigamiTech line is all washable, but note that many of their blazers are not washable
• Ministry of Supply
• Paul Smith
• Talbots

If you're just looking for washable parts of a suit (such as pants), you can find those at more places — but do note that it's in your best interest to launder both pieces together (and at the same frequency) so the color and fabric doesn't fade unevenly. (We've got more tips in our post on everything you need to know about drycleaning women's suits.)

Washable AND Travel-Friendly Suits

We have a separate roundup of travel-friendly suits — in general these are all machine washable as well, but travel-friendly suits may have additional properties such as wrinkle resistance, moisture wicking, UPF-rated materials, and more.

Hunting for travel-friendly suits for women or lightweight suits? As of 2024, some of our favorites include these brands/lines: 1) M.M.LaFleur, 2) Ministry of Supply, 3) Paul Smith, and 4) Talbots. (Not pictured: Eddie Bauer and Suitably! Brooks Brothers also occasionally has suiting in their BrooksCool line, and Uniqlo occasionally has Airism suiting. ) You may also want to check out our roundup of washable suits for women!

Washable Workwear in General

Hunting for more machine washable clothing? We feature some trendy washable workwear every Wednesday at CorporetteMoms, have listed the best brands for washable workwear, and occasionally do roundups of just washable basics for work outfits!

How to Wash Washable Suits

As noted above, you really want to launder all the matching pieces of a suit together so they wear evenly. General tips for good suit care include:

• hanging the pieces up when you've taken them off for the day, both to air them out and prevent wrinkles from setting in
• use proper hangers for them — for most suit jackets I prefer hangers that have sculpted shoulders instead of the velvet-covered hangers that save space
• spot cleaning as needed
• spraying vodka or another deodorizer as needed
• (in general, this is a big reason why I prefer sleeved tops under suits instead of sleeveless tops — the more your bare underarms are touching the suit the more it's going to get smelly)

When you wash your suit, be sure to follow all washing instructions carefully. I would probably opt to air dry the suit regardless of what the instructions said, but if it said tumble dry I would possibly put it in for 15 minutes at a normal setting to get the wrinkles out.

Once your suit is out of the washer, shape it immediately — put the blazer on a shaped hanger and smooth out the lapels and pockets.

Ditto for your pants — help any creases or pleats find their way back into the pants. I often like to take a pants hanger and hang them upside down, both so the clips keep the pant hem smooth and taut and so the waistband of the pant pulls the rest of the pants taut.

Specifics: Some of Our Favorite Washable Suits

We've mentioned some of the best brands to know, as well as (at top) our latest favorite suits — but let's take a look at some specific suiting styles.

The Best Washable Suit Overall

Ann Taylor

$79-$198 (full price) at Ann Taylor

It's hard to beat Ann Taylor when almost all of their major suiting lines are washable.

Both their seasonless stretch line and their bi-stretch line (pictured) are machine washable, stretchy, and great year-round — they're classic cuts in neutral colors, perfect for interviews.

Meanwhile, their double knit line is machine washable, wrinkle resistant, and comes in seasonally fun colors as well as neutrals. If you want something drapier or airier (and with mostly seasonal colors), check out their fluid crepe or lightweight weave lines.

The Best Affordable Washable Suit

Banana Republic Factory

$90-$200 (full price) at Banana Republic Factory

Banana Republic Factory seems to (for the moment at least) stopped their hugely popular line of washable wool suits — but a lot of the suiting that remains is still washable.

Banana Republic Factory is known for its sales, of course — you can regularly find suiting pieces for under $50 here.

Their Sculpted suit blazers and pants are all fully lined and machine washable — and they tend to come in trendy cuts and colors.

The Best Washable Suit to Splurge On

Hobbs London

$185-$480 at Hobbs

also at Bloomingdale's

Hobbs is one of the first brands that I noticed making washable workwear — and the London-based brand is great if Kate Middleton is one of your style icons.

You can find some Hobbs storefronts in the US, but they note that shipping starts at $10 and you have a one-month return window. Note that the brand is also available at Bloomingdale's, though!

