Linjer Sofia Bag Review & What Fits Inside

To celebrate the release of the Linjer Sofia Bag in the colour ‘cognac’, I wanted to share a review and peek at what fits inside. At this point, I’m pretty well versed with their leather goods. And if there’s one thing I can say straight off the bat, it’s that you can rely on the brand for a well made bag using high quality materials; on par with any of the designer bags I own.

Wearing Jenni Kayne dress (JamieLee15 for 15% off); YSL slides; Linjer Sofia Bag

To give some context to my bag preferences, I currently have a newborn (and toddler) so my necessities when I leave the house extend beyond just myself. That said, I like to keep a crossbody with things I need within easy reach on my person. A second bag – typically a tote – is always thrown in the bottom of the pram with essentials for the kids.

Quick Facts

Price: $595 AUD // $385 USD
Available in two colours: black and cognac
Made in: Thailand
Fabric: Smooth Italian leather with linen lining
Dimensions: 25cm wide (at bottom), 12cm deep, 19.5cm tall (without handles), 12.5cm handle drop

Size + What Fits Inside

Linjer’s Sofia Bag is larger than their Crossbody or Lana Bags, yet I’d still class it as a “small” bag. I think in part as the structural dimensions mean you aren’t able to squeeze in an A5 notebook, something I’d expect to easily fit into a “medium”-sized bag. On the spectrum, it’s also considerably smaller than the Bowler Bag, both in depth and height.

This in-between sizing means you have room for more than just the essentials. Internally is one large compartment, with a small slip pocket on one side, and a zip pocket on the other. Above (and listed below) is a peek at what I’m able to fit inside, with room to spare. It’s worth noting that you can also fit a Kindle in here too; I just couldn’t figure out where I’d stashed mine. 

• iPhone
• Small compact camera
• Cardholder
• Key case + additional key fob
• Naked Sundays Hydrating Mist
• Sunglasses
• Lip Products (Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color, Tarte & Lipsmacker)
• Bluetooth headphones
• Small fragrance
• Hand cream/sanitiser
• Mask + Hair Bobbles

Quality/Wear & Tear

I pretty casually tend to throw around the remark that I don’t think you need to spend thousands to get a designer quality bag. And Linjer continues to be an excellent example of that. The quality of the Linjer Sofia Bag stands on its own against my designer bags. 

The leather used is vachetta leather, which will patina and deepen in colour with time. It’s a smooth leather (so yes, prone to marks/scratches), which I appreciate for two reasons; the first is that is has this elegantly soft sheen when the light hits it. The second, is that it feels more elevated and luxurious than a pebbled leather might. It’s just a matter of being mindful about where you “throw it around”. I also think that the contrast leather lining at the opening of the bag is a fun touch.

Aside from the leather trim at the opening, the interior is fully lined with premium Italian linen. This has some heft to it and adds texture to the bag. Plus I like that it’s also visible at the sides. It really seems to reinforce the feeling that this is a great option for the spring and summer months in particular (though truly, it’s a year-rounder).

Hardware is a pale gold, which I’ve never had any issues with from Linjer; their soft colour doesn’t fade, nor have I seen it chip on my other bags.

Perhaps the only thing it’s missing are feet at the base of the bag. It’s one of my favourite details of the Crossbody Bag and would have been nice to see it replicated here, for that additional bit of protection. 

It’s reasonably early days still, but I’ve not gotten a single scratch on the bag yet – it still looks like new.

Linjer Sofia Bag Final Thoughts

Wrapping up with some final thoughts on the Linjer Sofia Bag. Over the years I’ve come to know what to expect from a Linjer bag, and this beauty did not disappoint. Perhaps the only surprise for me, if anything, was that it was roomier than I was anticipating. 

To me it feels like a great option for the office. While it’s not large enough to fit a laptop, a smaller notebook will fit perfectly. It’s structured and feels classically elegant, but the design notes have a lot of personality to them. That peekaboo linen cut-out being a major one. 

Branding is kept to a minimum; barely visible save for a detachable leather tab on the handle. And you can easily flip this over for a “plain” tag if you’d prefer. Feels very discreet and not at all loud.

I think the size is great, especially considering it feels reasonably compact against the body. Not too cumbersome or deep to be worn crossbody, and the strap drop is large enough to comfortably fit over the crook of your arm. The crossbody strap is detachable (and adjustable) too, allowing you to easily customise the way you choose to wear it. 

It will age beautifully over time thanks to the vachetta leather. Yes, it’s a smooth leather so more delicate than a pebbled leather option. But with care and regular maintenance, it should hold up well. Plus, I like to think that any little nicks and scratches only add to the story of a leather good over its lifespan.

Ultimately if the Linjer Sofia Bag makes your heart skip a beat, I say go for it. 

If you have any questions I may have missed about this bag, do let me know in the comments! X