Training Day — Go From Work To Workout With These New Rebecca Minkoff Athletic Handbags
The right fitness gear can be as powerful a motivational tool as any high-energy, adrenaline-pumping playlist, outspoken and go-getter workout buddy, or motivational poster (you know, the ones with quotes like “If you’re tired of starting over, stop giving up,” and “Sweat is fat crying” that abound on Pinterest and which I personally find incredibly trite but seem to inspire many of my peers). Sure, you can always slip into a ratty T-shirt you’d normally wear to paint the interior of your home and pair it with dumpy sweats or basketball shorts covered in bleach stains, but are you really going to feel like a powerhouse in that ensemble? When shopping for fitness apparel, I make sure the pieces have all the requisite performance elements (a moisture-wicking but breathable fabric, reflective details for low-lit conditions, built-in bras that provide the desired amount of support, etc.), but I also seek a flattering fit, playful colors, and funky prints that will lift my mood and also make me feel cute and sporty. Nowadays, when I sometimes have to run from dropping off my son at school to the gym and then to the office or an appointment, I’ve mastered the art of mixing and matching fitness apparel pieces with dressier separates and accessories, facilitating a more seamless transition from one destination to the next. The one style challenge I continue to face involves my handbag choice. See, none of my roomy leather purses belong in a gym locker room and the bags that are typically spacious enough accommodate all my workout essentials (towel, water bottle, weight lifting gloves, sneakers, etc.) feel too casual, are branded in a bit too gaudy a fashion, or just feel too fitness-specific, so that they lack the versatility I seek.
Fortunately, handbag heroine Rebecca Minkoff has delved into the “athleisure” space with both apparel and accessories designed to look chic in and out of the gym, track, bike lane, tennis court, hiking trail, and yoga or dance studio. The handbag choices are particularly thrilling. Take, for instance, the canvas Rebecca Minkoff Small Subway Tote ($225 at RebeccaMinkoff.com), pictured above at top, which features an alluringly dynamic color combination and a functional but modern rounded silhouette, and which also boasts such convenient assets as a weatherproof construction (including PVC trim), an accessible and removable exterior mesh slip pocket, an adjustable and removable 27″ nylon webbing strap, and reasonable dimensions (it measures 14.5″ in width, 9.5″ in height, and 8″ in depth).
If you’re more of a light packer and you tend to favor yoga sessions, check out the floral print Rebecca Minkoff Yoga Mat Bag ($95 at RebeccaMinkoff.com), pictured second above, which features a wide opening through which to slip in a rolled-up mat, a handy zipper closure, an adjustable 32″-long strap, and an exterior mesh pocket in which to stash your keys, phone, wallet, and any other must-haves. The bag measures 6.25″ in width, 25″ in height, and 7″ in depth, so that it can easily accommodate a standard-size mat and even a microfiber towel, a small block for back support , or a foam massager.
Planning on hitting a yoga class after work? Then opt for the Rebecca Minkoff Yoga Carry-All ($245 at RebeccaMinkoff.com), shown fourth above, which features a holding strap for your yoga mat along its lower base. Measuring 14″ in width, 8.75″ in height, and 8.75″ in depth, the lightweight nylon bag features plenty of zippered exterior pockets (for keys, mobile devices, earbuds, and more), five interior compartments (for clothes or work essentials), two side slip compartments, as well as a combination of both two wide shoulder straps and an adjustable cross-body strap should you prefer to go hands-free. Best of all, the sporty number comes in clever color combinations like the one shown above, which consists of a slate gray nylon exterior, clever honeysuckle pink accents along the PVC zipper pull tabs and shoulder strap pads, and a touch of black for the chunky zippers and hardware.
Those of you who like getting your Serena Williams workouts on can hit the tennis court in style with the Rebecca Minkoff Tennis Racquet Cover ($125 at RebeccaMinkoff.com), made of a lightweight nylon with fluorescent yellow trim for a modern and urban feel. The protective racquet cover features an adjustable strap for overt-the-shoulder or across-the-body wear.
Perfect for the gym or a weekend getaway, the Rebecca Minkoff Daily Duffle ($225 at RebeccaMinkoff.com) is spacious enough to hold sneakers, clothing, towels, laptops, notebooks, smartphones, and more, measuring 15.75″ in width, 9.5″ in height, and 9.25″ in depth. The lightweight nylon duffle bag features a familiar barrel-like shape, with two exterior zippered shoe compartments on either side of the piece so you can stash your kicks discreetly. Two exterior mesh slip pockets, meanwhile, are perfect for stashing goods you’ll need at a moment’s notice (like your cell phone). The zippered opening along the top of the bag, meanwhile, leads the way to the roomy interior, which can be kept organized thanks to five interior mesh slip pockets, a zippered and padded pocket designed to provide the shock absorption and cushy protection needed to safely transport your tablet, and a roomy compartment in which to store larger goods. And again in this case, the color combinations provide the desired fun factor, with bright yellow pull tabs adding a playful punch to the design and white center panels with mesh slip pockets to accentuate the sporty but city chic nature of the design.
Once you have one of these work-to-workout bags, you’ll no longer be able to rely on the “Oh I forgot my sneakers!” excuse nor will you have to feel like you’re getting a bad grade on your style report card by lugging around both an office-ready purse and a less-than-seemly gym bag that looks like a promotional item from a bygone sporting event. In this regard, Minkoff took “athleisure” to a whole new level by factoring in the needs of a modern working woman, creating bags that allow you to work, work out, and just plain ol’ work it.