The Best Trendy Washable Suit

Madewell

$88-$188 (full price) at Madewell

Madewell has a number of suiting materials that are machine washable, and the brand in general is a great option if you're looking for a special size like petite, plus, or tall. The brand has a much younger, more casual vibe in general, which may not be appropriate for interviews, presentations, or appearances — know your office!

Specific lines that are machine washable include their Drapeweave line (pictured), their Easygoing Crepe, and their Softdrape line.

The Best Plus-Size Washable Suit

Lands' End

$61-$175 (full price) at Lands' End

Lands' End has had a suiting line in washable wool blend for years — trendy, no, but it is one of the last places you can find details like fully-lined blazers. They have a limited selection of a few blazers, skirts, pants, and even dresses all available in regular, petite, and plus sizes (up to 34W).

(Whoa, they also have matching maternity suit pants — those are really rare these days!)

The Softest Washable Suit

Brooks Brothers

$228-$348 (full price) at Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers is known for their easy care blouses and shirts, of course, but they only recently got a line of suiting that is easy to care for — their Soft Icons line.

As they describe it on the product page, “We revisited some of our most sought-after women's pieces, including the navy blazer, the pleated chino, the button-down shirt, and reinterpreted them in a soft, flowy Cupro-blend fabric that drapes and tailors like washed silk, and is easy to care for.” Nice!

The Best Washable Blazers for Women

Sometimes you don't want an entire suit — you just want a blazer that you can wash.

As of 2024, these are some of the reader favorites that are also machine washable blazers…

Readers, which are your favorite washable suits for women?

The post The Best Washable Suits for Women appeared first on Corporette.com.

Can you wear “interesting” suits to court — colorful, patterned, fanciful, haute? (You know, kind of like in our weekly Suit of the Week feature?)

Reader E asks — specifically wondering about this teal LK Bennett suit that Kate Middleton is wearing here  — and I think it's a great question for all the women lawyers:

This is a lawyer-specific question – can you wear interesting suits to court if it's still a suit? I agree with previous suggestions here that a dress/blazer combo, unless its meant to be a suit, is not formal enough for court. But, my question is, what about things that are true suit sets but are more interesting – like an AT tweed suit, or the LK Bennett dark teal dress and jacket suit set that Kate Mid. has? Or do you think court suits have to be black/grey/navy and totally plain? Thx!

I can't wait to hear what the readers say here.

(Psst: In the past we've shared our roundup of the best suits for women this year, given tips on suiting alterations for women, and offered advice on dry cleaning women's suits. Also check out our post on C-suite style for women if you're interested in power dressing!)

When It's OK to Wear Interesting Suits to Court

I always think of my reaction to an article years ago about a young public defender who wore Balmain (at the time, their blazers had super pointy shoulders) and other couture suits to court. The impression it left on me was a bad one — it seemed like she was not showing respect for her clients or the fact that she was there to represent THEM, in life-altering matters, before stodgy judges and juries who may or may not have approved of her fashion choices (or her designer budget).

Plus, as readers have pointed out in the past, wearing ostensibly designer, moneyed things in front of juries can be a bad move, particularly if you're a public defender.

NOW: A crazy/trendy Balmain suit is one thing — a dark teal LK Bennett dress and jacket is another. But where is the line? And are there different rules for “first appearance before the court” and “day 30 of a 6-month trial”? 

Here's my take on when it's OK to wear interesting suits to court:

If you're appearing in court, remember that you're representing someone else. Honor that relationship by keeping the focus on your arguments and their situation, not on your personality or your clothes.

Treat early appearances like an interview. If it's early on in anyone's relationship (yours to the client, the client's relationship to the judge or jury, YOURS to the judge/jury), then treat it like an interview and go with the “hit 'em with my smarts” approach to interview attire — classic, tasteful, inoffensive — so your brain can shine, and the focus can be on the arguments you're making on behalf of your client.

