For the first 30-days of the legislative session, I carried my Cuyana tote bag to work every day. It’s leather. It’s beautiful. I love it. But after I hurt my shoulder the third time lifting it (it gets very heavy when full), I decided to swap it out.
I bought a Lo & Sons bag (and was gifted another one by the brand) when I was still living in D.C.. I loved the bags, but they had one design flaw, it was a hassle to pull your laptop out of the bag. The pocket was internal, so every time you pulled out your laptop it would get caught on the flap or get scratched up by the zipper. Not ideal. But recently, Lo & Sons redesigned the whole bag so that the laptop sleeve is a separate, external pocket. It’s a game changer.
The L&S OG 2 is a great bag. It has so many pockets for your laptop, your shoes, your water bottle, and your assorted tchotchkes. It also has a sleeve so it slips seamlessly over the handles of a carry on bag.
The bag is not cheap at $378, but it is worth it. It has improved my commute so much. Carrying that heavy leather bag for blocks from the parking lot was not fun. And lifting it was hard on my shoulders and arms. This lightweight, functional bag is a dream. I know multiple women who use it as a diaper bag.
Lo & Sons also makes other great styles. Their small belt bag is on deep discount, and is perfect for when you need your hands free. It also transforms into a fun crossbody.
As for work totes, I also owned their Brookline bag (it was the one they gifted me), and it’s great too. It’s a slightly smaller style, but still holds a lot. It also holds a 15″ laptop, which many working women need.
Lo & Sons is a great, family owned company. Their story is wonderfully American, and definitely worth a read. They’re also moving into sustainable production practices using plastic bottles and other recycled materials. I highly recommend these bags.
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I purchased the OMG bag probably about 5/6 years ago as a busy season present to myself on your recommendation, and I have no regrets! I do agree with the laptop sleeve issue on it being irritating and catching on the sides – fortunately I only use my work laptop which is replaced every few years so it wasn’t a deal breaker, but I can imagine someone with a beautiful Macbook getting upset.
I purchased the smaller version of the bag – did they only add the outer laptop sleeve to the larger version of the bag, or is it on both?
Realizing I could answer my own question by going to their site – it looks like the original bags come in small and large and the new bags come in a medium and large. The sizes are pretty comparable to the older bags. They have detailed dimensions for the new bags on their site and some general dimensions in the Q&A session for the older bags (on major sale!).
I bought an OG bag like 7 years ago and it has withstood the test of time. It is hands-down the best travel bag I have ever owned and people ask me about it all the time. If you are on the fence about getting one, it is totally worth the $$!
I love Lo&Sons. They have the BEST customer service. I had an OG forever – when one of the straps broke, they sent me a brand new one. The OG2 seems to be a little bit smaller than the OG1 (or maybe I just stretched my first out from so much use?? It literally has gone around the world with me).
I recently bought a Catalina weekender which is a great carry on when I travel with my 2 year old – I love how the top zips completely open.
I also bought and love their wallet – it’s big without being too big – smaller than a Kate a spade and slim.
I’ve been trying to simplify my accessories and all of my Lo&Sons is definitely staying!
As someone who has been in the professional world for a quarter century, and has gone through a dozen plus “briefcases,” I’ve been a Lo&Sons loyalist for nearly a decade. When we return to work travel, they are absolutely perfect. I currently use the Rowledge backpack, which like the OMG and OG, slides over your roller board handles.
I’ve been waiting for you to do an updated review on Lo & Sons for awhile, but with a lot of people still working from home I didn’t think it would come anytime soon. Thank you so much! I’ve been stalking their site (& Poshmark) for months and waffling on a purchase. This will make me pull the trigger sooner, rather than later. Yay!
LOVE my Lo&Sons bag (I bought the Brookline 8 years ago and it’s still in great shape and looks professional, despite many business trips and lots of day to day use!). I also second the comment regarding their customer service. They didn’t send me a new bag, but they worked with me to resolve the problem and didn’t give up on me until I confirmed it was fixed. During the pandemic I treated myself to the OMG2 and I cannot wait to use it!
Can’t say enough good things about Lo & Sons. Very cool story behind the company, and they did a lot of philanthropic work during COVID.
I love my OMG and TT, both of which I have had for 10 years! TEN! Agree that the customer service is fantastic, and my cost per wear is down to pennies at this point.
