The totes I do own have to be perfect: light, sturdy, not stupidly big but sufficiently capacious to house a laptop, a large cashmere scarf when I’m travelling and a growing Havanese puppy. They need to be properly constructed so that when they’re full, particularly of dog, the bottom panel doesn’t sag uncomfortably for the passenger. Ideally they should have a top zip to stop everything falling out and little rivets underneath so they don’t get scratched. The straps should be the right length to hook over the handles of a trolley suitcase. I’m less worried about having lots of compartments, as it’s more convenient to keep smaller items in pouches you can transfer quickly from one bag to another.
Black can be very smart but a cheering pop of colour that goes with everything – green for instance – is great too. Price isn’t always a guide to quality, although anything new in leather under £50 isn’t realistically a long-term keeper.
This Jasper Conran ticks a lot of boxes. But leather isn’t the be all and end all. Dior made canvas totes stupendously desirable. Arket and co have great padded ones (which can double up as pillows). Paul Smith’s latest collaboration takes stripy nylon to another level. Wipe-down too, just in case you-know-who has an aberration.
Five of the best tote bags to buy right now
Canvas, £60, Boden; Jacquard, £295, Kate Spade; Indigo motif, £299, Maje; Recycled nylon, £495, Anya Hindmarch; Leather, £725, Mulberry
Resisting can be as much of an art as acquiring, especially when it comes to tote bags, which are the crack of fashion shopping. They don’t require a changing room and harsh lighting to seal the deal, they can be colourful and they’re useful.
Up to a point.
Totes take up a lot of space, especially if you store them properly, with stuffing to maintain their shape. Personally I aim to keep my ‘collection’ to two. After that, if I’m ever given a tote for Christmas or a birthday, I apply the ‘one in, one out’ rule.
Following lockdown one I finally broke with the daily tote trudge. I ventured forth with just a small, stylish cross-body and one of those fold-up cotton bags for life in case. Much better for your posture.
And then Mabel entered my life. Back to the totes to cart around all her bits and bobs, and sometimes to cart around her. (Where else are you meant to hide a puppy when the bossy security person is telling you to tie her up outside? As if. Haven’t they seen what stolen pups sell for?)