Some of our favorite mid-range suits for women (which sometimes have such frequent sales that they come down to the same range as our “budget” suits) include Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Antonio Melani. (Talbots and J.Crew usually have plus sizes, and the others offer petites.)

If it looks like you're in costume, don't wear it. Period. This may apply to vintage couture, overly girly suits, or more.

Stick with standard rules for trends at conservative offices: If you wouldn't have worn the shape five years ago, reconsider it. If it's body-baring, don't wear it. (I'd include in that a skirt suit with a miniskirt, or a shorts suit, unless you are a lawyer in Bermuda.) If it's illogical, for example, exposed toes in winter, and possibly a cape blazer as well, don't wear it.

With regard to the teal LK Bennett suit, it's a gorgeous, gorgeous suit, and I think the color is muted enough that you can get away with it.

Our Latest Favorite Interesting Suits

Every week on Wednesday we pick one suit to feature for our “Suit of the Week” — and it's almost always what we'd call an “interesting suit.” These are the latest ones we've featured:

Kat's Latest Favorite Fun Suits

We round up a fun suit each week for our “Suit of the Week” feature — some of Kat's latest favorites include this gold brocade number, this blue velvet pant suit, this rockstar-like jacquard suit with tiny birds, and this very unusual print suit from Etro.

Suits That Look Like Kate Middleton's Green Peplum LK Bennett Suit

If you're hunting for a suit just like Kate Middleton's green LK Bennett suit, we'll round up the latest ones we've seen. Some of the key characteristics: It's a dark green color, maybe even a teal… it has a peplum detail on the jacket… and it's shown with a pencil skirt.

Hobbs

This is suuuuuch a pretty skirt suit from UK brand Hobbs.

(Fun fact: So many things there are machine washable, including this skirt! The jacket says “dry clean,” but not “dry clean only,” so you could in theory wash it carefully in the machine.)

The color, the peplum, the cut of the skirt… It all really reminds me of Kate Middleton's LK Bennett suit!

The suit is new as of Aug. 2023, so all sizes (US sizes 0-16) are in stock. The jacket is $480, and the skirt is $275.

Our Latest Favorite Green and Teal Women's Suits in General

Our Latest Favorite Green Women's Suits

In 2024, we've noticed M.M.LaFleur has pretty shamrock suiting, while Estelle (plus sizes), Akris, and J.Crew have nice medium greens. BOSS has some suiting in a beautiful deep green, while Banana Republic has a very light “celery” green.

Our Latest Favorite Teal Women's Suits

As of 2024, if you're hunting for teal or blue-green suiting, M.M.LaFleur‘s “blue jade” suiting or this Ann Taylor linen/silk suiting are both beautiful options. In plus sizes, check out the Moroccan blue suit at Eloquii and Universal Standard's “sea moss” linen suiting.

Suits with Dresses Instead of Skirts

Here are some of our latest favorite suits with dresses instead of skirts as of 2024 — but also check these brand recommendations: Ann Taylor (TONS of dresses to match suits), Brooks Brothers, Talbots, and Boss! This J.Crew sheath almost always has a matching blazer, as well, and this J.Crew Factory dress has a matching blazer as well.

Other Suits with a Ladylike Vibe…

In general (as of 2024), brands that specialize in suits with a ladylike vibe (for lack of a better word) include Hobbs, LK Bennett, The Fold London, and Ted Baker — Amazon seller Marycrafts also has some great (super affordable!) ladylike suits.

Readers, what would you say — can you wear interesting suits to court? Would you wear them; where are your lines for when a suit is TOO interesting to wear to court?

The post Can You Wear Interesting Suits to Court? appeared first on Corporette.com.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Readers, are you on the hunt for a great work backpack? Work backpacks can be great for your commute whether you're walking or biking to work. They can also be perfect for work travel because so many of them have trolley sleeves now — that tiny slot at the back of the bag that lets you attach it to a rolling suitcase. So we thought we'd round up the best work backpacks for you!

