Mirror’s shopping writer Grace has swapped out her old work bag for Uniqlo’s puffy shoulder bag, which is surprisingly spacious, as well as practical and stylish
When a new season comes around, I often like to treat myself to a new work bag to see me through the year. And I’ve been searching and searching for one since the beginning of the year, looking for one that is equally practical as it is stylish. After three months, I’ve finally found the perfect one from Uniqlo.
The exact one is the Soft Puffy Shoulder Bag, priced at £24.90. I opted for the utilitarian olive green colourway, but the bag is also available in black, brown, and an on-trend red shade (which I was very tempted by!).
The shoulder bag is part of the Uniqlo: C collection, which is an edit curated by Clare Waight-Keller, the renowned British designer (and designer of Meghan Markle’s Givenchy wedding dress), who is now the Creative Director of Uniqlo. Clare’s simple and elegant style really shines through with this collection, and this chic shoulder bag is no exception.
As soon as I got my hands on one, I immediately swapped out my old work bag for a fresher replacement and headed to the office. Within minutes of being in, I received so many compliments that I knew it was a winner.
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Pros
- Surprisingly spacious and fits everything you need (including a laptop)
- Pockets on the outside to hold your water bottle
- Drawstring detail secures everything inside
- Adjustable strap so the bag can be a shoulder bag or crossbody
Cons
- Colour options are a bit wintery
My favourite thing about this shoulder bag is its deceptively large size, which is pretty unassuming from the outside. I often head out to meet friends or to dinners after work, and the worst thing is lugging around a gigantic tote bag. Luckily, Uniqlo’s bag fits everything I need for an office day, from my laptop to my 1L water bottle and make-up bag, while looking sleek and compact from the outside.
The puffy, slouchy material is another bonus for me. A structured bag can look rather chic and professional, but it makes it hard to fit everything in. This bag is completely modulable to squeeze everything you need, which also makes the perfect long weekend bag (and fits the size requirements for Ryanair, EasyJet and British Airways).
I personally love the olive colour. It’s slightly different from your typical black handbag but still neutral enough to pair with everything in my wardrobe. I was tempted by the red but felt I wouldn’t get as much use out of it.
My only criticism is that the colour options are darker/winter-style. This does, of course, fit in with Uniqlo’s aesthetic, which features many beiges, creams, blacks, and khakis. However, it would be amazing if Uniqlo released a more spring-ready powder blue or sage green colourway.
If I were to get another work bag, I would go for Topshop’s ruched nylon tote, £32, which has plenty of room, and is in a spring-ready off-white shade.