The setting: Poste Brassiere, the bar/restaurant at Washington, D.C.'s très hip Hotel Monaco. The scene: a heady mix of lobbyists in Brooks Brothers suits and conservative ties, artsy types grabbing a drink after visiting the nearby American Art Museum, and casually dressed refugees from neighboring offices, all crammed into the narrow bar, forced inside by a steady October downpour. The strategy: Reaching the bar without knocking over any of the bathtub-sized martini glasses precariously balanced in the patrons' hands and joining my sister for a drink before heading for dinner. Eyes locked on my sibling, I slipped between two attractive women and made for the open bar stool.

She raised her eyebrows as I approached, but the coy smile that greeted me quickly evolved into light-bulb ah-ha moment of understanding as I lifted my shoulder bag over my head.

"I thought those women were checking you out when you walked by," she said with a grin. "Till I saw what you were carrying and realized they were just impressed by your bag."

All egos aside, could you blame them? The Waxwear Field Bag by Jack Spade is the most stylish bag I've ever slung over my shoulder. The woven-cotton exterior has been soaked in paraffin to increase fabric strength, abrasion resistance, and weatherproofing, and it held up to the steady pelt of that evening rainstorm without sacrificing its clean lines and svelte appearance. In short, the bag synchs stylishly with any attire, from being boardroom-bound in a three-button suit to terminal hopping in jeans and a T-shirt. But this is no mere aesthete's bag. Reinforced bottom corners, an angled and easily-adjustable shoulder strap, an exterior back pocket ideal for quick-access items (passport, boarding pass), and a snap-secure flap top the list of the functional features incorporated into this 15" by 4" by 11.5" messenger bag. Inside, you've got a massive main storage area with a secure zippered pocket and a front-end organizational pocket with leather slots for your cell phone, wallet, PDA, and other essentials. And while it did bruise my self-confidence a little to realize that the women had been checking out my bag and not me, at least I had the fortune to benefit from its impressive company.
$325; www.jackspade.com