This Modular Travel Bag Is Like My Own “Mary Poppins” Bag (I Take It Everywhere!)

I travel frequently, and take my choice of a day bag very seriously. Sometimes I want something a little more polished to take from daytime adventures to nighttime dinners; other times I need a bag I can keep in front of me to avoid being pickpocketed. So when I kept seeing a bag pop up in my social media feed, I knew I had to try it. The Lo & Sons Aoyama Nylon Crossbody Bag has a simple design that I thought would complement everything in my travel wardrobe. It’s also full of features that I thought would solve a lot of the problems I faced finding the perfect bag in the past. 

The Lo & Sons Aoyama Nylon Bag is what I call “my Mary Poppins bag.” It features modular straps, a side seam pocket, interior organization, plus a key leash. It looks sleek but can hold an almost endless amount of things, including a Kindle, my wallet, phone, keys, smaller odds and ends (like lip gloss and granola bars), and even a full-sized water bottle. Until now, finding a cute purse that can hold a full-sized water bottle has been impossible, so this mundane feature is actually my favorite part of the bag. 

It measures 11.4″ high, 2.36″ wide, and 15″ tall, plus it comes in three colorways: a black exterior bag with gold hardware and lavender interior (which I have), an ivory exterior bag with gold hardware and camel interior, and a dark green exterior bag with gold hardware and camel interior. Even after using the bag daily, I’m still in awe of how much it can hold. 

Once I discovered that the bag could hold a lot more than I expected, I knew I had splurged on the right find. Plus, the crossbody is full of useful organizational features without being bulky. Staying organized can be a challenge for me, especially when traveling with my kids. Although I love how much the Aoyama can hold, I was worried that it would be difficult to find what I needed, so I was delighted to find how many internal pockets (four webbing pockets, one zipper pocket, and three card pockets) the Aoyama has to help me keep track of what I have in my purse at any given time. I don’t worry about essential items sinking to the bottom of my bag in a chaotic mess. 

With all the internal pockets, I’m able to safely store things I want more hidden like my passport, cash, and credit cards, while also having things stored more in the open that I want to easily grab, like hand sanitizer, keys, or AirPods.

Another great feature of the bag is its zippered side compartment, which is the perfect size for my phone. I love the convenience of reaching for my phone without digging through my purse. In crowded places, I also feel safer not unzipping my entire purse.

Most of the ads I saw for the Aoyama leaned heavily into the bag’s unique modular, adjustable strap, which allows you to wear it as a long crossbody or shorten to be more of a shoulder bag. What makes this bag truly customizable is that users can easily remove a portion of the strap with a couple of clicks. I just need to clip out a section of the strap and reattach the remaining pieces to convert the bag from crossbody to handbag in seconds. This quick change instantly gives the bag an upgraded, dressier look.

Even though I started using my Aoyama as a travel bag, I kept using it at home because I like it so much. I decided to buy the leather version to use as an everyday bag, and I’ve been pleased with my choice! 

Buy: Lo & Sons Aoyama Nylon Crossbody Bag, $178