Because thoughtful purchases deserve an honest review.

As someone who firmly believes in investment pieces and thoughtful purchases, I wanted to create a series that dives into my own buys… and ask the question: was it worth it?

Why? Because I’m that person who reads ALL the reviews, who searches painstakingly through video after video to find out more about the fit, how quickly something wore, and how it fares as time goes on. But I’ve often found that when it comes to more spenny pieces, people don’t really share their experiences — and honestly, those are the reviews I need to hear most.

But first, when I talk about thoughtful purchases, I mean being fully responsible for everything I bring into my wardrobe. That I’m intentional with every piece, and that I believe I’ll care for it and hopefully keep it for decades to come. Which is why I’m happy to invest in things that are well-made and built to last.

So let’s start with the first piece in this series…

Alter/Ego Small Slouchy Shoulder Bag in Checkerboard Upcrafted Leather

This bag has been everywhere in the last few months, and I totally get why it’s captured the hearts of the ALT community — it’s quite frankly a beautiful bag! It’s the perfect size, slouchy, and crafted from soft leather scraps left over after a Coach Tabby bag has been cut from a leather hide. We love a thoughtful creation, especially one that’s a byproduct.

Here’s the brand’s own description: “Slouchy meets scrappy: this everyday shoulder bag is ingeniously crafted from the soft leather scraps left over after a Coach Tabby Bag has been cut from a leather hide. Large enough to fit a tablet, it features a roomy interior compartment (complete with a slip pocket), zip-top closure and two adjustable straps for both shoulder and crossbody wear. This product is part of our Alter/Ego Collection, a new range of bags crafted with the specific leather scraps left over from the creation of iconic Coach styles—namely the Tabby and Brooklyn bags—that might otherwise have gone to landfill. With this collection, we’re going beyond making with waste by finding ways to design out waste, as part of our ongoing mission to build a more circular future for fashion.”

The facts:

• Purchased in March 2025 for £295, direct from Coachtopia
• Size: Medium
• Material: Leather
• Silver hardware

The things I love:

• After five months of wear, the slouch is just getting better! It looks more lived in, more loved, and it’s holding up really nicely.
• It came with two straps — a shorter one for an over-the-shoulder moment, and a longer strap for crossbody (which I LOVE). It means I can just as easily make it a festival bag for a weekend, but then have this beautiful daily go-to over-the-shoulder bag.
• It’s roomy! The medium size fits a lot in, and I love that for music festivals, I can even fit a small water bottle, rain mac and all the little essentials needed.
• The design is everything. For me, it feels like an elevated version of the bags I used to wear as an angsty teen. While I would have loved it in black, this one feels more like a statement piece.

The things I wish I knew (or wish were different):

• When the straps arrived, both had ribbing on the underside of the leather that hadn’t really gone away (see video). I think it’s down to how they were originally packaged, but it’s worth noting.
• The corners of the bag are wearing quite quickly. I think this could have been solved if the bag had feet. At this price point, I didn’t really expect it — especially as I’m super careful with it and use the dust bag often when it’s not being used.

So, would I buy it again?
Yes. I love it, it’s such a beautifully designed bag and one I know I’ll have for a very long time. The only things that would have made it perfect for me: brass, black, or gold hardware (instead of silver), and feet on the base to protect those corners!

This is obviously just my own experience and opinion, so I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve made the same purchase.

I’ll be back soon with another piece to put to the test.
Thanks for reading this Closet Commitment!