The Row E/W Margaux Bag Review

A work-capable Margaux with a longer, sharper silhouette

The E/W Margaux is for someone who wants a serious day bag in a less traditional shape.

Compared with the Margaux 15, the long, low proportions give it a sharper look while still offering the capacity for a full day, including a laptop.

This review looks at how the E/W and Margaux 15 differ in proportion, carry, and everyday use — and which one makes more sense for your wardrobe.

The Row Margaux E/W compared with the Margaux 15, highlighting the East/West’s lower, more elongated silhouette.

At a Glance

Best For: A spacious day bag that can handle work and everyday use

Carry Style:  Hand, crook-of-arm or short shoulder carry

Vibe: Polished, understated, and slightly unexpected

Strengths: Sleek proportions, wide interior, laptop capacity

Not Ideal If: You want easy shoulder carry or prefer more vertical storage

Price: $5,600 (Grained calfskin)

Compared with the Margaux 15 and Shoulder 12, the East/West offers a different balance of capacity and carry style. For a deeper look at each, see the Margaux 15 and Shoulder 12 reviews.

Specification Comparison: East/West vs. Margaux 15 vs. Shoulder 12

Specification	E/W	Margaux 15	Shoulder 12
Length	~17 in.	15 in.	14.75 in.
Height	~8 in.	11 in.	9 in.
Depth	~9.5 in.	9 in.	5 in.
Carry Style	Top handle, Short shoulder carry	Top handle	Shoulder carry
Handle Drop	~6.5 in.	6 in.	~10 in.
Crossbody Strap	—	—	—
Leather Options	Grained, Polished Saddle, Suede	Grained, Polished Saddle, Suede	Grained, Polished Saddle
Lining	Lambskin	Cotton herringbone, Lambskin, Suede	Lambskin
Capacity	13" laptop (horizontal)	Laptop	Large iPad
Best For	Work, travel or everyday	Work, travel or everyday	Shoulder wear & versatility
Starting Price (Grained)	$5,600	$4,700	$4,900

Where to Buy the Row E/W Margaux

The E/W Margaux is a modern take on The Row’s core Margaux collection and is typically available through the brand’s boutiques, official website, and select luxury retailers. Materials can rotate seasonally, and pieces can also be found on the resale market.

Current sourcing options:

• The Row — Official online store

• Mytheresa— Authorized luxury retailer

• Fashionphile— Resale marketplace

Design & Craftsmanship

The E/W Margaux feels expensive before you even get to the details. The long horizontal body gives the leather more room to show, while the precise construction keeps the shape polished and unmistakably The Row.

In grained calfskin, the surface has a rich, tactile depth that also makes the bag more forgiving in everyday use. The textured finish helps disguise small scratches and surface marks, which makes it especially well suited to workdays, travel, and frequent wear.

The leather feels substantial without becoming rigid. It holds the E/W’s long shape beautifully, then softens slightly over time without losing the structure that gives the bag its clean line.

Inside, the E/W Margaux is fully lined in lambskin, like the Shoulder 12. That gives it a more luxurious interior finish than the Margaux 15, which uses a herringbone lining. The toggle closure remains discreet and functional, while the clean stitching, smooth edges, and restrained hardware keep the focus on the leather and shape.

Four protective feet support the base, helping the bag stand upright while keeping the leather away from direct surface contact.

The E/W is not part of the permanent core Margaux lineup, but it appears frequently in seasonal releases, including in polished calfskin and suede

For a deeper leather comparison, see our Polished vs. Matte Grained leather guide.

The Row E/W Margaux in Night Navy, highlighting the lambskin-lined interior, close-up texture of the grained calfskin, and palladium gusset buckle.

Style & Presence

The E/W Margaux gives the familiar Margaux silhouette a different look through proportion.

The long, low shape keeps the design recognizably Margaux, but changes the balance enough to feel fresher and less expected — especially if you already know the classic silhouette well.

In Night Navy, that effect becomes even more subtle. The color can look almost black in lower light, but has enough blue to feel softer and less predictable. It works easily with black, grey, camel, cream, denim, and navy while adding more depth to those combinations.

The wider shape also changes how the bag works with an outfit. It pairs especially well with tailoring, knitwear, coats, and trousers, adding a strong horizontal line without making the overall look feel too structured. That gives it the same broad wardrobe range as the rest of the Margaux line, while still making the E/W feel distinct enough to earn its own place.

Despite its length, the E/W does not feel oversized. The lower profile keeps the bag sleek, while the familiar Margaux shape keeps it grounded.

The E/W is for someone who likes the Margaux but wants a version that feels a little less expected.

Functionality & Fit

The E/W Margaux uses its longer shape to spread essentials across the base rather than stacking them vertically. A 13-inch laptop fits comfortably, with room for a wallet, pouch, bottle, and smaller essentials.

The wider opening also makes the interior easy to see and reach throughout the day, which is especially useful for work or travel.

The toggle closure keeps access simple while preserving the clean exterior and structured shape.

The Row E/W Margaux in Night Navy vs. Margaux 10 in Black — elongated capacity and a strong horizontal line vs. compact structure and top-handle polish.

