Bespoke Post DISPATCH Box Review & Coupon – August 2015

 Bespoke Post is a men’s lifestyle subscription box. Each month, you’ll get to choose from one of the limited-edition boxes filled with an array of products built around a central, unique theme. There are usually two or three new boxes to choose from every month in addition to a selection of past boxes. One of the great things about this subscription is that you can skip the month if you’re not interested in it. Save $9 on your first box with coupon code FREEBEER.

The latest Bespoke Post is Dispatch — a handsome and versatile canvas briefcase, complete with some correspondence cards and envelopes.  The set is meant to outfit you with a professional bag suitable for wear to all manner of business and social activities.This box may still be available – subscribers always have a choice of previous collections. Check out Bespoke Post to see what’s on sale!

The booklet gives some description of the bag and tips on using the cards.  Some pointers on the importance of dropping a thank you note are offered, as well as guidance on format and content.  

Set of 4 Correspondence Cards:  Each card is made on dimpled, high-quality eggshell stationary paper thick enough to be used as yardstick.  Each features a small black and white sketch of a 19th Century invention and comes with a grey envelope.  

Line of Trade Slim Canvas Briefcase:  The exterior of the bad is made of super-tough “16 oz” waxed canvas, paired with veg-tanned leather handles and loops for the strap rings.  

The Canvas is lightly waxed, which should provide some water-resistance.  I remember the tents we had at scout camp as a youth — waxed canvas was the material of choice for tents, and it was the water-proofing of choice in the old west, before synthetic fabrics were available.  The booklet doesn’t claim any water-resistant properties, but canvas of this sort will usually do fine in repelling a sprinkle or a dusting of snow (but I wouldn’t leave it out in a downpour!).

I chose the brown bag, and it has a very Carhartt-ish look to it, though the color is a little deeper and less yellow than the classic color of the workingman’s favorite.  It has some character and a weathered look to it already, and it is well-complemented by the brown leather straps.  It was also offered in black, grey, and blue.  I believe the black was sold out when I ordered, and the I thought the grey and blue too pretty for a soft briefcase.  I think the brown has a nice professorial or workman-like appeal.  The exterior has a newspaper pocket, and a soft cotton weave adjustable shoulder strap can be attached. 

The interior is lined with smooth black material that should be easy to wipe clean from crumbs and cruft.  Two half-width pockets are on one side of the interior, and a snap-shut laptop compartment is on the other.  The compartment can accommodate a 15” laptop.  It is padded and secures with a leather strap and snap enclosure.  

Veg tanning is a process that leaves the leather tough and firm, creating a surface finish that ages and darkens with wear.  The result is a product that becomes customized to your usage over time, developing a rich patina fitting for an heirloom piece.  The handles are cleverly designed to nest one under the other, so they fit comfortably in your hand.  

A note on the styling of the case.  When carried the handles are long enough so the bag hangs below the trim of a long jacket and will not rub on your hip — but it is just short enough to prevent the case from being characterized as a “murse.”  The handles also pass through the seam and are attached on the interior of the bag, distinguishing it from its feminine counterpart.  It is truly a soft-side briefcase, and the stiff, rectangular profile is not tapered — the width is also slim.  The booklet states that the slimness is a way to maintain the comfort and functionality, but its chief object is preventing the case from losing its slim, masculine profile and bulging into a handbag.  If you opt for the messenger bag configuration, the included strap has a spring clasp gym bag type mechanism avoiding an over-delicate appearance.  I believe extra pull tabs on the double zippers were excluded for styling purposes as well.  

The metal rivets and strap rings are finished to have the appearance of aged brass, and they go well with the brown color I selected for the canvas.  The zipper is brass-colored and heavy-duty, extending 3/4 of the way sewn each side of the case.

https://youtu.be/6zBXUltAl5A&rel=0

You can also see my video review of this box!

Bespoke Post is one of my favorite boxes.  It always has some really cool gear available, and each item offered is heirloom quality.  I like the great utility of what they offer, as well:  I use some version of what they sell, from grooming, to cooking, to wardrobe items, everyday — Bespoke Post just offers me a far upgraded version to elevate my style.  

Visit Bespoke Post to sign up or to find out more or to subscribe!