If you're in the market for a backpack for work, how important is style versus function for you? Will you only accept a stylish backpack for work, or do you need a rugged, waterproof bag to schlep your extra large laptop on your bike commute? Are you forever on the hunt for a great convertible backpack that can be worn as an ergonomic, hands-free friendly backpack when you're on the go but looks like a purse, tote, or briefcase when you're walking into your meeting?

Let's discuss…

{related: tote or backpack for work? readers debate…}

• Hall of Famers: Tumi, Lo & Sons, Herschel
• Laptop Backpacks: Tumi, Samsonite, Lo & Sons, Dagne Dover
• Convertible Backpacks: Lo & Sons, Samsonite, TravelPro
• Discreet Diaper Backpacks: Dagne Dover, SkipHop, Petunia Pickle Bottom
• Waterproof Backpacks: Hedgren, RAINS, Dagne Dover
• Travel backpacks: Lo & Sons, Tumi, Samsonite, Away, Amazon Basics, eBags Mother Lode
• Under $50 options (caveat emptor): Light Flight, KROSER, LOVEVOOK, Monsdle

Our Latest Favorite Backpacks for Work

Update: Hunting for the best work backpacks? Some of our favorites in 2024 are below — see the full post for all the details!

The Overall Best Work Backpack

Tumi Celina Backpack

$475 at Nordstrom

The Best Convertible Laptop Backpack

Lo & Sons Rowledge

$485 at Lo & Sons

The Best Affordable Backpack for Work

Samsonite Mobile Solutions Classic Backpack

$79 at Amazon

The Best Luxury Backpacks for Women

Looking for work backpacks to splurge on? Montblanc, MCM and Senreve (also!) are great, and readers are always huge fans of all things Tumi. Some of our favorites…

The Best Backpacks for Work in 2024

The Best Backpack for Work, Overall

Tumi Celina

$475 at Nordstrom

$475 at Tumi

Tumi bags are always amazing for work and beyond — and many readers consider them investment bags.

(Although we rounded up the best luxury work bags recently, it should be noted that a lot of our readers with the biggest jobs note that they love their Tumi and Lo & Sons the most.)

Tumi has a zillion options these days, all generally $395-$495; many of them have travel sleeves as well as laptop sleeves.

Readers have adored the Voyageur line, and it tends to be on the more affordable end of things ($375+ or so). The pictured backpack (the Celina) is one of their current bestsellers — it features multiple exterior zip pockets, a water-resistant water-bottle pocket, smart phone pockets, a detachable key ring, and a laptop compartment (good for most 15″ laptops).

The Best Convertible Laptop: Lo & Sons

Lo & Sons' Rowledge

$485 at Lo & Sons (on sale today for $325+)

A good convertible backpack can be hard to find, but Lo & Sons' Rowledge has been a reader favorite for years because it's a sleek, well-thought out convertible bag. Not only do the backpack straps tuck away, but the bag has a travel sleeve! (Cue the heart emojis and gifs!)

I could see it being great for business travel, but also if you’re hoping to bike to work. The bag is normally $465, but today it's down to $279.

The brand also has a newer, more minimal nylon backpack, The Beacon, for $298 (currently down to $208).

The Best Affordable Backpack for Work

Samsonite's Mobile Solutions

$79 at Amazon

$64 at Samsonite (on sale)

I just discovered Samsonite's affordable line of “mobile solutions,” available at tons of places and generally highly rated.

This pictured backpack has a laptop sleeve and a trolley sleeve, and is $79. They have larger options for $200+.

(The pictured one reminds me of this old reader favorite from KNOMO!)

Other great affordable options for a work backpack: Everlane's ReNew Transit Backpack ($95) and a classic, minimal Herschel ($60+).

The Best Work Backpack for Your Commute

Hedgren

$120 at Nordstrom

$120 at Amazon

If you’re biking to work or otherwise hunting for a water-repellent bag, it can be really tricky to find one for work because they all look a bit rugged.

That said, I think Hedgren has a ton of really minimal-looking bags that are also billed as being water-repellent. I love that diagonal zipper, but they have others that look even more classic.

This backpack (also available in a pretty green) has a water-repellent exterior, “plenty of pockets,” and a laptop compartment. For $120, I think it looks like a great bet.

