In Review: Target’s $96 Oiled Leather Briefcase

Londinium “Barnet” Leather Briefcase – $95.99* ($119)

*Note: Target is running a spend $75+, take 20% off promotion through 2/28. Ships & returns free.

No, it’s no Saddleback. But you could do a lot worse for under a hundred bucks.

An all leather briefcase at this price point is pretty rare, especially one with this sort of soft, matte leather that looks and feels like leather, not some sheet of plastic. And while it doesn’t stray in design from most other briefcases (multiple interior pockets, a padded divider to protect a laptop) it doesn’t get anything wrong either. No silly logo or overly shined up hardware. It does come with a detachable shoulder strap, while the top grab handle means you won’t have to always sling it over your head like a messenger bag.

Basic design. Nothing flashy. Super soft leather for a bag at this price.

But it’s still a sub $100 briefcase. One potential problem area is how the thing stays closed. There’s a clip fastener that snaps into place underneath the buckles. Those two points of security are what holds the bag together while in transit. And the hardware on this thing doesn’t feel like the best quality. It feels nice and secure now, but, if those things loosen up with wear, especially if you haul a lot of heavy stuff around, the risk is that they may pop loose. Maybe. If that happens, the bag won’t stay closed.

 Plenty of room for a 15″ laptop and other necessities.

The leather is really the star of this show. Marbled without being a mess, it looks like it should pick up a decent patina over time. It has the look of something you might have found in a consignment shop. Some aren’t going to like that lack of uniformity to a brand new briefcase’s leather, some will dig it. Noticeably darker in person than on the Target website. Interior is lined with a fabric that feels like a cotton/poly blend.

 The slip clips which keep the bag closed.

Appears to be made by a diffusion line by The British Belt Company… which is strange, being that you’d be hard pressed to find any British Belt Company stuff outside of flash sale/outlet sites like JackThreads and Rue La La. And they’ve got a step-down diffusion line? Odd. Also, this, like other British Belt Company stuff… ain’t made in Britain. Or, one could assume that’s the case, being that there’s not even a “made in” tag on this thing.

Not available in brick & mortar stores. Just on Target’s website. Ships free since it’s over twenty five bucks.

 Shown with Banana Republic Traveler Jeans & Billy Reid single monks (discontinued)