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Coffee Break: Jetsetter Large Tote

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woven tote in navy

This brand is new to me, but this tote looks great.

The tote is made from a water resistanct fabric, and features a full zipper and what looks to be a TON of pockets inside for organization. It is not a bag that will stand up by itself, but it does look like it's super lightweight. (Plus, you can always get an organizing insert if you want more structure!)

The bag is $400 and comes in five colors at Nordstrom, ShopBop, and Neiman Marcus.

Some of the best work bags for women as of 2025 include great totes from Cuyana (with a zipper), Tumi, Tory Burch, Lo & Sons, and Madewell (north/south). Also try this highly-rated organizing insert or these clever pouches with some of the less structured bags! If you're looking for a budget tote (or one in a specific color) check this Amazon seller (22K+ good reviews) or this Amazon seller (60K+ good reviews).

black tote bag
Cuyana
a great interview bag for females (and great work bag in general): the Tory Burch Ella
Tory Burch
black leather tote bag
Tory Burch
black laptop tote
Lo & Sons
black laptop tote
Tumi
one of the best work totes for women in the north/south shape: the Transport tote from Madewell
Madewell

(Looking for a luxury work bag? Here's our latest roundup…)

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87 Comments

  1. I’m looking for a good overnight bag. We have one, but it’s leather or pleather and is so flipping heavy. Doesn’t help that it’s designed more like a duffel bag. Would like something more lightweight. Vera Bradley isn’t really my style, but it does seem to be better in terms of weight.

    2. What aesthetic are you looking for? I like the duffels they carry at REI – north face, osprey, etc. – and use one for all my carry-on travel. Usually you can carry them as duffels or backpacks. They’re super lightweight and durable, but it’s definitely an outdoorsy look. If you want something a little sleeker, Lululemon also makes a nice duffel.

      1. I’m usually not opposed to a outdoorsy look, but I’d like something more streamlined this time. I will take a look at Lulu.

      1. agreed! it’s perfect (I have the one with separate shoe compartment on the bottom; it’s so handy for toiletries and cables and random things).

    6. I know you said it’s not really your style, but Vera Bradley is actually perfect for this. They have some options in solid colors, especially black or navy although a few others as well. They are extremely lightweight and I find mine durable. This one in nylon might work well and doesn’t scream Vera Bradley as it doesnt have the quilting: https://verabradley.com/products/miramar-weekender-5021120090

    7. For what kind of travel? If it’s anything other than car, I really prefer a backpack to a duffle. So much easier to carry.

    8. I have the Away weekender bag in the salmon pink color and really like it. It opens up kind of like a suitcase and holds a good amount.

  2. Can a lawyer explain the SCOTUS decision today? The gov’t doesn’t have to re-hire people right now, but the lawsuit can still continue …so people might eventually be re-hired and/or reinstated with backpay?

    1. not the distraction i needed today, but really fun! my lowest thus far is 299.

      1. I got into the 30s once and made a dumb mistake and lost! Since then I haven’t broken 100.

  4. Someone posted yesterday re getting a lower face facelift. Can you (or anyone else who has had that) comment on the procedure, down time, results, how you found your surgeon, etc.? It’s the one thing that I might do in the next 10 years (turning 55 this year, aging is fine but wildly uneven on my lower face vs elsewhere).

    1. I had one about 14 years ago (so the technology has probably advanced a lot). The recovery was pretty gruesome but I was happy with the results. My advice is double the recovery time estimate you doctor gives you.

    2. That was me. There was a surgeon in my home town that I knew by reputation but I also considered another surgeon in another state. I believe I found him on Instagram which is one reason I didn’t go with him, even though he seemed to be very highly rated, his office was very responsive, and his pricing was similar to my local doc (both MCOL small cities). Side note: I see some articles in People magazine which quote pricing which is mind boggling to me. $150K for multiple facial procedures-OK, I’m sure it’s quality work but I would need a full body re-do for that! My down time was extremely limited-day of surgery obvi and I don’t think I did much the next day. Day/night 1 was the worst because you have drains in and for me that was disconcerting but again, not really uncomfortable. They came out the next mornign and I was happy to have them gone. By day 3 I was reading emails and probably off camera on Zoom. By the first day of the following week (day 7?) I was on camera for Zoom. I was back in the office during Week 2. I took one pain pill day 1 and two Xanax day 2 (the Xanax is supposed to be better for muscle relaxation, idk if that’s the case but it makes you feel good lol). Nothing else, and I don’t think i have a particularly high pain tolerance. It just wasn’t painful. You do have to wear an ace bandage around your head all day and night for 7 days, then just at night. I didn’t bruise much at all and have long hair which is why I could go on camera the next week. Literally no one has said anything about my results which means I didn’t need it, it was a gentle correction or people are just being polite. I’m about 5 years older than you and so maybe my aging wasn’t that bad? Regardless, I’m glad I did it now. I am not far out so I cannot fully say what results will be but I’m pretty pleased. It’s not cheap, of course, but I’m in a visible role so I think for me, it will make me more comfortable about work for the next five or so years, which is what I was going for.