Another great option for water-repellant bags: the RAINS brand, which sometimes has work-appropriate backpacks.

The Best All-Leather Backpack for Work

Cole Haan's Grand Ambition Backpack

$328 at Nordstrom

$328 at Cole Haan

Most backpacks for work have some element of neoprene, nylon, or canvas, both to make the bag lighter and more affordable. If you're on the hunt for an all-leather version, though, you should check out Cole Haan's Grand Ambition backpacks.

They come in a variety of sizes, and some have textured leather or quilting details, but they're mostly all leather. They're also convertible, which is nice if you'd like a backpack for your commute but a regular tote once you get inside.

The pictured backpack is $328 at Nordstrom and Cole Haan.

Another minimal, all-leather option: Cuyana's backpack, for $475+.

The Best Luxury Backpack for Work

Montblanc Sartorial Leather Backpack

$1625 at Nordstrom

If you DO want to splurge on a backpack for work, one of my favorites right now is this gorgeous backpack from Montblanc. I love how the zippers give it dimension and texture while keeping it so minimal.

The largest size is pictured; it's available for $1625 at Nordstrom.

Other great options for luxury splurges: Montblanc, MCM and Senreve are great, and readers are always huge fans of all things Tumi.

Other Great Women's Backpacks We've Featured in 2024

Everlane

This Everlane backpack is one of my personal favorites — it's sleek and polished, without being overly fancy, and I like that it's intended for both men and women. The

The bag can fit a 15″ laptop, and features two water bottle holders and a trolley strap for luggage. I also like that there are a lot of intelligent pockets. Also, this backpack is one of several items in their eco-friendly “Renew” line.

The bag is $95 at Everlane.

Readers, which do you think are the best work backpacks for women in 2024?

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post The Hunt: The Best Work Backpacks for 2024 appeared first on Corporette.com.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Today we're hunting classic, comfortable work heels — perfect for interviews, a starter work wardrobe, keeping at your office, and more. A few things to note at the get-go:

• of course you don't have to wear heels to work — check out our roundup of cute flats for the office
• a note on comfort: comfort/walking with confidence is the top thing to look for — e.g., if you feel uncomfortable walking in 4″ heels don't get 4″ heels! — you should feel comfortable standing in your heels for at least an hour (such as at a networking event) and feel comfortable walking at least three blocks (such as to go to a restaurant near the office with clients). You can change into your commuting shoes for longer treks or other more specialized situations, of course
• don't forget you can wear black with navy
• take care of your shoes — scuffs, scraped leather, and more can be taken care of pretty quickly either by yourself or by a shoe professional — you can also replace heel tips and even the soles of your shoe with rubber portions to increase the comfort (here's our post on how to make your shoes last longer if this is a big problem for you!)

Ladies, let's hear from you — what are your most comfortable work heels? Are you Team Block Heel, Team Kitten Heel, or Team Stiletto? How long on average do your work heels last for you?

Table of Contents

• The Most Comfortable Work Heel With Skinny Heels: Cole Haan (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Most Comfortable Work Pump with Block Heels: Marc Fisher LTD (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Round Toe Heel: Everlane (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Nude-For-You Heel: Naturalizer (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best “Comfort” Heel: Margaux (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Heel for Standing All Day: dr LIZA (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Affordable Heel: Target (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Luxury Heel for Work: Sarah Flint (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Most Eco-Friendly Work Heel: Vivaia (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Kitten Heel: M.M.LaFleur (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Low Block Heel: Ferragamo (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Most Comfortable Work Heel for Wide Feet: Walking Cradles (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Sleekest Heel in Extended Lengths: Sam Edelman (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Most Comfortable Strappy Heel for Work: Anne Klein (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Most Comfortable Work Heel for Commuting: Clarks (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Most Comfortable Wedge Heel for Work: Trotters (read our thoughts / buy)

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{related: check out our Guide to Comfortable Heels!}

Our General Favorite Comfortable Heels for Work

These are some of our favorite heels as of 2024, but check out our entire Guide to Comfortable Heels!

