A woman stood at the counter last week with a Ventura in one hand and a Rockababy in the other, looking back and forth like she was choosing a puppy. "I love this little one," she said, "but am I going to get it home and find my sunglasses don't fit?"
That is the real question. Not which Bed Stu bag is prettiest, because they all are. It is which size you will still be reaching for in March, once the newness has worn off and you just need your stuff to fit. We have had this conversation on the shop floor hundreds of times, so here it is written down — real measurements, what actually goes inside, and how to figure out your size before you buy instead of after.
Bed Stu bags come in three size families
We group them small, mid-size, and large, because that is how women shop for them. Shapes vary a lot within each group, but capacity lands in the same ballpark.
Small: 8 to 9.5 inches wide
These are the going-out, one-errand, hands-free bags. The Ventura at $154.99 measures 8 inches wide, 7 high, and 3.5 deep, with an adjustable 24-inch strap drop — a zip-top crossbody with two interior zip pockets and one outside. Phone, keys, card wallet, lipstick, a small pack of wipes. Not a water bottle.
The Hidden at $244.99 is 8.5 by 7.5 by 2.75 inches with a fringe front, a top handle, and a magnetic flap. The Keiki at $234.99 runs 9 by 8 by 2.5 inches with woven side panels. The Occurrence at $258.99 is 8 by 6 by 3 inches with a studded flap, and the strap comes off so it becomes a clutch. The Abundance at $219.99 is 9.5 by 6 by 2.5 inches with a scrap-leather patchwork front, so no two look alike.
Browse them all in BedStu Small Leather Bags.
Mid-size: your everyday bag
This is where most women end up, and our sales back that up — the Rockababy has moved more dollars than any other Bed Stu bag we carry this past year. At $294.99 it is 14 inches wide, 9 high, and 4 deep, with padded shoulder straps plus a removable crossbody strap, a zip top, an outer zip pocket, an inner zip, and two slip pockets. It holds a full wallet, a water bottle, sunglasses, and snacks without looking stuffed.
The Venice Beach at $239.99 is the other one people land on — 9.5 inches wide, 10 high, 2 deep, with a 15-inch strap drop and a buckle flap. Taller and flatter than the Rockababy, so it sits close to your body and is lovely for travel, but that 2-inch depth is not for bulky things.
If you like the Rockababy shape, the Rockababy SL at $334.99 has the same 14 by 9 by 4 dimensions with a no-waste patchwork front panel. The full range is in BedStu Mid-Size Leather Bags.
Large: when you are carrying for other people
The Rockaway at $344.99 is the one. It measures 14 inches wide at the top, 18 at the base, 12 high, and 5 deep, with a magnetic top closure, a detachable long strap, two inner zip pockets, two slip pockets, and an outer zip pocket on the back. This is the bag for the ball field, the airport, and the office. Also in Black Lux and Teak Rustic.
To carry the weight on both shoulders instead, the Howie Backpack at $364.99 is 14 inches high, 12.5 wide, and 4 deep, with a laptop sleeve inside and a large exterior slip pocket for a tablet. The rest live in BedStu Large Leather Bags.
Before you pick, empty your current bag onto the counter
This is what we tell everyone, and it works. Dump out whatever you are carrying right now and look at it honestly. Not what you wish you carried — what is actually in there.
- If it is a phone, keys, a card wallet, and a lip balm, you are a small bag person and a mid-size will swallow it all and annoy you.
- If there is a water bottle, a full wallet, sunglasses, and a snack, you are mid-size. Depth of 4 inches or more.
- If you carry anything for anyone else — a kid's jacket, a tablet, a change of shoes — go large and get the 5-inch depth.
- If your shoulders ache by the end of the day, look at the Beau at $259.99, a one-arm sling backpack at 10 by 9 by 2.5 inches, or the Howie for a true two-strap backpack.
Strap drop matters more than people expect
Two bags can be the same size and sit completely differently on you. Strap drop is the distance from your shoulder to the top of the bag. The Ventura adjusts to a 24-inch drop, which lands around the hip on most women. The Venice Beach has a 15-inch drop, so it sits higher, closer to the waist. The Cadence comes with a 25-inch crossbody strap plus a shorter clutch strap.
