This little thing has solved my handbag problem
29.4.2025
Translation: Elicia Payne
Pictures: Stephanie Vinzens
Unsure where to put your bag in a restaurant or café? This hook from Philippi has the answer – and it looks surprisingly elegant. I tested it for an entire month.
With a handbag, going to a restaurant becomes a logistical challenge. Do I put it on the floor? Unhygienic. On the seat next to me? Usually occupied. Hang it over the backrest? Depending on the chair and handle, this may not be possible – and no-one likes to leave their valuables out of sight. So there’s nothing left to do but dine with the thing on your lap.
At least that’s how I felt, until my colleague Pia Seidel announced she’d found the perfect product for me: a beautiful bag holder. Although I knew these little everyday aids existed, I’d previously dismissed them as unsightly junk. The fact that they’re also available in a high-quality and stylish design was new to me. Curiosity awakened, I ordered the product.
Fulfils everything your first impression told you
The C model from German brand Philippi is presented in a black box with a leather-style case and looks promising the moment you unpack it. The no-frills, solid hook in matt gold has a sophisticated look and could easily pass for a piece of jewellery. It’s lightweight, but looks sturdy.
The C-shaped design is well balanced and the flat oval surface at the top has an anti-slip pad. This keeps the holder in place, even if I hit it with my elbow or bump my leg against the handbag. When it’s not being used, you can safely stow it away in your bag thanks to the velvet-lined case, and it takes up very little space.
But C isn’t just for tables. You can use the small tool wherever you need a hook. I’ve already successfully hooked it to chair backs, shelves and door handles.
Just a few drawbacks
As versatile as the mount may be, there are surfaces it’s not compatible with. This has happened to me twice so far: with my USM Haller table at home and a table apron in a restaurant. The opening of the C-shaped hook measures around 5.5 centimetres. Table tops rarely exceed this, unless – as in the cases mentioned above – they’re models with a wide frame.
For comparison, I ordered three more bag hooks: one from Novidarte and two from Alessi. The openings were about the same size, and none of the hooks could be attached to my USM Haller table.
A holder like these also turns out to be useless for some bags. For example, if the length including the handle is greater than the distance between the table top and the floor. In other words, models with a long shoulder strap. Still, I only have one incompatible item in my collection: a large leather bag with a long shoulder strap. As I mainly use it as a work bag, I rarely take it to restaurants anyway.
Caution with white surfaces
It’s a common problem with holders like these to have restrictions with certain table and bag designs. But one small issue specific to C from Philippi is that the black stopper, the practical part, can leave residue behind. I only noticed this after almost four weeks when I slid the hook across a white table to reposition it. At first I was worried that I’d damaged a (very expensive) piece of furniture. But then I was relieved to discover that the dark streaks could easily be rubbed away with my finger. Thank goodness.
In a nutshell
I’m a fan – despite one small flaw
After more than a month with C, one question in particular comes to mind: why didn’t I discover this thing earlier?! The bag hook’s proven to be extremely useful during numerous visits to cafés and restaurants and is also nice to look at – a definite must-have for me. I’m happy to forgive the fact it’s not compatible with every single table and bag in the world. What bothers me more is that the anti-slip pad can leave residue on white surfaces. Still, it makes the hook more stable and any marks can be easily wiped away with a finger, so I can get over it.
Pro
- Super practical in everyday life
- Elegant, sturdy design
- Comes with its own case
Contra
- Not suitable for tables with a deep skirting and bags with a long shoulder strap
- Can leave (easily removable) dark residues
Header image: Stephanie Vinzens
Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.
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