What Fits Inside

The East/West Margaux carries more than the Shoulder 12 and slightly less than the Margaux 15, with a layout that emphasizes width over height.

• Phone

• Wallet

• Sunglasses

• Keys

• Large pouch

• Water bottle

• 13" laptop

Because of the bag’s lower height, items sit side-by-side rather than stacking vertically, giving the interior a wider, flatter organization style.

The Row E/W Margaux in Night Navy shown with a 13-inch laptop positioned between the gusset folds, plus work essentials fitting comfortably inside with room to spare.

Wearability

The E/W Margaux is designed mainly for hand carry, the crook of the arm, or short shoulder carry.

The handle drop measures approximately 6.5 inches, slightly longer than the Margaux 15 at 6 inches. That extra half inch gives the E/W Margaux enough room to sit on the shoulder, although the fit is still relatively close and may be tighter over heavier outerwear.

The tapered top helps the bag sit close to the body, so the longer shape does not feel bulky or awkward when carried by hand, on the arm, or over the shoulder.

The structured base also helps the bag stand upright on its own and hold its shape, even when it is only lightly packed.

Longevity & Relevance

The E/W Margaux has the advantage of feeling familiar without feeling overexposed.

It keeps the details that make the Margaux recognizable, while the longer proportion gives it just enough difference from the classic 15 to feel less expected.

The luxurious leather, durable construction, and understated shape also make it easy to keep in regular rotation. The grained calfskin is forgiving enough for everyday use and softens gradually over time while still holding the shape well.

That balance is what gives the E/W staying power: it feels established enough to last, but distinctive enough to keep feeling like your own choice.

How the E/W Margaux Compares to the Margaux 15 and Shoulder 12

The Margaux 15, E/W Margaux, and Shoulder 12 can all work as substantial everyday bags, but they fill different roles. The Margaux 15 and E/W Margaux are similar in overall size, while the Shoulder 12 is closer in scale to the Margaux 12.

The Margaux 15 is the most traditional carryall for everyday use, work, or travel. Its taller proportions give you more vertical room, while the classic Margaux shape feels polished and familiar.

The Shoulder 12 also has an East/West silhouette, but its scale is much smaller. The long tubular handles make it the easiest of the three to carry. It works best as an everyday shoulder bag, with a slimmer body and lighter role than either the 15 or E/W. It is the better choice if comfortable shoulder carry matters more than laptop capacity.

The E/W Margaux sits much closer to the 15 in capacity, but has a longer, lower shape. The silhouette is still recognizably Margaux, but the wider proportions give it a slightly different look. It still has room for a 13-inch laptop and a full day’s essentials. The handles are slightly longer than the 15’s, which allows short shoulder carry, though the fit is still close and may feel tight over outerwear.

Choose the Margaux 15 if you want the classic Margaux shape with the most flexible capacity for everyday use, work, or travel.

Choose the Shoulder 12 if you want the easiest shoulder carry in a slimmer, more compact Margaux.

Choose the E/W Margaux if you want similar large-bag capacity in a lower, sleeker shape that feels a little less expected.

Side view of The Row Margaux 10 in Black, Margaux 12 in Smoked Taupe, Shoulder 12 in Deep Brown, E/W Margaux in Night Navy, and Margaux 15 in Black — showing the progression from compact day carry to full workday capacity.

Final Take

Most bags with enough room for work or travel end up looking like totes. The E/W Margaux still looks like a modern handbag.

Its longer shape gives you space for a laptop and a full day’s essentials, but the tapered top, short handles, and familiar Margaux details keep the bag feeling polished rather than purely functional. The slightly longer handles also give you the option of short shoulder carry, adding another way to wear the bag without changing its handbag-like proportions.

Compared with the Margaux 15, the E/W feels a little less traditional and more distinctive; compared with the smaller Margaux sizes, it gives you the capacity they cannot.

That is what makes the E/W different from many larger carryalls. It gives you the room you need without making the bag feel like something chosen only for practicality.

The E/W Margaux is for someone who wants the room of a carryall, the polish of a handbag, the option of short shoulder carry, and a Margaux that feels a little less expected.

Explore More From The Row

• Margaux Size Guide — how each size carries in daily use

• Margaux 10 vs Shoulder 12— a detailed comparison of the smaller Margaux silhouettes

• Margaux 15 Review — a detailed comparison of size, capacity, and wearability

• Peggy Review— a closer look at the Peggy’s streamlined shape, versatile carry, and everyday functionality

• Marlo vs Peggy— comparing two everyday alternative silhouettes to the Margaux

• Agnes 12 Review — an in-depth look at the silhouette

• Grained vs Nubuck Leather Guide — how The Row’s calfskin finishes differ for the Agnes

• Suede vs Nubuck Leather Guide — how the two finishes differ in texture, appearance, and durability

• Polished vs Matte Grained Leather — how The Row’s calfskin finishes differ

• Park Tote Size Guide— how each size carries in daily use

• VB Picks — browse more refined statement pieces and standout designer bags

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