  5. Hello hive! Long time listener, first time caller. My 10-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD recently. I am looking for books that I can read to educate myself about this diagnosis. I am hoping to learn more about this condition. Many thanks!

    3. I always kind of like Jonathan Mooney on stigma and acceptance. Russell Barkley has some more educational books on the diagnosis. Both also have talks online. ADDitude magazine is worth checking out. “How to ADHD” is a YT channel that was popular with young people for a while, not sure about as young as ten.

      1. Is there a stigma?? It seems like most kids have this diagnosis. No shade, my husband does too but it seems like the most openly discussed and accommodated issue to have.

        1. Maybe there isn’t stigma the way there used to be? But there’s definitely still tension between the way school is set up and the kids whose needs are not a good fit for the way school is set up (and ADHD is still a risk factor for all kinds of worse outcomes, especially when we go beyond school to society at large).

    5. Been there, my advice is to find something your kid loves, and let them go to town on it. One of mine is ridiculously sporty (always needs to be on the move) and one is musical (constantly learning new instruments so we hire them and get good tutors so he’s actually quite good at what he does). I’ve not read that as advice anywhere, it comes from an interview with an Olympic athlete’s mom. She said he just never stopped jumping around, so she put him in gymnastics…and yep he turned out to be an Olympian. YMMV

  6. Leaving on a trip to Paris next week and looking for some good outfit inspiration from the hive. Please make the following assumptions:

    +Temps in the mid 40s-low 50s in the mornings, going up to high 50s/low 60s in the afternoon.
    +Scattered rain showers.
    +Mix of walking and public transport.
    +Family trip (including two kids ages 4 and 6)
    +1 or 2 parents dinners out (nicer restaurants)
    +Late 30s, hourglass figure size 6

    I have so many clothes, including lots of newer items, but I’m so bad at actually planning outfits and just end up over-packing and then hating my actual outfits on the trip. I have a nice trench, several jeans options I could bring (cream barrel leg, black straight, light wash wide leg, classic blue denim in straight or wide leg), button down shirts in various colors, “lady” sweaters/jackets, t-shirts, a few Sezane blouses with detailing (crochet, embroidery etc). For dinners out, was thinking a silk slightly-above-the-knee length dress with a cropped cardigan (Doen) for length, or a silk skirt (but what top? Sweater?). Was planning to bring nicer sneakers (either Madewell white court sneakers or Adidas spezials in a pink colorway) and a pair of Mary Jane-style flats for daytime. Should I also bring a block heel sandal for dinners out or will I regret that with cobblestones/older streets? Will white jeans/shorter dresses be totally out of place for the April weather? Will black jeans be too winter-like? Do I need a weather-proof option like boots?

    Specific outfits suggestions would be so appreciated for this style-challenged rette. TIA!

    1. I follow @lavieongrand on Insta. She is a bit OTT in love with Paris but I like her styling suggestions for the “not an influencer but want to look nice” type of outfits. She goes regularly and posts packing lists for trips in all seasons.

    2. So fun! I was just in Paris for my 30th birthday. Everything you have sounds great.

      I would stick to flats, you won’t end up reaching for heels and I didn’t see anyone wearing them even at nicer dinners. For pants, I’d skip the white jeans. Short dresses will be too cold unless you’re doing them with tall boots and/or tights. And I don’t think you need water proof boots — leather sneakers are pretty water resistant imo.

