Guides

Anna Pouch, a flat black calfskin cosmetic pouch with a zip

Stocking stuffers for her: small leather pieces from $40 to $170

Good stocking stuffers for her are small things she will use long after Christmas morning: a leather pouch for her bag, a narrow belt, a bag charm. Ours cost $40...

Object №03 Medium black leather top handle bag with a gold-tone bar on the belt

A leather anniversary gift for your wife: the third-year tradition, and a bag for any year

Leather is the traditional gift for the third wedding anniversary, and many modern lists give it for the ninth as well. A leather bag fits the tradition and gets used...

Sophie small black leather crossbody bag shaped like a miniature box

A Christmas gift for your girlfriend: a first leather bag, smaller pieces, and how to pick the color

For a girlfriend, a small leather bag is the easiest Christmas gift to get right: size matters less than with a big bag, it suits more of her clothes, and...

Josefine leather bag in brown with a short handle and a V-shaped zip top

A Christmas gift for your mom: a leather bag or pouch chosen by what she carries

Choose a Christmas gift for your mom by what she carries every day, not by a guess about her style. Glasses, a wallet and keys call for a mid-size bag...

Josefine hobo bag in black leather with a V-shaped zip top

The hobo bag: what it is, slouchy or structured, and which strap drop to choose

A hobo bag is a soft shoulder bag with a curved top that dips in the middle when you carry it. It usually has one handle or strap and closes...

Brown suede bags: dark choco or light caramel, and how to wear suede in winter

Brown suede comes in two directions. Dark chocolate brown wears almost like black and goes with gray, navy and cream. Lighter caramel warms up camel, denim and white. Suede is...

Elza Clutch in black leather with a soft folded top

What bag to carry to a winter wedding, a holiday party or New Year's Eve

For a winter wedding or a party, carry a bag that holds a phone, a card case, keys and a lipstick and leaves at least one hand free for a...

Cecilie east-west bag in choco suede with two rounded handles

East-west bags: what the long, narrow shape is, and how to carry one

An east-west bag is one that is much wider than it is tall, usually about twice as wide or more, so it lies along the body instead of hanging down...

Cecilie bag in black leather with two rounded handles

Leather handbags under $500 that are built to last: what to check, and where the money goes

Under $500 you can buy a handbag in genuine calfskin or suede, cut and stitched by hand, that will be carried for years. To tell it apart from one that...

What our guides cover

Here are six Poelle guides on choosing a leather bag and caring for it. We write them with the real dimensions of our bags, so you can see what fits where: a laptop, a tablet, a wallet, or just a phone and keys.

If you are choosing a shape, start with bag types and sizes explained. How to choose a leather tote for work covers laptops, weight and handles. Leather or suede explains how each material wears and how to clean it. The everyday black leather bag helps you pick one bag for your whole wardrobe. A leather bag as a gift is about size, color and returns. What is a quiet luxury bag lists what to check before you buy: edges, stitching, lining and hardware.

All guides are written by Olesiia Darii.

Questions

How do I know if my laptop will fit?

Bag types and sizes lists the dimensions of every model and what goes inside. For example, the Carolyn Tote Large takes a 16-inch laptop.

How do I care for a suede bag?

Brush it gently with a soft brush and keep it away from water. More in the leather or suede guide and on our care page.

Can I return a bag?

Yes. You have 30 days from delivery to return an unused piece in its original packaging. Every Poelle piece also has a 1-year warranty from the day of delivery. See the returns policy.