Last week, we suggested Hayden-Harnett’s Ibiza “convertible flight tote” to readers — intending to recommend it as a tote bag for when you need to take home approximately fifteen pounds of paperwork — so we were a bit surprised when commenters railed against it as looking cheap as a purse (to us: duh, of course, your purse is separate from that!) and bad as a carry-on (again, to us: duh, of course, because the best soft carry-on is LeSportsac — how can that even be debated?).
After we got over our internal monologue, we’ve been thinking about all the different tote bags we’ve seen through the years.
To be clear: These are not the kind of tote bags you carry with you to interviews — nor are they the kind of bags you use to carry a magazine and some papers. These are the bags that you keep somewhere in your office and pull out on Friday afternoon when you suddenly realize you have to read or review thousands of pages over the weekend, and don’t feel like trying to box it up (or come into the weekend).
There are a few different varieties of them, and we’ve always thought they convey bits of your personality to people.
{related: the best professional tote bags}
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Readers, what’s your favorite for this kind of tote bag? Do you think we’re accurate in our “personality” types?
What Your Tote Bag Says About You
 The “fancy” but practical bag. Think Longchamp, the Ibiza bag, or any bag consisting of nylon and leather in a combination. The nylon keeps the bag lightweight (aside from those fifteen pounds of papers, of course) yet very, very durable, and the leather adds a bit of glam as well as sturdiness. We have packed our Longchamp to the brim and it always retains its shape. (Alas, the largest sizes of the Longchamp bags are not available online — but for reference, pictured at left is Longchamp ‘Le Pliage’ Two Tone Shoulder Tote, available at Nordstrom’s for $125.) This is our preferred look — it shows you care how it looks while you’re breaking your back doing work. |
 The “luxury” bag — such as Vuitton or Goyard. For our money, the luxury bag is frequently a bit impractical — they never seem big enough, we’d worry about ripping the leather, and — considering the purpose — it seems a bit like a waste of money. But, if you’re trying to convey that you’re a woman who cares about luxury at any cost, this is your bag. For practical purposes (weight and durability), we would advise you to go with a treated canvas bag instead of a leather one, such as the Louis Vuitton’s “NeverFull GM,” available at LouisVuitton.com for $750. |
 The wheeled bag. This one tells people that you’re a) smart and concerned about your health, b) serious about getting paperwork to and from the office, and c) possibly aren’t driving/being driven to and from work. All said, these aren’t bad things to convey in today’s economy. The downsides: it’s not very fashionable, and if you end up with less papers (leaving some at home, recycling them, whatever) you’re still encumbered by the rolling bag. Pictured: Travelpro Tote TPro Xtreme Lite 15 Rolling Tote Granite, available at Amazon for as low as $84. |
 The backpack. This is our least favorite option, if only because it tells people you haven’t really upgraded your bag (and possibly your style) since you were in school. Pictured: Deluxe Book Pack, available at L.L. Bean for $39.95. |
| The boat bag. The funny thing here is that, by and large, the female partners we know use these to shuttle their papers to and from work. It conveys that you’re definitely driving/being driven (that open top is just a disaster waiting to happen on public transportation), and it can be a subtle way of telling people things about you: I gave enough money to Charity X to get a tote bag! I went to Conference Y and received this tote bag! All in all, not a bad option to keep at the office. Pictured: Boat and Tote Bag, Open-Top, available at L.L. Bean for $30.95. |
JRH
I have a Goyard that I use a lot, but am a little afraid to load it up…..I know they’re sturdy, but I still can’t believe I spent that much money, and don’t want it to rip! :) I use a Vineyard Vines tote bag…somewhat similar to the LL Bean Boat and Tote. I’m currently contemplating whether to use a Longchamp or the VV tote as a carryon for a visit home!
SM
To JRH:
I love my custom VV tote with my alma mater on the trim. I am considering getting a Goyard tote (St. Louis), so I was curious that you find it potentially fragile; the handles are so thin—do you ever find it cuts into your shoulders?
JRH
hi SM, sorry, just saw this now…..I’m sure the Goyard is much sturdier than I think it is….it was just a HUGE investment for me, and I am terrified of anything happening to it! But I did use it as a work bag when I lived in nyc last summer, and I carry lots of stuff….and I never found it cut my shoulders. I actually have 3 VV totes….I love my breast cancer ribbon one, it’s going on 3 years old and the silk at the top is wearing off, but I love it!
em
Oh fine: Look at the picture of the LV bag. It does not have a monogram. Unless you are simply warning women against venturing into the other parts of LV’s site where they could obtain LV monogram stuff, your comment doesn’t make much sense.
oh, fine
em: it’s not technically a monogram, but the effect is pretty much the same. ding. seriously. plus, my comment is directed in part at the numerous posts above mine, which refer to the more explicitly monogrammed LV.
cs
I have an all leather longchamp tote that I love. Its subtle, and not so recognizable as either fancy or trendy but it is (and looks) well made and can fit a ton of stuff.
Angela Franklin
I live in New York and believe me lugging bags in and out of subway stations is no joyride. I made a decision to buy only the best quality luggage, so I purchased this wheeled tote bag from Briggs and Riley. The exterior is made from 2520D ballistic nylon, which makes the bag tough enough to survive the rough traveling conditions that New Yorkers face. The bag is extremely compact, easy to transport, and comes with several pockets to carry all your travel essentials. It has a flat packing section, which keeps the clothes from getting wrinkled, and a front wet/dry section with mesh and elastic pockets.
Xtina72
I have to disagree with you on the ll bean boat and totes looking like you got it at a convention, or that they are a disaster for traveling on public transpotation.
They can be monogramed which give a great personal and preppy look, they are available in a zip top and they are indestructible. They are also so easy to clean the “public transportation” off it…take a brush, some detergent…scrub scrub, hose off, sit in the sun…walla….a like new bag again.
I ended up hating my LV tote, the slim handle dug into my hand and shoulder and I was more worried about it getting stolen or dirty.
For a busy woman on the go….the boat and tote is the way to go!
FriedGreenTomatillos
I am looking for a smart looking tote to carry to important meetings and new client interviews. I purchased a Prada tote ($1650) but returned it the next day, worrying what message the displayed logo communicated to the client. I then ordered and received from Zappo’s a Ferragamo tote ($1350) and have opted to return it, as well. The Ferragamo was beautiful, but I came to my senses on a tote over $1,000 and have become determined to find a tote which is dressy enough for an interview, but doesn’t break the bank. Thoughts on where one is available?
FGT