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This winter, a number of pochette bags designed for work have become available.
These bags provide functional storage for smartphones and other small items, and come in subdued colors that go well with a suit.
The right pochette can be used both on the job and in your private life.
A pochette is a small bag with a long, thin shoulder strap usually made of chain or leather.
Momoko Omata of the products department at Tokyo-based Sogo & Seibu Co. said she is seeing more working women with pochettes.
This is due to dissatisfaction with the number and size of pockets in jackets or suits, and from not wanting to carry a heavy bag when just going a short distance in the workplace or stepping out for lunch.
“If you put the things you need in a pochette, your hands are free. One advantage is they can make you as active as a backpack can,” Omata said.
When buying a pochette for work, she said: “You don’t need anything too flashy. It’s best to choose something simple and subdued.”
For instance, she recommends a plain black pochette to go with a white suit and black top.
In September, Sogo & Seibu began offering “inner pochettes” aimed at working women. These are available at the Sogo department store in Yokohama, the Seibu department store in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo and elsewhere.
The plain bags come in black nylon and cost ¥2,400 plus tax. Gray, black or navy leather versions cost ¥4,000 plus tax.
The bag’s curved design hugs the hip. It features a built-in magnet that can be clipped onto a skirt or pants to hold it in place. If worn with a jacket that covers the hips, it cannot be seen.
A diagonal pocket on the outside of the pochette gives easy access to a smartphone or other items, while inside there are places for a pen and business card case.
A leather pochette priced at ¥40,000 plus tax and made by U.S. fashion brand Kate Spade New York is a popular item at the Sogo store in Yokohama.
The bag features an additional pocket with a zipper that is attached to the outside of its opening, providing more storage options. The two-tone bag comes in color combinations such as pink and black or blue and navy. “They look lively when worn as a feature,” said Ryoko Nobeyama, an employee of the store.
The Mitsukoshi flagship department store in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo sells different kinds of leather pochettes for people seeking utility.
A pochette by the brand Number Twenty-One features slightly rounded corners and ornamentation. Grabbing it by the belt attached to its exterior allows it to function as a type of clutch. It comes in six colors, including red and green, and is priced at ¥45,000 plus tax.
A pochette by leather goods brand modaMania is shaped like a long wallet. It can be held like a handbag by doubling up the shoulder strap to make it shorter. It comes in subdued navy or glossy gray, while inside it is bright pink or aqua — adding a fun pop of color when opened. The product is priced at ¥24,000 plus tax.
“Pochettes tend to create a somewhat informal vibe. People can use them for various places or occasions, possibly switching to hold them in the hand for business meetings and other important events,” said Kaori Nakayama of the women’s accessories sales department in the Mitsukoshi store.
(The Japan News）
