Lo and Sons Pearl: The Best Bag to Pack for a City Break?

When it comes to packing, I like to think I’ve got my routine down to a tee.

I know what to pack, how much to take, and how to use every last inch of my suitcase.

But while I’ve got my hand luggage sorted, the one thing I always struggle with is what style of bag to use once I reach my destination.

I usually end up with a cross body bag that’s a cavernous hole – cue panicked cries of “Where are my keys?! I think I’ve lost my phone!” – or one far too small to be practical, despite it’s fashionable appearance.

And then I found Lo and Sons. I’d seen their variety of travel-friendly bags around the Internet, and had heard (or should I say read) nothing but good things about them.

They’re all about stylish-yet-functional travel bags, with a collection that ranges from weekend holdalls to small cross body bags for everyday use while travelling.  After plane tickets, my biggest weakness is handbags (very closely followed by notebooks – don’t ever let me loose in a stationery shop) – so when the Lo and Sons Pearl arrived in the mail one recent afternoon, I was smitten.

It looked classic, made from a soft black leather and featuring a quirky patterned lining on the inside: it would go with whatever I decided to wear, at home or abroad.

But would it be useful? Or would it go the way of every other small, chic, black bag I’ve bought and subsequently ignored? I was looking forward to finding out.

The verdict on my Lo and Sons bag?

I love it. The reason I’ve taken so long to write about The Pearl it is that I’ve honestly used it every day since it arrived.

I’ve used it here in NYC to go for a laid-back dinner with friends in Brooklyn, and for a dressed-up night at the orchestra. In Mexico, it was the perfect little bag to carry around the hotel resort with me. At home, it’s been slung over my shoulder when I’ve been running errands, and popping into my local coffee shop.

I have to admit I was surprised at how much The Pearl can accommodate, given how small it appears.

It has multiple pockets and zipped compartments, a mini pocket designed specifically to hold a pen, and even a ribbon key chain for those keys I’m always losing at the bottom of every other bag.

So what fits into it? My Kindle, purse, iPhone, keys, a chocolate snack (preferably a Cadbury brunch bar – I’m addicted to those things), hand sanitizer, lipstick, a notebook, my passport, a pen, my business cards, and my subway card – and that’s with plenty of space still to spare.

All that in one small, stylish handbag? I was sold.

Not only does it make traveling around a new city easier – your hands are free, all your essentials are within reach, and everything is zipped or buttoned up safely – it makes travelling around my own (adopted) city easier too.

Thanks to the Lo and Sons Pearl, I think I’ve finally got my travel packing style sorted. Now I just need to organize another trip so I can take it on some more outings!

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Do you have a favourite type of luggage or bag you like to travel with? What’s it like? Give me your tips in the comments below – I’d love to hear them!

Thanks to Lo and Sons for sending me one of their Pearl handbags to test out. As always, all opinions (and handbag addictions) are entirely my own.