      When I was there, I brought barrel jeans, Anthro Colette pants, 2 Sezane blouses, 2 sweaters, a leather jacket, 2 dresses, lots of nice crewneck tshirts for layering, Vejas, black high tops, mary jane flats. black tall boots, and a cute quilted coat. I felt well dressed everywhere we went. Though definitely bring a raincoat — I regret leaving mine at home. I hope that helps!

    3. You don’t need the sandals. Weather forecast for Paris next week says rain, so bring clothes you can wear for that weather. Wear shoes that you are comfortable walking all day in, your fashion sneakers and Mary Jane’s will be fine!

      Black is always great! Black is not a winter colour in Europe,

    4. Check the blog of “une femme d’un certain age.” She does great posts on travel wardrobes covering every season and is especially focused on travel to Paris and the U.K. Her stated blog audience is the over-50 crowd, but her recommendations on travel wardrobes transcend age.

    5. I was just there last week. I’d bring the black jeans and the darker blue straight or wide, whichever you like better. Not a lot of light jeans happening yet and the rain is making things muddy/grimy. For dinners out I wasn’t seeing a lot of dresses — it’s still a bit too chilly on some evening, especially if it’s raining. City sneakers and loafers will be all the shoes you need. Everyone and their mother was carrying crossbody bags. Weather is still variable so I’d bring a hat and/or scarf in addition to the trench. I did the trip in jeans + cashmere sweater + trench every day and some days I took the jacket off entirely and some days I had it buttoned up and added my scarf.

    6. I was in Paris around this time last year, and want to advocate very strongly for bringing layers. When we were there, it ended up being colder than forecasted, and I was glad to have lightweight sweaters and a scarf to throw on in the morning and evening with my jacket.

      I wore exclusively denim during the day (blue and black), with blouses, nicer t-shirts, and sweaters to layer. For nicer dinners I brought a dress (and felt over-dressed in some areas), and straight leg black pants. I did not wear heels – flats all the way.

  7. I have had a rough 2025. I am giving myself $100 to splurge on a Thing this month. Not something that happens once (ie., massage/book), and not food. Preferably:
    A single item or series of items. From a small/woman-owned business.
    Something I can use, look at, hold, and/or interact with daily in the month of May.

    In January I purchased 3 mini fancy hand creams and put one in my car, office, and bathroom. Last fall I bought a pair of TB flats on super clearance. I moved to a very rural area in the Middle US so likely needs to be ordered online and shipped. Any ideas appreciated.

    2. I’m sorry you’re having a rough year!

      I’d do a pair of Lake pajamas. A little over budget, but I adore my Field Day Sweatshirt from Left on Friday. If you’re a coffee/tea person, you could do a new mug from East Fork or Heath Ceramics and really good beans/tea.

    5. Not sure how you feel about candles, but the Glasshouse Sunsets in Capri candle is my absolute favorite. It used to be a woman-owned business, but it looks like the founder/CEO sold.
      Other ideas
      – a leather (or faux leather) bound journal and nice gel pens
      – a hummingbird feeder
      – shower steamers (one lasts a few days, so you only need like 10)
      – a meditation pillow and a subscription to a meditation app

    6. I know you said not a book, but what about a beautiful art book? Interacting with something daily made me think of this, you could spend some time each day with a new painting or artwork. $100 would get you something coffee table-esque, nicely published. I would start with online museum shops. The more woo version would be a tarot or oracle card set – there are many indie-published ones with stunning art, you could pull a card every day and let your imagination run with it for a few minutes.

    7. I really like the hats from Deco denim – haven’t tried them, but I covet one:
      https://decodenim.com/products/glor-x-deco-dad-hat-1

      I think the craft idea is great – maybe an embroidery kit? Lots of woman-owned companies. A quick search found:
      https://hooklinetinker.com/products/fox-in-phlox-v-2-complete-embroidery-kit
      https://www.snugglymonkey.com/collections/hand-embroidery-kits/products/embroidery-kit-4-house-plants-by-tamar-nahir
      https://penguinandfish.com/collections/embroidery-kits/products/april-daisy-embroidery-kithttps://www.hawthornhandmade.com/collections/wonderful-women
      https://www.hawthornhandmade.com/en-us/collections/cross-stitch-kits/products/puffin-cross-stitch-kit-1

      I’ve used a Hawthorn set and it was great, very easy and well made.

