spill your bag
An illustration of a black tote bag
✦ Generated illustration · an invented bag

Totes

The bag that carries a working day. Open top, two handles, and room for the things a smaller bag makes you leave behind.

Colour
Pattern
Mom Work Errands Travel Day out
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Similar styles you can buy

Real bags from real shops. Similar to the illustration, not the exact bag pictured.

  • Everyday Slouchy nylon tote, espresso Example Basics Packs down to nothing. No structure at all. $54 Shop similar
  • Everyday Canvas work tote, black Example Basics Holds a 14-inch laptop flat. The base sags once it is full. $68 Shop similar
  • Sweet spot Pebbled leather tote, espresso Example Atelier Pebbled grain hides scuffs. Inside pocket is shallow. $210 Shop similar
  • Sweet spot Structured leather tote, black Example Atelier Stands up on its own. Heavier empty than it looks. $245 Shop similar
  • Splurge Suede tote, espresso Example Maison Suede marks in rain. Keep it for dry days. $465 Shop similar
  • Splurge Full-grain leather tote, black Example Maison Unlined, so it marks. Softens into its own shape. $520 Shop similar

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Will your stuff fit?

Based on a medium tote, about 38 × 30 × 13 cm. Tick what you carry.

Real talk

What is good about it

  • Takes a 14-inch laptop lying flat, which most crossbodies will not.
  • Black hides marks, so it survives a commute and still looks fine at a meeting.
  • Open top means you can drop things in one-handed.

What to watch for

  • No structure at the base, so a heavy load turns it into a sack.
  • An open top is an open top. Nothing in it is safe in a crowd.
  • Shoulder straps dig in once you pass about four kilos.

How the tote got here

  1. Market basketThe shape starts as an open carrier for produce, with two handles and no closure. Nothing about it was designed to be fashionable.
  2. The ice bag, 1944A canvas boat tote was sold as a bag for hauling blocks of ice. The handles were long so you could carry it up from a dock.
  3. Office standardOnce laptops needed carrying, a flat-bottomed tote became the default work bag, and leather versions took over from canvas.

How would you style it, and what goes inside?

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Spilled: what goes inside

Styling boards we have made with this shape. The objects in them are invented.

Autumn Mom Espresso Tote Carry Autumn Mom Espresso Tote Carry Blush Pink Workday Essentials Blush Pink Workday Essentials Autumn Errands Slouchy Tote Autumn Errands Slouchy Tote Autumn Travel East West Loadout Autumn Travel East West Loadout Twelve hours in one tote Twelve hours in one tote Twenty-two five-year-olds Twenty-two five-year-olds Fourteen hours in the air Fourteen hours in the air Nine clients and a break Nine clients and a break Keys, covers, mints, repeat Keys, covers, mints, repeat Too much for two people Too much for two people Things for them, a few for me Things for them, a few for me Every document twice Every document twice Rent a table for the price of coffee Rent a table for the price of coffee Sit, cheer, reapply sunscreen Sit, cheer, reapply sunscreen Portfolio and a steady hand Portfolio and a steady hand Ninety minutes of hum Ninety minutes of hum

Other shapes

Crescent bags Backpacks Shoulder bags

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