When we talk power dressing, the sharp suits and big shoulders instantly enter the room, trying to sell women the feeling of being acknowledged and recognised. And while I absolutely love a good blazer-and-trousers combo, it still falls short, because the piece that carries our real lives is missing.

When you are an editor, a laptop practically becomes an extra limb. You schlep it everywhere — drafting between meetings and press events, editing interviews in waiting rooms, firing off emails in taxis. I constantly spot colleagues who are perfectly put-together but juggling a laptop sleeve under one arm, a canvas tote or even a backpack alongside a fancy purse. Chic options that actually fit a laptop are painfully rare, and the result is universal: women across finance, tech, education (you name it) doing the same daily juggle.

Most of what is on offer — especially at the fashion-forward end of the market — is designed for what we are imagined to carry and not what we actually do. Yes, there are tote bags that can accommodate both the laptop and the weight of real life, but sometimes that is just not what you want. So you either end up with something too small for the laptop or too big and unstructured to hold its own as an accessory. What we need is simple: a bag that handles the kit and looks like it belongs with what we are wearing.

But the good news is, change is happening. More brands are catching on to the fact that women don’t just want “nice” bags — they want something that can carry their careers, literally and figuratively, without giving up on style. That matters, because true recognition starts where design meets reality and becomes considerate.

Wandler, for one, totally gets the assignment. Its Penelope Slouch, with the tagline “Made for office hours” proves that practical work bags don’t have to be boring. Meanwhile, the Penny suede-and-leather tote gives a sophisticated nod to all the canvas shoppers we have been hauling around for years, with the lookbook pairing it with a smaller shoulder bag (looks familiar, right?).

Then there is Saaj, with a whole IT-girl handbag line built to fit laptops ranging from 11 to 18 inches — plus all the daily hussle.

Even some luxury giants get the point: Celine’s Cabas New Luggage — a reimagined take on the house’s iconic design — finally balances form and function.

The progress isn’t comprehensive, but it is real — quietly shifting the game and signalling that working women, their actual load and their needs are being seen. And that, to me, is what makes a laptop bag one of the most quietly feminist fashion pieces of the moment.