  8. Well-meaning question. Should a child who turns four in one month be able to work a simple jigsaw puzzle? Specifically, be able to understand that out of three pieces, we’re looking for a piece with one “out” and one “in,” so we need to find a piece with one “out” and one “in” and that pieces with all “outs” or all “ins” won’t fit?

    Very worried about a friend’s child who has her own iphone and watches YouTube and Facebook shorts (never, ever more than 90 seconds of anything) for ~10-12 hours per day. But maybe I’m expecting too much of four year olds.

    1. That is way too much screen time for any brain, let alone a new developing one. Also that’s a lot of near sight work during structural eye growth.

      I don’t know about the puzzle, but until screen time is controlled, any delay could be due to excess screen time or masked by screen time.

    2. A 4 year old having their own personal phone and watching 12 hours (!) of screens per day is much more unusual than not being able to do a jigsaw puzzle, although I would say a typical 4 year old can do a simple jigsaw easily. But I wouldn’t say anything.

    3. Yes, a nearly four year old should be able to do this.
      Most four-year-olds can complete a Melissa & Doug 16 or 24 piece puzzle independently.

    4. My 2.5 year old can do this, so yes, a 4 year old should be able to.

      Giving a 4 year old an iPhone for 10-12 hours a day is child abuse. I know that is a strong statement, and I mean it to be one.

      2. I’m struggling to imagine a situation where this would happen. Like, are both parents working, don’t have childcare, and give the kid a phone as a distraction? my kids weren’t even AWAKE for 12 hours a day when they were 4, let alone looking at a screen for all that time.

        1. Maybe it’s what kept her from crying in daycare and they just stuck with it?

          People definitely leave kids at daycare for twelve hours.

          1. That would be appalling. I’m sure it happens, unfortunately, but I was livid when I found out my kids were regularly watching a movie at daycare. If I’m paying for care, you need to do better than I can do at home while I try to work.

          2. Yeah, but you’re probably not paying enough for the individual attention and nurturing I’m sure you’d prefer.

          3. that is my point? that is why I paid for daycare: because I can’t simultaneously work and pay attention to a child, and I want someone to pay attention to my child and provide engaging experiences, not plop him in front of a movie.

          4. oh wait, reading comprehension fail. I see what you mean, and yes, that was a more budget daycare (YMCA)

      3. Cosigned. I really hope this is gross exaggeration, but even 5-6 hours of being glued to a phone screen a day at the age of 4 raises serious questions about the care the child is receiving.

    5. Two very different things going on here — there’s a big difference between “just turned 4” and “almost 5” (brains grow rapidly at that age; and a year is 20% of their life!) but I wouldn’t worry about a kid not getting a “standard” jigsaw puzzle at that age (not like one of those kids ones where each piece has its own outline).

      That said: 10-12 hours of screen time for ~any kids, especially a 4 yr old is way way too much

      AND: criticizing other people’s parenting is really fraught. Do you have any reason to think your friend wants/is open to your opinion? If this is totally unsolicited, tread carefully. If this is something like, your friend is feeling kind of worried and asking you if this is normal, maybe you could encourage them to ask their pediatrician/offer to entertain the kid for a bit to give your friend time to write that email?

      1. This is not a “tread lightly” scenario. This is like that poster who realized her friend was driving her toddler around while drunk. There are some decisions that are outside of the realm of acceptable parenting, and this is one of them.

      2. I’m struggling to think of any scenario where this would be appropriate parenting. It’s extremely excessive even for a foster care or parent in the hospital situation.

    6. so my autistic son was doing 300+ piece puzzles by the time he was 3. but he had his own way of thinking about them, describing it to him like that would not have made any sense to him. i have no idea how he used to do them, he didn’t start at the edges and didn’t go by the picture on top either.

      1. I agree. It took me a minute to figure out what you were talking about with ins and outs, so I think that most four year olds should be able to do a simple puzzle, but not that many would have a theory of puzzles that they could articulate to a stranger, so I wouldn’t be that surprised if you just confused the poor kid with your question.

        1. Yeah I would say that my kid could do ~48 piece puzzles pretty easily at age 4, but would have been very confused by the questions about strategy. I wouldn’t read much into that.

    7. I wouldn’t ask 4 year old to help with a jigsaw puzzle, unless it’s one of those “frame” puzzles with ~20 large pieces.