The Most Comfortable Work Heels for 2023 (in Specific Categories)

The Most Comfortable Work Heel With Skinny Heels: Cole Haan

There's a lot of great buzz around the Cole Haan Grand Ambition Pumps, with many saying the brand is earning back its title of most comfortable work heels. The Grand Ambition Pump comes in sizes 5-11, regular and wide, for $180.

Samples from some of the glowing reviews: “most comfortable pump I’ve ever worn!” as well as this one:

Really happy with this purchase. The shoes are beautiful with quality leather and detailing. The shape of the shoe is professional and stylish, and the heel-height is just high enough to avoid being matronly. (I would give the style an extra * for 3mm more height.) The fit is great for my triangular feet- sufficiently roomy in the toe box and yet my heel is not slipping. How cool is that?

Nice!

Hunting for other pumps with skinny heels the readers love? The M.M.LaFleur Ginger is always mentioned, as is the affordable Sam Edelman Hazel (which comes in a HUUUUGE range of sizes and colors).

The Best Block Heel: Marc Fisher LTD

Readers have loved this block heel for years, and it keeps coming out in new colors, prints, and textured leathers. It's great because it goes on sale frequently — you can currently find it as low as $54.

It's available in sizes 5-12 in medium and wide widths. Nordstrom has it 17 colors by my count; you can also find it at Zappos, Amazon, and most department stores.

Reviewers sing the praises of the block heel for comfort. One Zappos reviewer says these heels are “the perfect business to evening shoe! Felt true to size in all aspects. I loved the comfort immediately upon trying them after a long day standing. Took me through the entire day in comfort with the box heel. Highly recommend this shoe. Excellent value!”

The Best Round Toe Heel: Everlane

Everlane's Day Heel has won a lot of love from readers who prefer a round toed heel. The shoe comes in sizes 5-11, and is currently available in six colors for $175.

Sample review: “I’m a size 11 in this shoe and they feel like butter on. So soft – right from the first wear. I’ve finally found a shoe that makes my large feet look elegant!”

Other round toe styles worth noting include Vivaia, Margaux, and Ferragamo.

The Most Comfortable Work Heel in “Nude For You” Colors: Naturalizer

There are a few brands that specialize in shoes that have a TON of “nude” shades to choose from (so they are “nude for you”) – Naturalizer is one of the most affordable ones, with their True Colors collection offering a ton of pumps, sandals, flats and more in a wide range of beiges, browns, and everything in between.

The pictured pumps are a great example — they come in shades like Cocoa Brown, Crème Brulee, English Tea, and Opal Pink and are available in sizes 5-12 in regular, narrow, and wide sizes.

But note that Naturalizer has sleeker sandals, pumps, and more if you're on the hunt for a different shape.

Other brands of note in this space include Kahmune, Rebecca Allen, Salone Monet — they're all at much higher price points. You can also keep an eye out at Target, where the affordable Jen pump has historically come in a wide range of nude shades, as has this reader favorite CK Calvin Klein pump, this block heel pump, and this sleek heel that comes in a zillion colors.

The Best Comfort Heel: Margaux

There are a lot of great comfort brands, but Margaux has been getting a ton of great buzz lately for their versatile 2.5″ block heel. It has thoughtful designs like a “structured, supportive fit that molds with wear,” 5mm of plush foam padding. It's also great to see the HUGE range of sizes — sizes 3-14!

They're $295, and currently available in 12 colors.

The Best Heel for Standing All Day: dr LIZA

Honestly, in 2023 I wouldn't recommend trying to stand in heels all day — there are so many cute and comfortable flats. Still, if you really have to do it, you're going to need to bring out the big guns, and dr LIZA heels are getting great reviews for their crazy comfort. (The pictured shoe is called the “sneaker pump!”)

The website notes that the shoes have a “comprehensive orthotic insole, a shock-absorbing platform, a rocker sole to alleviate metatarsal pressure, a non-skid rubber outsole, and a deep heel cup to remedy pronation.”

dr. LIZA heels are available in sizes 5-13 in regular and wide widths.

