I was looking for a bag that would hang cross-body, and would hold my PDA, calculator, and other somewhat bulky items, yet still look “feminine.” This bag is made of some sort of nylon (I think), definitely not leather, as you can tell by the photos. I also didn’t want a big purse/bag, like the gigantic “hobo” bags stores carry. I got the black version of this one, and find it suits my needs very well. I bought a decorative black fluer-de-lis patch and super-glued it onto the middle of one side to make it look a little dressier, and am pleased with it. After owning this for about a month, I don’t miss my old purse at all, and can easily find everything now, thanks to the many zippered pouches. My PDA doesn’t fit in the outside holder on the side (PDA is too wide) but it does fit in the middle zipper pocket on top, which is only about 4 inches deep. Bag is great for every day use. It doesn’t swing out in front of me when I’m bending over, which allows for hands-free use. This is an important feature when you have two small children you need to hang onto instead!