Vicenzo Leather Elle Hobo Handbag – $248

Vicenzo Leather is based in Houston, Texas, and offers a large product line that includes briefcases, handbags, waist bags, totes, and more. The styles range from dressy to casual, modern to classic. We’ve reviewed a couple of nice pieces from Vicenzo in the past, including the Arlette Leather Waist Bag and the Signature Full Grain Leather Briefcase. Today we’ll be taking a look at the Vicenzo Leather Elle Hobo Handbag in Brown, a casual handbag with a dressed-up bohemian look.

Vicenzo Leather has remained the internationally recognized leader in a combination of leather products including full grain, top grain, and genuine leather. Our taste for high quality and workmanship have allowed us to produce leather bags of exceptional quality that appeals to the discerning businessman or woman, soccer mom, road warrior and the ultimate professional.

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CONSTRUCTION

The Elle Hobo Handbag is made with genuine leather that has been finished with a pebbled grain. It’s a nice reddish brown color with darkened edges. It also comes in a lighter brown color.

The bag is constructed so that there are two reinforced panels on the front side that form a sort of “V” shape. This way, when the bag is held by the handles, the middle of the bag drops in and creates a slouchy, hobo bag silhouette. The back of the bag is made of two panels that assist with holding the shape. The bottom of the bag is reinforced and has metal feet to keep the bottom of the bag clean and standing upright.

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There are two rounded carry handles built in to the side panels of the bag. The side panels have a vertical zipper underneath the handles that can be opened to expand the gusset if needed. You probably won’t need this function as the bag is plenty big on its own, but they add a nice metallic finish to the sides of the bag. It also comes with a 36″ carry strap that attaches to D-rings on opposite corners of the bag. You don’t quite get the same slouchy effect when you carry it with the long strap, so I prefer to carry it by hand.

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The bag is closed via a floating zipper at the top. You can connect the ends of the zipper to the side panels of the bag with a snap attached to a leather tab. I personally really dislike this system, as the zipper ends up flipping upside down, making it hard to zip. It also doesn’t seem like a good choice for longevity as it puts unnecessary stress on the zipper. I’d prefer if the zipper was sewn completely around the bag or just not there at all.

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FUNCTION

There are two pockets on either side of the inside of the bag, as well as two small open pouches for storing smaller items like pens or cosmetics. There is also an external zippered pocket on the back side.

The bag measures 13.5″ x 9.5″ x 6″ which makes it a nice size for everyday use. You can fit all the purse essentials plus a notebook or tablet.

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One thing that does make everyday use of this bag a bit more difficult is the lining. The bag is lined with brown nylon fabric printed with the company’s logo, and there is a LOT of lining. So much that stuff sometimes gets lost in the folds, or pinched in the pocket zippers. If the lining was attached better at the bottom, it wouldn’t be such a big deal, but it does add a little bit of unnecessary frustration.

CONCLUSION

The Vicenzo Leather Elle Hobo Handbag in Brown is a unique looking bag with great contemporary style. I love the slouchy look and the construction of the shell of the bag. There’s definitely a few design issues inside that make it less than perfect for everyday use, though, so consider your feelings on zippers and linings beforehand.

Vicenzo Leather Arlette Leather Waist Bag Review – $79.95

Paunch pack, buffalo pouch, fanny pack… and the list goes on. No matter how you refer to the traditional waist pack, images usually bubble up concerning lost tourists or aspirin toting elderly folk. However, when reviewing the Vicenzo Leather Arlette Leather Waist Bag I couldn’t help but rediscover the versatile functionality these type of bags offer. If you’re curious to learn more, read on.

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CONSTRUCTION

Distressed vegetable tanned leather is used for the construction of the Arlette. Gold plated hardware is used for the D rings that attach the bag to the strap, and for the zippers as well. The adjustable buckles are chrome plated oddly enough, not sure why the gold consistency wasn’t kept. The black threaded stitching appears very neat and tidy with no loose ends, unlike my ex. The first compartment has an unlined back with nylon dividing it from the secondary compartment. Measures in at 7.5” wide by 5” tall and an inch thick.

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FUNCTION

The Arlette waist bag really excels at carrying your wallet/cards/keys/Casio SL-100 or whatever slim objects you like while still giving you total arm freedom.  Now I’m a guy and while this may not really be aesthetically suited for me, I did consult my wife on certain points. She’s a purse carrier but often leaves her purses at home or in the car and just relies on my wallet for expenses. With the Arlette she had no inconvenience of tying one arm up holding a purse. This allowed her to better manage our daughter while shopping and since she had her own wallet it helped alleviate the spending on my end which was quite wonderful. It’s a waistpack, so it can also be turned around to the back for better mobility, but this sometimes presents a security issue in tight crowded areas like concerts or tourist spots. The front pocket has a large leather tab which is good for housing cash and cards and the inside pouch will fit just about any standard size smartphone.

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AESTHETIC

The Arlette waist bag is clean in its design and fairly modern. It is slim, while this impacts versatility, it definitely helps in the looks department.  A lot of the older models of waist packs are bloated monsters with several rows of pockets and tasseled zippers sallying back and forth as the user walks. Simply put, it’s a good looking bag for what it is.

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Vicenzo does offer the Arlette in brown as well which is something to consider. I personally wish a manlier version was also available, perhaps with a rougher cut of leather and hulking brass hardware. I think the black version is more limited in terms of accessorizing but still seems to mesh well with everyday clothing.

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Nailed it

CONCLUSION

If after reading this, you’re starting to warm to the idea of considering a waist bag as a legitimate means of carry, The Vicenzo Leather Arlette Waist Bag is a pretty safe bet. The $79.95 is about ballpark for suchlike bags and the quality and manufacture won’t disappoint.