THE NEW TOTE BAG
You can’t escape it…sometimes you just have a lot of stuff. It’s summer, so what with the water bottle, sunglasses in their protective Burberry case and various must-haves for work, kids and well, life, you need a larger bag. So yes, a great tote should be multi-purpose; look for one that can easily switch from grocery bag to beach bag, from picnic bag to overnight bag. A great tote is also essential for all of us fashion-conscious busy people, and designers are ready with this season’s hippest looks.
Just to be clear, these are NOT the free gift you got for your donation to NPR or those that shout a cute KEEP CALM phrase. We’re talking top of the line, classy totes just begging to hang on your shoulder and carry your particulars. A plethora of the latest True Fashionistachoices await, so you can tote with the best of the rest, girl!
THE STRAW TOTE
A straw tote bag is a necessary component of one’s essential summer collection, whether you’re off to a music festival, beach time, or casual afternoon at a friend’s pool. A roomy Balenciaga, Kate Spade or Stella McCartney can easily fit your sunscreen, book-you-swear-you’re-gonna-start and other necessities; however, cautions Fashion Wanderer, it’s important to choose the best summer straw tote bags that both align with your body type and your wardrobe collection. Yes, there’s actually a science to carrying the correct straw tote, as indicated below by FW:
- Pear shape: Try a medium sized bag with bright and colorful details. In addition, consider embellishments around the handle or on the bag to distract focus away from wide hips.
- Apple shape: Avoid tiny and mini sized bags with short handles. Go with straw tote bags that feature longer handles to carry over the arm.
- Athletic shape: If you have an athletic or angular body shape, pick opposite silhouettes such as round, half-moon, or circular straw tote bags to provide balance.
There are even straw totes to satisfy both your inner fashion maven and its socially conscious sister. Totes created by Cesta Collective are handmade by (both talented AND competitively paid) female artisans in Rwanda, Africa, using carefully chosen, sustainable materials. In a recent Voguefeature, Cesta cofounder Courney Weinblatt Faciano stated, “It’s not just enough to make beautiful things, we wanted to build a business on a larger framework of doing good in the world.”
ERGONOMICALLY SPEAKING
We all say we’re not going to overfill our totes, but hey it happens. Thankfully in 2019 science has caught up and True Fashionista ergonomic single-strap backpacks have made an appearance just in time to save your back and shoulder. You want to work out with a trainer and not a physical therapist, right? Two top designers offer great leather choices, namely the Chanel Caviar Sling Backpack and Louis Vuitton Hobo Bag.
The nineties revival continues with the raging return of fanny packs, redesigned and upgraded to chic crossbody and bodybag status. In fact, some are downright large enough to pass as tote bags, so feel free to load ‘em up!
For busy moms who have graduated out of the diaper bag, BetweenCarpoolshas got you covered with stylish and roomy suggestions from Everland, Vera Bradley and more.
Outdoor enthusiasts ready for all types of weather AND style will enjoy the LastBag tote by eqpd, located in the tiny town of Twisp, WA. Gear Junkiesays these open-end totes are designed to always stand up and offer simple, open pockets for lots of organization. Plus, they’re durable. Made from the same material used for whitewater rafts, they have a tear strength of 90 pounds. Now that’ll stand up to even the toughest NYC street scene!
Make sure to visit True Fashionistas Resalein store and online for a lovely selection of tote bags. Our inventory is updated daily!