If you are petite, a 24- or 25-inch drop may need shortening, and the adjustable straps handle that. If you are tall or carrying over a winter coat, the longer drops are your friend. Anything near 15 inches reads more like a shoulder bag than a true crossbody.
The three-in-ones are a category of their own
A couple of pieces blur the line between wallet and bag, and they solve the days when you do not want to carry a bag at all.
The Cadence at $169.99 is 8 inches wide and 5 high, and goes from compact wallet to crossbody to clutch, with a mesh ID slot, card slots, a magnetic closure, and both straps included. The Templeton II at $184.99 is 9 by 5.5 by a quarter inch empty, zips around three sides, and holds 12 cards plus an ID window. Tuck it into a tote on a work day, pull it out on its own for dinner.
Wallets and belts, which nobody thinks to ask about
If you are not ready to spend on a bag, or you are shopping for someone else, start here. The Chuck at $64.99 is a 4 by 3 inch card wallet with two card slots per side and a center pocket for cash. The Carrie at $99.99 is the fuller option with multiple compartments, and the Jeor at $88.99 sits between them. The whole lineup is in Bed Stu Wallets for Women.
For belts, the Monae at $79.99 is a skinny three-quarter-inch full grain belt with a removable antique brass buckle, and the Dreamweaver at $109.99 is the statement version. Both are in Bed Stu Belts for Women.
Size is one decision, finish is the other
Once you know your size, the finish is the next fork, and it changes the look more than anything else. Rustic is the smoother, cleaner finish with a soft sheen. Lux is purposely distressed and worn-in. Dip Dye is hand-dipped for a gradient. The full breakdown is in Bed Stu Leather Finishes Explained, and if you have settled on the Venice Beach, every color we carry is laid out there.
All of it is chrome- and formaldehyde-free vegetable-tanned leather, handmade in León, Mexico. That is why these bags soften and darken instead of cracking and peeling, and why a Bed Stu bag at year three often looks better than it did on day one.
Questions we get asked at the register
Does a Bed Stu bag stretch out over time?
The leather softens and relaxes, so a bag that felt structured when new will slouch a little and sit closer to your body. Capacity does not meaningfully change — if a bag is tight on your essentials in the store, it will still be tight in six months.
Will a laptop fit in any of them?
The Howie Backpack is the one designed for it, with an interior laptop sleeve and an exterior tablet pocket. The Rockaway, at 5 inches deep and 18 wide at the base, handles a smaller laptop but was not built around one.
What size do most women buy?
Mid-size, by a wide margin. The Rockababy and the Venice Beach are our two top sellers. If you are torn between small and mid-size, mid-size is the safer buy — an under-filled bag is an inconvenience, an over-filled one gets abandoned in the closet.
Can I wear a crossbody as a shoulder bag?
On most styles, yes. The Rockababy has padded shoulder straps built in plus a removable crossbody strap, and the Rockaway has a detachable long strap over its shorter handles. The Ventura and Keiki straps are removable and adjustable.
Do the colors vary from the photos?
Slightly, and that is the nature of hand-finished leather. Each piece is dyed by hand, so two bags in the same colorway are not identical. The variation is in depth and character, not a different color entirely. If an exact match matters, call the shop and we will walk you through what is on the shelf.
How do I care for the leather?
Keep it out of standing water, let it dry on its own if it gets caught in the rain, and condition it a couple of times a year. Skip saddle soap and anything with silicone. Scratches are part of the finish — rub them with a clean finger and most blend right in.
Shop Bed Stu at The Farmhouse
Everything we carry is in Shop All BedStu Bags and Accessories, or go straight to your size: small, mid-size, or large. If you came for footwear, Bed Stu Boots for Women is over here.
And if you are anywhere near us, come hold them. Measurements on a screen only get you so far — the moment you put a Rockababy on your shoulder you know in about four seconds whether it is yours. We are at 317 E Beale Street in Kingman, Arizona, right on Historic Route 66, open Monday through Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 5, and Sunday 11 to 3. Bring the bag you carry now and we will dump it out on the counter together.