Dear Boardroom Belles,

I read somewhere that “leathers” should match.  Whether or not this is commonplace, the idea appealed to me.  I am the most attracted to camel/cognac colored leather and am looking to match my purse (large enough to hold a water bottle), laptop bag (needs to fit a 15.5” laptop), and commuting flats for work.   Do you have any suggestions?

-       Looking for Basics

Dear Looking for Basics,

First things first, there is no “rule” that says you need to match your bag to your shoes.   In fact, I try to avoid being too “matchy.”  I tend to buy basics in neutral colors that coordinate, not match.  For example, I’m currently using a tote bag in an off-white color for work, and rotate flats in gold, black and nude for commuting.  My accessories don’t clash/but they don’t match either- they just go-together.

Additionally, I would warn against choosing a large leather bag for your laptop.  If your laptop is 15.5 inches, any leather bag large enough to fit it is going to be heavy and if you are carrying a leather purse on top of that it can be quite a load. I would suggest either a nylon bag for your laptop (like this one) and a leather bag for your purse, or a large leather tote that can double as your work tote and purse during the week (this is what I prefer).

With regards to commuting flats, I would suggest buying a comfortable leather pair that have a rubber sole.  The rubber sole will be more durable and provide more cushioning than a leather sole than a leather sole.   If you can only purchase one pair of flats I would recommend these Cole Haan Nike Air flats.  Most of my friends wear these shoes in either the nude or black patent leather, as the patent leather doesn’t show wear-and-tear.   Unfortunately, they don’t come in a cognac/camel leather color.

All that said, I’ve put together some sets for that feature camel/cognac leather shoes and another for bags and totes in a range of prices.   Hope this helps!!!