Funchico.com - Funky, Chic & Cool Laptop Bag News

Sneak Peek at a couple of bags in my review queue

In addition to the holiday season starting, I am also getting married (when it rains, it pours!).  So, I'm going to be away for a few weeks and not have a chance to write reviews of some bags that are in transit.  But, I did want to give them a mention because I am very excited about all of them!  Look for reviews in early December.

SupremeLoveStory by Plastic People
Shannon has, like, one of the best bag philosophies ..

PLASTIC PEOPLE is about positivity. It is about creating a product that makes people smile. PLASTIC PEOPLE is image... a happy exterior, always smiling, even if the inside (of the bag) is a complete mess!

Though we realize products cannot bring true happiness, at least a bit of outer fun and a happy accessory can make a person smile. Will seeing the symbol of a heart remind a person to be kind? If so, by carrying this you are contributing to goodness in the world. Carrying a PLASTIC PEOPLE bag is like speading the love to everyone you pass... like eminating 'love bubbles'...

The pink is my fav!  And there is a version to accommodate 17" laptops.

The Brief Bag by FlickaBags
Looks like it could be a pink Christmas!  Alice has some festive prints in both brief bags and sleeves.

Flicka brief bags are a slim, stylish way to carry your computer and more. A foam core encased in two layers of waterproof materials offers superior protection for your PC or Mac with minimal weight and bulk. Outside zippered pocket holds papers, mouse and power cords.

BuckleBags by Beams
The good folks at Beams Seatbelts are now making some seriously cool bags from seatbelts!  Not strictly laptop, these definitely qualify as funky, chic and cool.

At Beam's, we've hit the open road with a new fashion accessories line!  Now you can celebrate America's passion for the automobile, or just look cool, with items from buckleBagTM - our new collection of funky, fresh, hip fashion accessories! 

Each buckleBag™ is MADE IN THE USA using new seatbelt webbing and comes with an unconditional Lifetime Warranty!  So hop on into the buckleBag site and take us for a spin.  Enjoy the Ride!

So, that's what's in the queue.  After I return from my honeymoon, I'll get reviews posted - still in time for holiday shopping.

Just Posted: Review of the Endo courier bag by Spire

And the third in this series .. something for the rugged yet stylish outdoorsy type .. the Endo from Spire.  From the review ...

One of my beefs with laptop bags is that they might be constructed from water-resistant fabric, but their design still lets water leak in through the corners of the flap. Spire has created a design triumph! They have placed a drawstring cinch above the sleeve and interior pocket (you can see it in the photo below). So when your laptop is inside the sleeve, you cinch the extra material at the top of the sleeve (this extra material even has its own clever gussetting). And then you can fold the flap of the bag down. But this extra cinch protects your laptop against rain or snow that can sneak in at the corners of the flap in most messenger bags. BRILLIANT!! Whether you are an expedition racer or a bike courier, you will love this feature!

Read the full review of the Endo courier from Spire at my lens.

Just Posted: Review of the Veronica London Tote from CareerBags.com

The next up in my early-November review trifecta is the Veronica London Tote from CareerBags.com.

The Veronica London business tote is a super stylish bag for the fashionista on the go!  From the review ...

Onto the interior of the bag. The black VL tote has a bright blue nylon lining; the brown model has a brown nylon lining; I'd like to see that splash of colour in both models. The main pocket of the VL Tote also contains a removable sleeve for extra protection of your laptop. It is held in place, along with any file holders, portfolios, or headshots by a Velcro-ed strap.

The other interior pocket of the VL tote is rife with little pockets. Eyeglasses, mobile phone, OTHER mobile phone with secret number, pepper spray to ward off the paparazzi ... LOTS of pockets.

Read the full review of the Veronica London tote over at my lens.

Oh, and a cool thing about CareerBags.com.  For some of their bags, they have a "Try on This Bag" feature.  You can choose your body proportion and see how the bag fits your frame.  Cool!