In general, check out brands like Clarks, Naturalizer, Sofft, Trotters, Cole Haan, Vionic, dr LIZA, and Lifestride if you're seeking affordable, stylish comfort heels!

The Best Affordable Heel: Target

Target's Jen heels have been around for years, and are a solid option if you're looking for a super affordable heel. Note that they often have a lot of great “nude-for-you” color options, and the polyurethane faux leather is technically vegan-friendly. The shoes are available in regular and wide sizes 5-12 for $29.99.

It's hard to find a similar shoe that's as affordable as this one, but keep an eye out for frequent sales on this block heel and this skinny heel — it's not that hard to score one for under $75.

The Best Luxury Heel for Work: Sarah Flint

If you're hunting for investment heels, Sarah Flint is a name to know (although she tends to be slightly less than true luxury designers, more in the $500 range). The designer herself notes, “[a]s a woman, I understand the frustration of buying shoes that end up sitting in your closet. Because of this, I obsess over the details of fit and construction to make the most comfortable and durable shoes, never sacrificing an ounce of style.” Nice!

The pictured Perfect Pump 85 is one of her bestsellers; if you prefer a lower block heel check out the Perfect Emma, another of her bestsellers. The Perfect Pump comes in 18 colors in US sizes 4-13 (IT sizes 34-43).

Other luxury heels that readers love: Ferragamo, Stuart Weitzman, Tamara Mellon, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, and Prada.

The Most Eco-Friendly Work Heel: Vivaia

Hunting for an eco-friendly heel? Our top contender in the space is Vivaia with these elegant, round-toe chunky heels. They're affordable (generally under $150), come in a huge number of colors, in sizes 5-11. The brand also makes flats and wedges.

Some of the thoughtful details in Vivaia pumps: they're made from recycled materials, are antimicrobial and breathable, have a built in “back counter patch” to allow you to “say goodbye to blisters,” and have added arch comfort on the insole. And the 3D mesh is seamless, “designed to perform like a second skin.” Yes please!

Another vegan brand with work-appropriate heels: Veerah.

The Best Low Kitten Heel: M.M.LaFleur

After a few years where kitten heels were hard to find, they are back in full force for 2023. There are a lot of options here, so the competition was fierce — but I think the M.M.LaFleur Lillian pumps have just a touch more polish than a lot of the more affordable options, and they're renowned for comfort.

One reviewer sums it up:

These are as comfortable as promised and confirmed by every review. The heal height is perfect. It gives the look of a high end heal wit the comfort of flats! I have lower back injuries that make most shoes unbearable. These, so far, are comfortable and forever gorgeous.

The Lillian pumps are available in five colors, sizes 34.5-43, for $345.

Other more affordable options for kitten heels for work include Trotters and Calvin Klein (tons of nude-for-you shades!); on the pricier side, Sarah Flynt has a 50cm kitten heel as well.

The Best Low Block Heel: Ferragamo

Ferragamo's Vara pump has been around for eons, and readers with a classic style love the low, solid heel. It's $850, available in sizes 5-11, in B and C widths. Readers have noted that the brand in general runs narrow; you can also often find shoes in smaller sizes (3 and 4 even), so keep an eye out if you have very small feet.

Reviewers delight in “pulling off” a shoe that can look old lady-ish on the wrong person. One sample Nordstrom reviewer:

These are adorable, comfortable and very attention getting. The Italian workmanship shows. (You can spot the sad blocky look fakes a mile away). I bought the Bisque and the buckle is very rich and shiny. I own 4 pair of SF Vara and the buckles vary with the style but all mine are shiny and beautiful. The Vara isn't for everyone. This style has shown up in other labels like Tory Burch. (I have the TB black quilted with the gold cap toe). This style isn't for every woman. As another costumer put it they can look “old lady” on the wrong woman. And I have heard that petite women are afraid of looking schoolmarmish in them but I have seen petite fashionistas rock them. But if you take delight in pulling off a look other women can't wear you will love the Vara.

