The Most Stylish Work & Travel Backpack for Women: 2021

Unpopular Opinion: I’ve never been much of a luxury handbag girl. I prefer functional bags more because they suit my on-the-go lifestyle better. Not to mention, I have less fear of getting them dirty or scratched. (Just take a look at the Longchamp Le Pliage totes I own, and you will understand) While I do carry those around often, I have been exploring other stylish options that are better for my back. Luckily, I finally found a stylish backpack for work that suits many other occasions as well.

The MZ Wallace Top Handle Backpack: It’s a pretty, sleek, collapsible backpack that I had been eyeing for a little over a year. Earlier this year, MZ Wallace featured a rare sale on one of their light grey styles. However, since I feared it would stain easily, I waited for their Quilted Dawn (navy) color to go on sale. (It never did) So I made the plunge, and used my ‘15% Off First Order’ discount code, making this beauty just under $250.

(9/30/23) Read my latest comparison review of MZ Wallace backpacks HERE.

Disclosure: This post makes use of affiliate links, which may result in a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to claim your 15% off discount if it’s your first MZ Wallace purchase!

Most reviews I have seen on the bag do not talk about the material much. However, since this area happens to be one I appreciate the most (I’m biased), I thought I would share more in depth. Luckily, I was able to feel and try the bag on in-person at their SoHo store before COVID hit. It made a huge difference to see the product up close, and decide which color I wanted.

FEATURE #1: THE MATERIAL

One of the lesser-known parts of the MZ Wallace brand is that it actually uses (relatively) sustainable materials! So let’s start from the very beginning…the packaging. If you order from the NYC-metro area, their bags ship very quickly. Your backpack will arrive flattened inside a dust bag (either Cloud print, or white), which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled water bottles.

MZ Wallace Dust Bag

Backpack Material: ‘Eco-Friendly’ Nylon

While not all products are made from eco-friendly nylon, this newer style is. On the brand website, their recycled nylon is known as REC Nylon. I want to be careful of saying it is ‘recycled’ nylon because the fabric is actually made from pre-consumer materials. Thus, in the traditional sense, it is not a recycled fabric. However, the backpack still has a lower carbon footprint since it is not made from virgin nylon.

For more info on the difference between pre and post-consumer fabrics, visit my earlier post: ‘Is Recycled Polyester Good for the Environment?‘

What’s Inside: PowerPuff Fill

To achieve the signature soft, fluffy feel, MZ Wallace bags are quilted and filled with a material they call ‘PowerPuff.’ It is essentially polyester fiber (scientifically, polyethylene terephthalate – PET). What is special here is that they use fibers made from post-consumer waste. So to be technical, yes…this material is recycled 🙂

Both materials are super lightweight, making it very convenient carry and the perfect stylish backpack for work.

FEATURE #2: THE COMPARTMENTS

Everyone knows that the key to a great backpack is having many compartments. And this MZ Wallace style has too many to count! Since this backpack has a more detailed silhouette than their simpler Metro backpack, I thought it would be more helpful to the details down by front, back, and top view.

Backpack Front View

There are two side pockets that are wide enough to fit even the largest of water bottles. Think: extra-large Hydroflask. Then, there is a front pocket that opens up to two more inner pockets. A perfect place to store keys, cards, make-up bag, etc.

Backpack Back View

While I won’t be traveling any time soon, it is helpful that my backpack has a pouch in the back. There is a magnetic button closure at the top, as well as a zipper at the bottom. In case you do not want to use this pouch, you can also use this feature as a suitcase slot. It’s a super handy way of letting your back safely rest on your suitcase as you travel.

The Metro backpack, which is their simpler design, does not have this feature. For me, this added versatility is a huge plus, especially if you are looking for a bag that can double-down as a travel backpack.

Backpack Top View

Here is a photo of what the bag looks like from up-top.

Where do I begin? (There are so many pockets!) Starting from the top, there is a laptop sleeve that is big enough to fit a 15″ laptop. Right in front of that is a zippered pocket with two more inner pockets (hard to see in this photo). This function is just another lovely detail that makes this piece the perfect stylish backpack for work. Finally, in the bottom layer, you will find some more pockets for storage.

While I am not quite at this life-stage, I hear from other ladies that these compartments make for a super great diaper bag, along with adding other baby essentials. For me, these pockets are more than enough to conveniently tote my items to work, and stylish enough to wear for the weekend.

WHICH STYLISH BACKPACK TO PICK: MZ WALLACE TOP HANDLE OR METRO BACKPACK?

If you are already familiar with the brand, but unsure which MZ Wallace backpack design to pick, here are some key differences:

• The Metro backpack comes in more variety of colors and prints, since it is one of their best-selling styles.
• It does not have a hard wireframe at the top like the top handle backpack does.
• It does not have a suitcase sleeve in the back.
• Fits a 15″ laptop, but there is no designated laptop sleeve.
• The zipper is a lot easier to manage. (It is hard to zip the top handle backpack due to the wireframe feature)

But bottom line: both work as an amazingly stylish backpack for work. And you are bound to have friends ask where you got your sophisticated backpack from! If you prefer a tote instead, here are a few popular styles made from the same material:

MY RECOMMENDED STYLISH BACKPACK FOR WORK IN 2021

Here is me happily using my MZ Wallace backpack for the first time on my birthday weekend! I promise, you are guaranteed compliments and questions on where you found it 😉

Hope this product review is helpful, and so excited to hear your thoughts if you end up giving these styles a try!