Brown is the better choice for a bag and most men haven’t caught up with that yet. It reads warmer than black, works harder with navy and tan and olive, and develops a patina over time that actually improves the thing rather than just ageing it. The problem has always been price. A well made leather tote or briefcase in a good shade of cognac or tan can cost serious money, and the cheaper versions tend to look exactly as cheap as they are.

This collection is our answer to that. We’ve been specifically looking for bags where the construction, the leather quality, and the hardware all hold up at a price that doesn’t require a long internal conversation before buying. Some are structured enough for the office. Some are relaxed enough for a weekend. All of them look like they cost more than they do. That last part is the whole point, and every bag in here clears that bar.