Another great option with a low block heel: these slingbacks from Naturalizer.

The Most Comfortable Work Heel for Wide Feet: Walking Cradles

There are a lot more options for wide widths heels than even just a few years ago, which is great to see. Our top pick for this category are these classic block heels from Walking Cradles, which come in TWO wide widths (as well as regular and narrow widths), in sizes 5-13 for $139.

According to one Zappos reviewer, these heels “were everything promised and more. I did a full day in them which included over 20 blocks of NYC walking. On day one no less! Will definitely be ordering in additional colors.”

Some of our other favorite comfortable wide heels include Sam Edelman, Naturalizer, A New Day (under $30!), and LifeStride — and keep in mind that brands like Inez and Margaux specialize in wide widths!

The Sleekest Heel in Extended Lengths: Sam Edelman

These classic stilettos have been around for years at this point, and keep coming out in more colors, patterns, and textures. Sam Edelman is also noteworthy, though, because they come in a huge range of sizes — if you need extremely small shoes or shoes over size 11 this would definitely be one of the first places I'd look. Unlike a lot of shoes with such extended sizes, though, this shoe is one of the sleekest.

It's available in sizes 5-14 in narrow, medium, and wide widths for $150.

Other shoes with extended lengths: Margaux, Naturalizer, and Rockport.

The Most Comfortable Strappy Heel for Work: Anne Klein

I recently saw a young professional woman on TikTok extolling the virtues of these heels — soooo comfortable, so stylish, everyone asked where she got them — and I had to laugh because these heels have been in our Workwear Hall of Fame for a long time. They're also constantly on Zappos' bestseller list!

These ankle strap heels from Anne Klein have 674 glowing reviews at Zappos, currently come in 10 different colors, and are generally under $85. They're available in sizes 5-10.5.

As one reviewer notes:

Love this shoe! Got to be honest, I scoffed at the FLEX sole when I saw – or whatever it's called, but I wore these for the first time, an entire work day (9a-5p, up and down 2 flights of stairs at least 4 times a day) after my feet were already tired/sore from some new shoes I wore all-day yesterday and my feet felt great. Didn't even want to kick them off when I got home after work! They're super cute, too. I may be nerding-out, but if anyone ever wondered how Sailor Venus could fight crime in those heels all-day, it would be because of this shoe! Okay, I'm finished. Thank you, Anne Klein!

If you're on the hunt for more strappy heels for work, other styles we love include M.Gemi, Calvin Klein, Lifestride (under $50!) and classics like Manolo and Valentino.

The Best Commuting Heel for Work: Clarks

Here's a phrase that we haven't used for a while: the commuting heel. Ankle pants have been so popular that these haven't been an issue, but as full-length trousers and bootcuts come back in vogue, so too must commuting heels.

The idea here is that you have to hem your pants for a specific heel height — and if you then try to switch to, say, flip-flops on your commute, your hems will be dragging unless you pin them up.

Enter the commuting shoe — the shoe that's kind of ugly but maintains the height needed for the hem, AND is a LOT more comfortable for walking.

These Clarks Mary Janes look great — they're available in sizes 5-11 in medium and wide widths; you can find them at Amazon, Clarks, and Macy's.

Other brands we love for this kind of purpose include FLY London, Dansko, Eileen Fisher, and Børn.

The Most Comfortable Wedge Heel for Work: Trotters

Wedge heels haven't been on trend for a few years now, but they still have a place in your wardrobe, particularly if you're preparing for an event that will be held on grass (graduation, wedding) and want to wear heels. They also tend to be really comfortable!

These Trotters wedge pumps are our top favorites because they're from a renowned comfort brand and look simple and elegant. They're available in 5 colors for $119 (there's also a Mary Jane style available).

Other brands to look at for wedge heels include Vivaia, Bandolino and Nine West.

Readers, which of these categories are you most interested in? Which are your top heels in these different categories?

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post The Most Comfortable Work Heels appeared first on Corporette.com.