Case Study

A workday carryall that melds fashion and function—a simple yet elusive concept. The messenger bag has long been an option, but one that can read as juvenile. At the other end of the spectrum, the attaché often looks too staid and stodgy. But now Bottega Veneta and VBH have dreamed up a marriage of the two totes that fulfills both the stylish and sturdy quotas. Bottega’s Tomas Maier transforms the messenger with classic croc and ample hardware, giving it the élan of an old-school valise. Conversely, at VBH, Bruce Hoeksema relaxes the briefcase, punching it up with crimson alligator and patent-leather trim while giving it a sensible shoulder strap. Either way, it adds up to a haute hybrid.

From top: Michael Kors’s cashmere and suede bag, $795, at select Nordstrom stores, 888.282.6060; Roger Vivier’s suede and fox fur boot, $2,375, at Roger Vivier, New York, 212.861.5371.