For instance, why must it be so impossible to find a good tote without paying $500 or more? One with long enough straps so that you can comfortably carry it on your shoulder? A tote that doesn’t weigh a ton, and isn’t all tricked out with unnecessary hardware and frippery? Because I have been looking, and I am tired.
I don’t mind this waxed cotton number from Drake & Hen, though. It skews utilitarian but not oppressively so, and is lined with navy striped ticking. Linings make such a difference. Sometimes I’ll be on the fence about buying a bag or a jacket, and then I’ll notice that they’ve done something fantastic with the lining and I’m totally there.
Madewell‘s Transport tote is delightfully free of frou, and fantastically lightweight. I like it in brown, too.
The boppy little red and white straps on this Aubin & Wills bag make me happy.
I love everything about this Margiela tote: it’s, roomy, it’s pared-down, and it’s on sale.
This Jerome Dreyfuss bag might just need to be mine enough for me to head down to Creatures of Comfort later this afternoon to make it mine. At which point I will probably learn that they’ve only got it in their L.A. store.
I try to stay away from beautiful suede things, because I tend to destroy them as fast as I can get my hands on them. But is this not the most insane shade of blue?
I have my eye on that Madewell tote. I almost bought one of their striped or polka dotted ones yesterday but they are final sale and I’m not a final sale kind of woman.. Also, I think this one is seasonless.
My favorite tote is the large tote by Longchamp. I have several in all different colors.
I’ve gotta tell you, I got an amazing tote from ArtifactBags on Etsy and I couldn’t be happier.
Beautifully handmade.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtifactBags?ref=seller_info
Thanks for posting this. His bags are simple and gorgeous.
Those are really nice bags. Thanks for the link.
Steven Alan has these in their men’s store:
http://www.stevenalan.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-stevenalan-Site/default/Search-Show?q=tote-bag-red-label
I also love this guy:
http://www.shopthomaspaul.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=tote&Submit=Search
The Clare Vivier La Tropezienne tote in brown is pretty fantastic. Mine has treated me very well. Big but not too giant.
i like Makr’s bags as well
http://makr.com/#product=canvas-and-leather-a-strap-tote-green
and there is a sweet collaboration with Geoff McFetridge:
http://makr.com/#product=geoff-mcfetridge-farm-tote-less-crowded
I could have written your intro to this blog…my sentiments exactly and every woman’s dilemma. Try to make a man understand this problem of picking out totes/purses, it’s comical.
I always buy mine in Kyoto.
http://www.ichizawashinzaburohanpu.co.jp/products/item.html?n=h-12
Strong canvas bags size 14×13 inches for $130.
There is only one store in the world. Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu Kaban Kyoto.
http://www.shift.jp.org/guide/kyoto/fashion/ichizawa-shinzaburo-hanpu.html
By the way I told Naoya Hatakeyama that you are a fan of his work. I send him the link to the NYT article and he was delighted!
Your first link is my favorite tote so far. I hate it when a tote bag falls over every time you set it down. It’s beyond irritating. Ideally, the handles would stand up by themselves too. I’m not surprised a good tote would be designed in Japan.
Love that Drake and Hen bag – and have picked up that Madewell tote about a dozen times. The perennial problem!
I love this one from Zara.
http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-S2012/189512/873043/PLAITED%2BSHOPPER
I bought that Zara tote. It actually does look pretty nice in real life, but the long strap broke the 3rd time I wore it, and it is HUGE — almost the size of a brown paper grocery bag.
Only recently came across your blog from the NYT article, and I’ve become a “fast fan” vicariously shopping through your wonderful finds and links.
Since you’re currently talking bags, wanted to add a Portland, OR designer/manufacturer I fell in love with this year. You just know when a bag, its style is right for you.
I have absolutely no connection to this company, just admiration for how she’s doing business, such as handmade in Portland, environmentally-sustainably made and no two bags are the same. http://www.bd503.com
To add to the suggestions, I have been using a bag from Bees’netta from Etsy for awhile now.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Beesnetta?page=1
Mine is dipped canvas and is simply indestructible. Next up I have my eye on one of her leather totes. They come packaged beautifully too which is a nice little bonus.
I got this tote in light blue at a Ross for 39 bucks! of course it was the only one and as fate would have it I got it. That’s why I love the discount stores, when you find that great bargain you feel like the shopping gods made it happen just for you.
http://shop.brics.it/product_view.asp?l=usa&c=usa&dept_id=2016&sku=bx135512%2D034%2D00&search=1
My fave is the gorgeous suede blue one
Marti