Timeless Cuyana Bags Our Editors Take Everywhere
Every seasoned traveler knows the importance of a well-made, hard-working handbag that can carry your essentials through bustling city streets, crowded airports, storied museum halls, and beyond with ease. But it can be difficult to find a travel bag that does it all; some force you to sacrifice style for durability, while others are made with materials that only last a season. Few brands deliver all of this and more quite like Cuyana. If you're new here, Cuyana is a leather goods brand focused on creating long-lasting, timeless pieces with high-quality materials—hence its 'fewer, better' motto. The brand is known for its thoughtfully designed leather bags that are as gorgeous as they are practical. It's easy to see why several of our editors trust the brand to carry our favorite things each day.
From the best-selling Easy tote that holds a day's worth of must-haves to the ultra-chic Celestia bag that elevates every outfit, Cuyana is your one-stop shop for the bags you're taking with you everywhere you go. They're built to last a lifetime—and we just keep coming back to them, day after day, trip after trip. Below, we rounded up our editors' favorite bags to travel with from Cuyana. You'll find roomy totes, classic shoulder bags, and smart inserts that routinely earn a spot in our carry-ons or get put to use as our personal item, no matter where we're headed.
The Classic Easy tote
My love affair with Cuyana began a few years ago when I got my hands on the popular Classic Easy tote. It quickly became my go-to tote bag for running errands, souvenir shopping, and day trips. Like most tote bags, it doesn't have a whole lot of structure or pockets inside, but it sure fits a ton (a 16-inch laptop, a book, a water bottle, makeup bag, and wallet). For a spacious bag, the Easy tote is incredibly lightweight. My favorite thing about it is that it can lie completely flat in my carry-on, making it a nice 'just in case' throw in.
Where Cuyana really stands out is its material: For a bag I've brought with me on countless trips over the last few years, it still looks brand new. We can thank its buttery-soft, Italian leather for that. It's built to withstand some wear and tear and only gets better with age. It features two different handle lengths on the top, but I prefer the longer ones for day-to-day use. It's offered in a Tall and Small version, too, and is even available with a zipper for added security. I think of this as an always reliable tote that I keep reaching for, whether I'm headed to a business meeting or shopping in the city.
The Celestia shoulder bag
My newest find from Cuyana is the Celestia shoulder bag. I'm not kidding when I say I gasped when I first saw it. It's the perfect shoulder bag—pretty, classic, spacious, and just the right mix of structured and slouchy. I was looking for a nice black leather bag to carry for dinner dates and special occasions. And while it comes in handy on nearly every fancy night out, I'm also able to use it for more casual settings, like city dates with friends and Sunday brunches. It's not too big that I can't take it out for a date night and it's not too small that it only holds my phone—it's just right. I'm able to fit my wallet, lipstick, sunglasses, keys, and a few other small essentials without it looking bulky. Not to mention, it's stunning and incredibly chic—something Meredith Blake would absolutely be carrying.
Chevron
Chevron
Cuyana
Celestia shoulder bag
$398
Cuyana
The System tote
This one's for our commuters. Travel bookings editor Jamie Spain has been carrying the 13-inch System Tote to the office every day for the last year. Its structured, sturdy silhouette and sleek design caught her eye. 'The System tote is definitely more upscale than my average canvas tote, seamlessly befitting happy hours, work, and exciting new restaurant openings,' says Spain. 'I love the signature Italian leather exterior and interior, which is understated, tasteful, and compliments any outfit I threw on.'
It's spacious enough for a laptop, book, portable charger, cosmetic pouch, and a few other small necessities. Aside from lugging it to and from the office each day, Spain also uses the tote as a personal item on the plane and even brought it with her on a road trip to Acadia National Park. 'The built-in interior pocket is perfect for storing essentials you need to reach easily, like your passport, earbuds, or some petty cash, and since the bag can be snapped closed, you don't have to worry about anything flying out (but if you'd like something a little more secure, there's a zippered version of the tote available as well),' says Spain.
The System inserts
Another thing our editors love about Cuyana is its thoughtful inserts that are purposefully designed to help organize your bag. Spain recommends these inserts to anyone using the System tote. 'The System laptop sleeve keeps my computer safe and secure, while the System pouch keeps all the bits and bobs (a wallet, coins, jewelry, makeup, etc.) from rolling around and getting lost at the bottom of the bag,' says Spain. 'Both snapped directly into the bag's shell so they wouldn't move around and were available in the same colors as the bag.' Speaking of colors, we appreciate Cuyana's range of timeless colorways, from classic black and dark chestnut to dark olive, stone, and caramel—all of which add a subtle yet sophisticated look to your outfit.
The Paloma tote
Another one of our editor's favorite tote bags from Cuyana is the Paloma. Associate commerce director Madison Flager has been using it as her work bag for the past few months. 'It's got so many great qualities going for it: The aesthetic is gorgeous—I love the unique pentagonal shape, and the fact that it has both top handles and long shoulder straps,' says Flager. 'It's well-designed inside, too—the exterior zipper pocket is perfect for keeping things like cash and my work ID handy, and the interior slip pockets are the right size for small items like hand sanitizer and lotion.' Flager also appreciates the snap-close key leash, so she doesn't have to dig around for her keys when she gets home from work or a trip. Her only con: 'There's no top zipper or snap closure, but there are leather straps you can tie to secure everything inside a bit more, which is ideal if you're using it as a personal item on a flight.' The dark chestnut color matches everything and hasn't shown any wear yet.
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