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The 25 Best Designer Tote Bags You’ll Never Stop Carrying
They’re worth the investment
The best designer tote bags shouldn’t be reserved for special occasions. Luxury designs are so special because they’re the most elevated versions of totes we can carry all the time—instead of hiding them away in a dust bag.
“Investing in a designer tote is all about quality and function,” Bazaar accessories director Miguel Enamorado says. “What it’s made of is as important as what it’s made for. The more it serves that purpose, the more you will wear it and the more it will be worth your investment.”
“Worth the investment” can mean different things in different wardrobes. Most experts I spoke to agreed the best designer totes combine function and style—and aren’t necessarily the bags you’ve seen all over TikTok. Rachel Glicksberg, manager of women’s fashion and new initiatives at the RealReal, says “classic” bags always outperform trendier styles. “Always consider something classic that you will use day, night, and while traveling,” agrees Tiffany Hsu, fashion director at Mytheresa. If you’re new to luxury accessories, she says, “a durable, leather option would be a great first designer tote.”
Selecting your personal best designer tote from the hundreds of Chanels, Bottegas, and Pradas out there comes down to your lifestyle. If you’re searching for a laptop bag, seek out a spacious silhouette by Tory Burch or Cuyana, with separate compartments for your office essentials. If you’re elevating your everyday handbag, smaller totes by Gucci or Saint Laurent might be more suitable. And if you want something that’s more about personal style than pure function? Consider the unique shapes and textures from upstarts like DeMellier and W 78 St, as well as classics by Hermès and Chanel.
Whether you’re more of a minimalist seeking a structured leather tote or an It bag collector hunting for the best designer bags, the most worthwhile option is the one you’ll actually use. Ahead, I’ve gathered the 25 best designer totes I’ve tested and researched with expert assistance—all of which are worth carrying for years.
The Best Designer Tote Bags for 2024
Halie LeSavage is the fashion commerce editor at Harper's BAZAAR. Her style reporting covers everything from reviewing the best designer products to profiling emerging brands and designers. Previously, she was the founding retail writer at Morning Brew and a fashion associate at Glamour.
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