Review of the GiddyUp by Pinder

I am a child of the 60's. The really late 60's, mind you, but the 60's nevertheless. As such, certain colours, shapes and textures hold a special place in my heart. Like aluminum glasses and FiestaWare. Kitchens decorated in orange and brown. Marlo Thomas who played Ann Marie in "That Girl".

I often think of Ann Marie in her kicky beret, fashionista mod wardrobe and charming smile. Now Ann had to take a number of temp jobs to support her budding acting career, a few of which were in a corporate environment. I don't think she would sacrifice her mod style, but she would dress appropriately for the job.

And if Ann had had a laptop, she would have carried an appropriate laptop bag ... something mod, yet a little understated. Something a little retro corporate chic.

Well, I have the perfect bag for you gals who have a special place in your heart for Ann Marie and share here sense of style. I knew it from the second I opened the new GiddyUp from Pinder that Bob sent over for review.

The GiddyUp tote's shape is reminiscent of a vintage bowling bag .. slightly tapered with gently rounded corners. The GiddyUp has a great array of base colours (Black, Chocolate, Dark Green, FIre Red) and coordinating trims (Lime, Pink, Red, Grey - among others). The GiddyUp is made of water-repellent ballistic nylon. The handles as well as the trim are faux leather (Pinder doesn't use animal products on their bags for ethical reasons) and the hardware is all nickel plated. The handles on the GiddyUp are generous - easy to sling over the shoulder or carry in traditional handbag fashion.

In addition to the shape, my favourite thing about the exterior of the GiddyUp tote is that the colour trim on the front isn't just decorative! It cleverly conceals the zipper and pull for an external pocket! Finally, a sleekly silhouetted bag that has an external pocket. Thank you, Pinder! A place for Ann to keep her compact and her giant sunglasses! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the feet. I'm pleased to see the trend for stylish laptop totes to have feet. Because no one wants to get the bottom of their bag sticky from whatever is on the floor of the Metro.

The design of the interior of the GiddyUp is as sleek as the exterior. The GiddyUp has two separate compartments; both are lined with a bright coloured nylon lining in a complementary colour to the trim. The back compartment is where you stash your laptop. It is well padded and generous. If you are concerned that it is a little TOO generous, especially for those of you who have an ultra-thin laptop, then you will likely want to add on a Pinder THIN sleeve to your GiddyUp.

The front compartment is where you stash the rest of your gear. There are two smaller pockets on the back wall, complete with velcroed flaps for other electronics, pens, etc. The front wall has a zippered pouch, handy for important travel docs, receipts, etc. The rest of the front compartment is very generous and easily holds my power brick, mouse, and camera. Plus my lunch.

Both the front and back compartments are zippered with coloured zip tabs. The ones on the back compartment have an additional nickel decorative rivet so you can distinguish which one your laptop is in by both look and touch. The zippers extend quite far down the side of the GiddyUp which allows easier access to its contents. But Pinder has cleverly included a gusset on each side to prevent items from slipping out of the compartments. Well-designed!

I am a big fan of the GiddyUp tote by Pinder. I love its retro chic lines and its colourful modern interior. So "That Girl!" 

UPDATE: The GiddyUp from Pinder seems to have been retired.

Waterfield's Keyboard and Accessory Travel Case Line

When you have a laptop, you are often carrying a number of accessories (power brick, mouse, even a wireless keyboard).  If your bag isn't configured to tuck all these away neatly, help is on the way from Waterfield Designs.  They have created travel cases for both your keyboard (wireless and wired versions) or for all your accessories.  Nice and neat!

This is the one for the keyboard ....

And this is the travel one for all your accessories - I love the schematic!

Updates from Bag Designers - IceRed and aGaiN NYC

Got a couple of updates from some of the designers I watch ...

Alan over at IceRedBags has released his Drift Messenger in a sleek, all black version.  So sleek, in fact, it was chosen as the official bag of the US Roller Sports 2007 World Figure Skating team!

Allison, from Again NYC, has released a vegan bag with hemp straps instead of leather ones!  This complements her other bags that are made from rescued fabrics with vintage buttons.  And more good news, for the month of November, she's offering 15% off.  Just use the coupon code LAP15.