They used to run sales way less frequently, but if you don’t have your heart set on a specific color, they do discount certain styles/colors from time to time.
I love my OG bag – best part: the luggage flap – game changer for business travel. My only issue? I wish the shoe holder was a separate compartment on the bottom of the bag. If you’ve got shoes in there, putting notebooks/binders, etc becomes annoying.
Only bag I get stopped in public to ask about!
I have an OG from 6-7 years ago. Then I started crushing on a Seville and use that as my daily driver (and often keep it in the nylon travel version for months after a trip (remember trips???). I now use my OG as a gym bag (or did for about 2 weeks before lockdown and perpetual WFH now that schools are closed still). Still: these are the best bags. Now I’m intrigued by the wallet . . .
I first heard about Lo and Sons from your blog about 7? 8? years ago and couldn’t afford it as a student. I finally got one as a gift to myself when I landed my first big deal job and have carried one of these ever since. I now own four of them (the OMG, the OMG 2, Catalina, and the Pearl) and they are still going strong. (Shoot, I’m on the road and have three of them with me now) Thanks for the great suggestion!
They actually have the red version of the OMG 2.0 on sale. I just bought it for less than $100. This will be my 5th Lo & Sons bag and I’ve converted so many friends! It’s the best work bag!
I loved mine for years & years! However, this past year I purchased the Lo & Sons Rutledge backpack. It is STUNNING.Also really like how it’s organized.If you need OMG for carry on / heavier packing I don’t think the Rutledge holds as much.It also came with an insert that I removed & do not use at all. I prefer the main compartment to be wide open.
I’m now a backpack convert & sold my OMG!
I completely agree! I expected to hate carrying a backpack, but the Rowledge converted me! It does hold less than the OMG/OG, but the tradeoff for that is that it is lighter/I don’t carry as many unnecessary items.
My OMG is 8 years old, and I still use it. They have great customer service. My zipper broke after 2 months, and they sent me a new bag (and I sent back my broken bag).
On another note, many thanks Abra for saying that “their story is wonderfully American and definitely worth a read”. They are Asian, and they are also Americans.
Like everyone else, I absolutely love my Lo & Sons bags. First bought a Seville years ago and loved it. Upgraded to the OG2, and it’s so wonderful for work travel. I do a lot of trips with a rollaboard and the OG2–perfection. I love the big strap option as well as sliding it over my rollaboard. Sigh, hopefully back to that world soon.
After hearing about Lo&Sons on your as a relativley poor young professional, I kept an eye on them for years. I discovered and purchased the crossbody The Pearl a year and a half ago and I love love love it. The tan color and minamlist design is reminiscient of old Coach bags I used to see my mom carry, but with increased functionality with the many pockets. The many details are so thoughtful and make it great for traveling (extra zip pockets, secure snap closures, the key lanyard, I could go on). I could not be happeir with my purchase!
I’d been on the fence about l&s for some time- do I need a new bag? is it worth it? So i went to the site based on your rec- and bought red og2 bag that one of the other readers mentioned! Thanks for the push!
I read some articles about how the company isn’t doing so well 2/2 pandemic- hope they make it!
I love each of my Lo & Sons bag but this redesign might mean a replacement OG for me when office days return.
I just love Lo&Sons. I got my first bag on accident when they sent my roommate a replacement for one lost in the mail – it eventually arrived so I got lucky with a free belt bag. I now have five different Lo&Sons bags and have bought many weekenders for gifts – I make a travel kit with a good book and some travel beauty products.
I have the old OG, but might upgrade to the new OG or a backpack when flying happens again because easier to have an external laptop sleeve for TSA. Bottom line though – Lo&Sons is a wonderful company with really smart and high quality products.
I bought the Brookline years ago at your suggestion – it has been my “travel briefcase” whenever I go on a business trip (which was very often). It still looks great. I bought the OG but returned it because i didn’t like how the zipper and opening were’nt wide – as you said – the laptop was a pain to get in and out. Intrigued by the new design! But also see many people commenting on the Rutledge which is interesting too!
Any feedback on which size OG2 to purchase?
I have the medium, and I find it sufficient for work and travel. But I have a 13″ laptop, so you may need the larger if yours is bigger.