Vintage large format satchel bag blue brown

The little metal shield on the front

At the foot of the centre strap sits a small pointed plate, fixed by three rivets. It is the only shaped piece of hardware on the whole bag. The buckles on either side are plain rectangles, the studs simple discs, so the eye goes to the shield first and then travels outwards along the straps.

The rest of the metal keeps to the same restraint: square rings at the sides where the strap clips on, and nothing polished to a shine. The finish is closer to aged brass than to bright gold.

Blue, brown and aged gold on a vintage large format satchel bag

Navy covers the flap, the back and the sides. The brown sits along the bottom band of the front and on every strap. The faux leather is smooth rather than grained, with just enough sheen to show the curve of the flap where the light crosses it. If you like a bag that stays this quiet, the rest of the shoulder bag range is worth a look.

The way it shuts

Lift the flap and the main compartment runs the full width behind a zip. The flap itself holds on press studs, one on each of its three tabs.

The brown pocket on the front is stitched onto the panel rather than cut into it, so it stays flat and takes thin things only. At the back, a second zipped pocket lies flush with the panel.

Key facts about this satchel

Aged gold rather than bright gold

The tone of the metal matters more here than the colour of the bag. Aged brass sits easily beside tan, cream, camel and denim, and it loses its warmth next to silver-toned buckles or a steel watch. If the jewellery you wear every day is warm, this satchel will sit with it happily. If it is cool and bright, the two will argue a little.

The shield, the buckles and the rings are all the same tone, so nothing on the bag competes for attention. That is what makes it easy to pick up morning after morning without thinking about it. The same restraint runs through everything else in the bags section.