In the Bag: A Review of the Lo & Sons Waverley 2 Convertible Purse

Sharing my honest thoughts on the travel-ready Waverley 2 convertible handbag from Lo & Sons

My last three packing lists all have one thing in common (well, besides the heavy presence of a black winter palette): I packed the same purse each time.

Partially because I’m lazy – why spend time moving my stuff from bag to bag when the current one is working just fine? – but mostly because that little bag has proven itself to be a sturdy travel workhorse.

But *zooms in on photos* what is it?

Lo & Sons generously gifted the Waverley 2, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are genuinely mine. This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links. Thank you for your support - it enables me to continue sharing reviews ad-free!

This nondescript black purse with minimal branding or hardware is the Waverley 2 from Lo & Sons, a sleek chameleon that can be worn no less than four different ways.

A tabby cat looks at the Waverley 2 Bag — Meow may not travel much, but I trust that she knows a good bag when she sees one

As a traveler who refuses to pay to fly with her luggage, I’ve come to understand the immense value of versatility in my travel wardrobe. Clothes that can be worn multiple ways, chic shoes that camouflage their comfort, and accessories that pack a punch all help me whittle down my packing list to just a carry-on or personal item.

And when I’m flying on a budget airline, I need a purse that won’t take up much room in my travel backpack. After multiple flyaway trips and road trips, I’m finally ready to share my honest thoughts on the Waverley 2 from Lo & Sons.

ABOUT LO & SONS

Lo & Sons is an Asian-American-owned family business known for its line of stylish travel and lifestyle accessories. At age 65, Helen Lo and her two sons joined forces in 2010 to fill in the gaps that standard luggage brands overlooked (hence the name!). The result is functional and stylish bags that cater to the needs of modern travelers.

Since its launch, Lo & Sons has gained a loyal following of travelers for its range of innovative designs, as well as its commitment to quality and sustainability. The brand’s signature bags often include ingenious compartments, built-in organization systems, and durable materials, making them ideal companions for travelers looking to make the most of their journey. You can read more of the brand’s story here.

ABOUT THE WAVERLEY 2

As I write this review, the Waverley 2 is available in two sizes and a whopping twenty-six color, leather, and hardware combinations.

Choosing a bag color is pretty simple, but choosing the leather is a bit more of a challenge; the Waverley 2 is available in Nappa Leather (soft, buttery), Saffiano Leather (rigid, textured), and Cactus Leather (smooth, plant-based). For context while reading this review, I chose the Saffiano Leather with a black exterior, gold hardware, and grey interior in a size Large.

The bag is intended to be a small day bag, with the Small measuring 5.6″ x 8″ x 2″ and the Large measuring 5.9″ x 8.3″ x 2″. It comes with two straps, a shorter one with a length of 15″ and a longer, adjustable strap measuring up to 42″ for a maximum combined measurement of 52″. Switching up or adjusting the straps allows the bag to be worn as a crossbody bag, shoulder bag, belt bag, and wristlet. You can see the bag modeled all four ways here (I would add a fifth styling option to this list, which is simply carrying it sans strap as a clutch).

The bag features minimal branding and hardware, but offers several compartments: one exterior card pocket, one interior slip pocket, and one interior zip pocket with three card slots. Care instructions for each leather type can be found here.

MY REVIEW OF THE WAVERLEY 2

After taking several trips with this bag, I think it’s safe to say I have some thoughts – but it’s probably a good idea to just start at the beginning.

I mentioned that I chose the Saffiano Leather option for its durability. This leather features a crosshatch finish that has a knack for hiding wear and tear, which is essential as I am notoriously rough on my things. My style of travel isn’t gentle, and I expect a lot from the items I choose to bring.

I predictably went with black to match the bulk of my wardrobe (is this a self-fulfilling prophecy? Maybe), and I chose a size Large for just that little bit of extra room. The difference is only 0.3″ in both height and width, but it might add up if you’re petite – I found the size comparison photos of models of different sizes to be helpful).

In practice, this back is just about the right size for most kinds of travel. I’ve flown with it to Philadelphia, Boston, and Louisville, though I opted not to bring it on a longer trip to San Francisco. Why is that? Because my camera doesn’t fit, and there were times I wanted to tuck it out of sight.

But for the trips where I don’t need to stash my camera away, this bag has been a great addition to my travel wardrobe. It easily holds my daily essentials: my phone, cards, cash, lip balm, lipstick, a pack of gum, a claw clip, and keys.

I should note that it takes a bit of an adjustment to move everything over to this bag before a trip, but the biggest shift is pulling a limited selection of cards and cash from my wallet and stashing them in the interior zip pocket. While it would be easier to toss my wallet in the bag and go, it would take up more space than I prefer; instead, I take the extra moment to carefully consider what I need and appreciate the opportunity to lighten my load. Since the Waverley 2 is relatively small, it keeps me from overpacking my purse and weighing down my already aching shoulders and back.

One feature of the bag I haven’t really found much use for is the card pocket on the back of the bag. In theory, I like the idea of the pocket for holding transit passes, but I’ve chickened out each time I tried to use it in case I lost my card. I currently only use this pocket in low-stakes situations like at my local Whole Foods parking deck (IYKYK), and I wish it would be replaced with a slim zipped pocket instead.

Alyssa wears the Waverley 2 bag under her coat in two travel photos — The adjustable strap makes it easy to wear the Waverley 2 under my coat…

Alyssa wears the Waverley 2 bag over her coat in two travel photos — …or over my coat

For daily carry here at home, I tend to shorten the strap and wear it as an on-trend shoulder bag, but when I travel, I lengthen the strap so it sits crossbody. I like that the longer strap can be adjusted to carry at the shoulder, waist, or crossbody on my frame, meaning I can leave the smaller strap at home if I feel like it.

I confess I haven’t employed the short strap to carry this bag as a wristlet, but I have used it to clip my hat to the purse, so it’s proven helpful in other ways (it would also be great for clipping the bag to a chair at a busy restaurant, away from prying hands!).

But overall, I’m immensely impressed with this little bag for all of its thoughtful touches – from the light-colored interior (great for fishing out a pen from the bottom of the bag!) to the sturdy leather to the hardy clasps and zippers. Despite all of my rough handling, this bag still looks great and I look forward to traveling with it for years to come.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON LO & SONS’ CONVERTIBLE BAG

Although the Waverley 2 may not accompany me on every trip (is there such a thing as a one-size-fits-all purse? I’m not convinced…), it has certainly earned its spot in my travel wardrobe over the past five months.

Since it shines brightest on quick weekend getaways on budget airlines, my fondness for this bag has piqued my interest in the Lo & Son’s Pearl bag for longer getaways (or when I have a carry-on allowance!). As always, I’ll be sure to share my thoughts on it if I add it to my bag collection.

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Questions for you

Did I miss any of your burning questions about the Waverley 2?

What is one feature you’ve always wanted to see in a handbag?

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One Comment on “In the Bag: A Review of the Lo & Sons Waverley 2 Convertible Purse”

Melissa | Welcome Objects says:

March 15, 2024 at 1:23 pm

I love this bag. I have an earlier version in Nappa leather. I don’t baby it and wear it a ton, so it’s gotten scratched. If I get another one, I’m definitely trying the Saffiano.