What is a tote bag?

Every modern woman wants to have in her wardrobe the most versatile items that can be combined with each other without any problems. A tote bag is just such a thing, capable of complementing an ensemble in almost any style.

What kind of women's bag is this?

It has not gone out of fashion for many seasons and is suitable for shopping, the gym, the office and a business meeting - a tote bag, a faithful assistant to a business woman.

A simple model for any occasion, in which you can carry everything - from business documents to baby diapers and bottles - and at the same time look fashionable and stylish.

Interesting! Translated from English, “tout” means “carrying.”

Model description

The classic tote bag model is very laconic:

• rectangular shape with a pronounced bottom;
• big size;
• open top;
• only one compartment without pockets;
• handles are small or medium length.

You can carry this bag in your hand or on the crook of your elbow.

Over time, the accessory has changed slightly and acquired interesting design features:

• the shape can now be either rectangular, square or trapezoidal, with rounded corners or “basket”;
• a long shoulder strap is often added;
• A modern tote does not always have a rigid frame;
• Inside there are several compartments with zippers and buttons;
• the surface is decorated with various decorative metal elements and even embroidery.

All these innovations again forced fashionistas to pay attention to this bag and significantly increased the number of its fans.

What style does it suit?

A tote bag has the rare quality of versatility; it can be worn with almost any outfit.. It looks equally harmonious with jeans in a casual style and in a business look with pumps and a pencil skirt, and will make an excellent ensemble with a romantic country-style skirt and sportswear.

It’s only important to choose a bag of the right shape and from the right material so as not to “fall out” of your look.

Advantages and disadvantages

Each wardrobe item has its own shortcomings and strengths: some are combined only with certain things, some can only be worn by lucky owners of model figures, and some are intended exclusively for special moments.

However, such restrictions are removed from the tote bag, since almost any style of clothing welcomes such a partner. The disadvantages of this accessory might include some bulkiness, short handles and the presence of only one compartment, but these features have long ceased to be the exclusive characteristics of the model and are easily overcome by the imagination of designers.

The undoubted advantages include the relatively low price of the carrying bag. We are, of course, not talking about expensive branded models, but about things for everyday wear. Even made of genuine leather, such a bag is quite affordable for any urban fashionista..

What materials are they made from?

Leather bags look expensive and stylish and are chosen, as a rule, by business women as an accessory for the office and business meetings, which can accommodate a folder with documents and necessary women's small items. Genuine leather is the most practical and durable material, which is often subjected to special processing to create interesting effects.: aging, imitation reptile skin or varnish shine.

Suede, as a variant of leather, can also become a material for a tote; soft texture and velvet shine give the bag nobility and status.

Important! Often suede or nubuck are used as materials to combine with leather.

But handles or bottoms made of genuine leather are sometimes found in models made of canvas or jute, on the one hand, as a decorative addition, and on the other, as “strengthening” the most vulnerable places of bags.

Budget options are made from leatherette or eco-leather, made with high quality; these artificial materials are practically indistinguishable from natural ones.

For the beach season, designers offer straw totes, which always attract attention with their unusual nature.

Popular colors

Traditionally, basic colors are always in trend:

• black;
• grey;
• brown.

Any shades of these colors fit harmoniously into both an evening look and everyday style.

Brighter colors are no less popular: blue, green and burgundy. Depending on fashion trends, the shades of bags can vary from neon to pastel.

In today's fashion collections you can find totes that are combined not only in terms of the texture of the material, but also in terms of interesting color combinations: black + red, beige + brown, black or gray + burgundy. Such combinations further expand the possibilities of organically “incorporating” this necessary accessory into a stylish ensemble..

Important! White is also a basic color, but it is less popular due to its staining.

The difference between a tote model and a shopper model

For some, there are no fundamental differences between a tote and a shopper, but this is not an entirely correct point of view. Analyzing the differences should begin with the fact that the shopper was created as a refined and more practical alternative to the package, so it is intended exclusively for shopping. It is unlikely that anyone would think of showing up at a party or in the office with a shopper instead of a handbag, including a tote.

In addition, among the differences between these two types of bags from each other are the following:

• the tote looks like an ordinary large bag with parallel handles; the shopper is elongated, and the handles are always short;
• the shopper is frameless, its shape resembles an ordinary bag, while the tote has certain shapes fixed by tradition;
• the tote has 2-3 compartments inside, there are zippers or magnetic clasps; the shopper does not have such details and has only one department.

Brands that offer tote

Beauty and practicality are the two main requirements of a modern woman for wardrobe elements, which couturiers cannot but take into account in their work. Following the lead of strict beauties, they are increasingly improving the functionality and attractiveness of such an accessory as a tote bag.

Bags have long been the hallmark of fashion houses. They vary in size (from huge roomy models to clutch sizes), purpose (from office to evening), and materials (from leather to fabric).

Some designers try to follow the classics and avoid cluttering decorative elements on the surface of the bag, giving preference to the texture of the material, color and, of course, quality. Others boldly introduce new trends and equip the bag with various pockets, rivets, appliqué and embroidery, making changes even to the design of the bag itself. In any case, an expensive branded item always speaks of the high status of its owner.

Among the adherents of the classics we can name the Michael Kors brand.. Her tote bags are distinguished by a laconic design, a minimum of decorative elements and a classic color scheme. Among the features include a trapezoidal shape, expanding from the bottom to the top, a rigid frame, thanks to which the bag holds its shape and can stand, and the bottom of the bag is equipped with “legs” that protect the material from damage on various surfaces.

Bags from the famous brand DKNY are quite recognizable due to some features:

they have the classic geometric shape of a slightly elongated vertical rectangle, trapezoid or square;

• size is not above average;
• there are several internal departments;
• comfortable narrow handles of medium length;
• colors of materials within the boundaries of classics.

Tommy Hilfiger models differ from the classics. Original designer finds attract the attention of more and more new fans to the brand every year. Always bright and cheerful, the brand’s totes are distinguished by:

• lack of a rigid frame, the products are much softer than classic models;
• most often they are made of leather with various inserts, appliques and decorative elements made of metal;
• traditional brand colors in various combinations (white, dark shades of blue and red).

Dolce Gabbana manages to combine classic and modernity in its models. Without betraying the highest quality that this fashion house is proud of, its designers offer, on the one hand, an unusual color scheme in delicate pastel colors for tote bags, and on the other, bright satin embroidery with floral patterns, which together should give the products originality and a special mood.

Important! The Valentino fashion house offers interesting bright models, but it is worth remembering that when choosing such a catchy accessory, you need to stick to calm tones in the rest of your clothes.

What looks can you add tote to?

First of all, the tote bag is used by fashionistas in everyday style. A large accessory will equally well complement an ensemble of jeans and a loose shirt, a fitted coat and a mini, or a country-style suit. As for shoes, almost any model in the chosen style will fit here.

To highlight the image of a business lady, it is better to take with you a laconic model of a basic color with a minimum of decorative elements, which will harmoniously fit into the style of a three-piece suit or a set of trousers and a jacket. The finishing touch to the look will be pumps.

Interesting! Today there are tote bags for men. In fact, they differ little from women's ones, maybe only in color and decor. Among the main models of men's totes are a regular carrier, which is quite suitable for going to the beach, an everyday bag, which often has pockets and a button or zipper closure, as well as a business model made of leather for serious men.