What makes a perfect tote? For me, the right tote should make your life easier. First and foremost, there needs to be well-organized storage so I don’t have to dig around too much for my keys and enough space for a book or my computer. And of course, I want it to be pretty! An interesting shape and a neutral color that goes with everything. We found the most stylish totes so you don’t have to.
The difference between an ok tote and a super stylish one is the shape. Mansur Gavriel’s first broke out onto the scene because of their fresh, sculptural takes on totes. And now that the co-founders are back, the brand is looking really good again. The Everyday Zip tote is a fun east-west version of a tote with the perfect long straps. I love the geometric look of their Tulipiano bag, which also comes with a crossbody strap. The classic brown is beautiful but it’s also fun in an unexpected color like this sky blue.
This zip-top suede tote from Madewell reminds me of the Row’s large canvas totes, at a fraction of the price. I love Bottega Veneta’s woven leather look, but I do not love the price tag. Thank god for Bembien which has woven looks that give you a lot of look for less. The Gabrielle woven tote in black and in a sandy beige are both wonderful options.
COS’s accessories are looking better and better, like this accordion-esque folded shopper in real black leather. I love the subtle curves on Cuyana’s Tall Easy Tote. The stony gray color is also a more interesting neutral than the usual brown and black.
Shop the rest of our stylish totes edit below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how, and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.