Latest Obsession: The Wandler Luna Bag

If I said this bag has "just enough design," would that make any sense

I’m feeling a little bit like Goldilocks this morning. Regardless of what my opinions may have been about other bags at other points in time, at the moment, everything seems wildly over-designed or under-designed—too maximalist or too minimalist, entirely unacceptable for me, renowned aesthete Amanda Mull, who spends most of her day typing at her kitchen table in pajamas from ASOS. Right now, for at least the next hour or until my coffee kicks in, the only thing I like is the Wandler Luna Bag, which is just the right amount of “designed.”

When I first saw this bag, from an indie brand that’s currently part of the contemporary bag boom, I thought it might be an improved version of the discontinued Chloé Georgia, primarily because of the multiple curved flap lines (only one of them is an actual flap, unlike with the Georgia) and the shape of the small front lock. The Luna is an overall more useful and better designed bag than that one, though, with a bigger interior capacity, more structured shape, and a flat bottom that allows it to sit securely without flopping around. Even in its multicolor versions, it’s a bag that manages to look professional and tailored without being too stuffy or formal to carry with jeans and a t-shirt.

What makes this bag feel so right to me is that its design embellishments are well thought-out, and they follow naturally from the bag’s essential structure. That helps it strike exactly the right balance between being a fashion bag and something more subtle, but without stripping out all the personality and visual fun to achieve true minimalism. And if you want a little more oomph, it comes in neutral colorblocks that emphasize the bag’s lines.

Another great thing is the price, which stays under the four-figure threshold. Solid versions are $875, while colorblocks are a little bit more at $935. Check out the versions Net-a-Porter is carrying below, or shop all of Wandler’s bags.