(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- Since it was first introduced in 1992, the Kelly Dépêches briefcase from Hermès ($10,200) has been almost as sought-after as its celebrated namesake handbag. This iteration, new for fall, has a slimmer profile, a shorter flap for easier opening and closing, beveled corners, and a rounded bottom.
The Competition
• The Russia Leather folio may be even harder to get than a Kelly. The classically handsome bag from 205-year-old James Purdey & Sons Ltd. is made with restored hides recovered from a shipwreck off the coast of England. Finished with red goatskin lining, the $12,050 case has a gold-plated buckle.
• Big enough to handle most larger laptops, Valextra’s $2,980 Classic briefcase is 16 inches wide with a slightly padded interior to protect digital devices, plus five internal pockets and two pen loops.
• Berluti’s $5,000 Prisme briefcase pairs palladium-finished brass hardware with Venezia leather and an easy-to-use clasp.
The Case
On the original Kelly case, the clasp was so fussy that leaving it open was as much a practical consideration as an effort in studied nonchalance. This updated version lets you skip the clasp entirely: The softer corners and shorter flap slip under the strap to close quickly. Elsewhere it bears the hallmarks of the brand, such as impeccable saddle stitching, here in white linen thread, which serves as a contrast to the palladium hardware and fine-grained toffee leather in what is a classic Hermès palette. (It’s also available in red, green, gray, and navy.) With two pockets inside—one zip, one sleeve— it’s just the right size for a 13-inch laptop, more than enough to fulfill the demands of modern schlepping. $10,200; 800 441-4488
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