Lo & Sons Aoyama review: The travel purse I never fly without

I did not inherit the purse girl gene from my mom. She has probably owned over 100 handbags, while I prefer one that can do it all. And as much as I'd love to pack a different purse for every outfit on vacation, I have neither the foresight nor the free space to do so.

A convertible design solves my problem. I first tested out the Aoyama 2 in the spring as my personal item on a flight, where it stowed neatly under the seat during takeoff. I then wore it as a clutch, shoulder bag, and crossbody throughout my vacation.

Now that I've spent this summer with the Aoyama 2, I'm even more convinced this is the one travel accessory to rule them all. It fits a ton, packs flat, and pops back up into an elegant-looking purse that takes me from early morning flights to late night dinner plans.

Is the Aoyama 2 a worthy upgrade?

Yes, the Aoyama 2 is better than the original. Though honestly, there's only two noticeable changes to its design. First, there's the strap — it still buckles, but there's no logo. Secondly: the key leash is elasticated, so now I can unlock my door without having to unclip them.

The branded strap was one of the main gripes that I and many others had with the Aoyama. I review clothing and shoes professionally, so it's nice to see a design team hear their people out. The original Aoyama held the top spot in our guide to the best crossbody bags until the 2.0 debuted.

Otherwise, this sheepskin leather bag still feels pliable and lightweight as I remember. Overall, I love the new version for the same reasons I loved the old one: it's convertible, spacious, and sophisticated.

It matches a week's worth of vacation outfits

I wore the Aoyama 2 to a wedding rehearsal dinner in downtown Tampa, and later on a hike with my mom through the wetlands. I'd call the style elegant yet understated, which gives you the freedom to style it with all your vacation outfits. I love how it's comfortable to wear for hours at a time, as the wide strap prevents any painful digging.

Travel writer Maria Yagoda tested out the Aoyama 2 on her trip to the Maldives. More recently, she wore it on a 19-hour flight (the longest direct flight in the world). "It's lightweight and really comfortable to wear," she writes. "The Aoyama 2 is an imperceptible 2 ounces heavier than the original Aoyama. It still feels like air on my shoulder, even when I've crammed it full of my Nintendo Switch 2 and other random debris I accumulate throughout a vacation."

It fits a ton and has a clever vertical pocket

One of my favorite features is the vertical zippered pocket, which lets me reach my phone without rummaging around inside the bag. I can even take it out while the bag is still on my shoulder, which is a major advantage any time I'm in a crowded subway car.

The Aoyama 2 can fit an entire hardcover book and still has room for my everyday essentials. It also has interior mesh pockets, so you can see the bag's contents more easily instead of blindly digging around for lip balm, keys, or AirPods.

Avoid the Ivory white leather

I learned the hard way not to choose the Ivory leather again. My first Aoyama got discolored because last summer I carried it with me everywhere like a toddler with a teddy bear. This time I chose Cognac, which has gold hardware that looks more elevated than plastic zippers on a nylon travel purse.

The bottom line

The fact that the Aoyama 2 works on so many levels gives me peace of mind when I travel. It's not only my favorite crossbody I've ever worn — it's high on my list of shoulder bags and clutches, too. I'm also not too proud to admit this is my choice bag when going to the movies. It can fit a box of Cheez-Its and a tallboy, is all I'll say.

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