    8. Should a four year old be able to do a puzzle? Sure. If it’s their first time, you’ll likely sit on the floor with them. They’re more likely to identify with the pictures than with the ins and outs, like connecting the dinosaur head to the dinosaur body.

      If you’re spending 10-12 hours with this kid daily and want to help them with non-screen entertainment, great! My Mom always seems to produce a new card game, a draw on stencil/tattoo set, and other miscellaneous games from her purse every time she sees my kids and they absolutely flock to find out what’s new.

    9. OP here. Thanks all. It’s a recently arrived immigrant family from a developing nation. Very traditional gender roles, so dad works and mom is home all day with the youngest. Well, mom is expected to cook three hot meals from scratch each day and do the dishes, do the laundry for 7 people, clean up after her four school-aged kids, clean the bathrooms and vacuum. AND she’s enrolled in two online English classes at the local community college. So clearly beleaguered mom does not have time to plan out western-style meaningful enrichment for the daughter. The child is not in preschool because red state (no universal and the family didn’t win the free seat lottery). I know that they would not at all object to some gentle information about the harms of screentime on developing brains, but I haven’t found any online that is simple and aimed at parents. And I didn’t want to say anything until I could I help the problem, not just point it out.

      1. This is a lot, but screen time is not the answer. I know kids are more underfoot than helpful at that age, but I’m surprised the mom is not having the 4 year old “help” with all these tasks. if the community college classes are on site, they may have some low cost childcare. In any case, there are many inexpensive toys a 4 year old would find engaging : age-appropriate puzzles, blocks (even red solo cups for stacking), play doctor or tool kits, wooden train sets are often sold at a steep discount or listed on buy-nothing. Even old school games like ball & cup. All of this could break up the screen time.

        I don’t think you need to explain the harms so much as give her tools to do better, like you said.

      2. I know it’s of topic of your question, but wow that man needs a course correction real quick. Same with any family member over the age of 7, tbh. Hope you can get this woman some support!

      3. The American Academy of Pediatrics has very simple guidelines on their webs*ite. It’s aimed at parents. Recommends no more than 1 hour per day for ages 2.5.

        1. But also completely agree with Anonymous above, pointing out other activities and toys for the child would probably be more helpful and productive than focusing on the harms of screen time.

      4. Oof, this sounds really hard, with the parents having too much to do and the child not having her basic developmental needs met.

        Here’s one good page for parents from the AAP: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Healthy-Digital-Media-Use-Habits-for-Babies-Toddlers-Preschoolers.aspx

        The advice I’ve seen for parents who have a lot of chores is to engage a preschool-age child to “help” you fold clothes, wash vegetables, etc. Maybe older kids can talk/read to the preschooler when they’re home? Is there someone who can tell the dad he really has to step it up with chores or engaging with his child when he’s home (if he’s not working all the time) for the sake of his kid? Can housework standards like meals be lowered?

      5. Random resource, Imagination Library tends to be pretty widely available in red states (it mails free, yours to keep, books to any kid under 5, funded by Dolly Parton bc she’s awesome – and no government paperwork to worry about)

        https://imaginationlibrary.com/

        1. Our red state just defunded it. Dolly apparently doesn’t supply all the funding, only a portion, and governments have to contribute something to have it, and some red states are pushing back on that now. My kid aged out of the program a few years ago but I was so sad to hear it. All part of the GOP plan to make people stupider so they’ll stay in the cult, I guess.

      7. Man, the details make this post less believable, but accepting them as true:

        She only has one kid home during the day with her. That kid is old enough to help with laundry, cooking, errands, etc. The older kids are old enough to be doing chores; she should not be doing dishes if she has kids tall enough to reach the sink. I come from a traditional family makeup, and the expectation was that children do work to contribute to the home’s function just like each adult is, basically from the time they can walk.

        It sounds like she is shouldering a lot, which I’m sensitive to, but the solution is requiring more of her children (in a developmentally healthy way), not handing her three year old over to the algorithms.

      8. Id be concerned about a disability at this point, I don’t think it’s the screens. A 4 year old may not be able to complete a puzzle but it shouldn’t be a totally unfigureoutable prospect.

  9. i was so proud of myself for working out today, but now i’m exhausted. bah humbug.

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