The word “tote” means “to carry” which can be traced back to the 1800s. The tote bag which is light, durable and easy-to-carry, is an all-season essential which gained mass appeal sometime near the 1940s.
Today, tote bags play many roles and meet many needs. Some designs speak to the fashionable side of the wearers, featuring zippers, Velcro, leather trims, badges, and more.
Everywhere you go, you see tote bags in a diversity of models, shapes, sizes, and materials that nobody imagined. Check out the article below to know more about the trendy tote bag and the best tote bags of 2019.
Bag Colors for All Seasons
All women who appreciate quality bags will agree that they can cause you an arm and a leg. It’s for this reason that we usually look for a bag that offers excellent service.
Buying a high-end bag is a significant investment, and like other investments, you want value for your money.
A luxury bag is not a worthy buy if it’s not flexible enough to fit all seasons. Colour is what can make or break the usefulness or a quality bag, so we’ll highlight the purse colors you must own.
Black
Black has always been the queen color of fashion, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s our number one must-own color.
The depth that a black bag project allows it to make a statement while letting other colors also shine. Whether you’re donning a colorful summer dress or calm fall Chino pants, you can be sure that your black bag will look just right.
Tan
Tan bags are perhaps the most underrated when it comes to their flexibility and appropriateness for all seasons. This is a multipurpose bag because it makes a good combination with almost every color of the outfit.
Tan bags pair better with strong-detailed outfits, for example, grommets or fringe. You can match the bag with an ensemble of any color, even black.
This makes tan a color for all seasons, and it also means you can maximize the investment you put in the bag.
Green
Green as a color rhymes well with neutral shades because it’s also neutral. You can pair your green bag with outfits that are brown, navy, grey, tan and even black.
Green highlights the beauty of bright-colored outfits so your summer dresses will pop when you’re carrying this bag. In winter, green will bring the warmth that your outfit needs to cheer you up.
The secret to finding a perfect green color is to seek the right shade: bright grassy green. Other shades of green may disorient your look, but mostly to only a small degree.
Blue
Blue was initially associated with royals. The flattering nature of blue blends perfectly with all skin tones which is why it became a favorite with royals. The color brilliantly accommodates natural and neutral shades.
Blue bags complement almost all other colors without appearing too bossy. Like green, blue comes with a variety of shades from turquoise to periwinkle and various shades in between.
Blue bags have a flattering effect on all outfits. Whether you go for a large blue bag or a string purse, you will always find an outfit that goes perfectly with the bag.
Tote Bags
In its purest form, a tote bag is the most rudimentary of all bag designs: a single panel of material is stitched on two sides to create a bag, and looped handles are secured on either side of the aperture.
Through adding a base, side panels, interior and exterior pockets, the basic structure of the bag can then be enlarged and strengthened.
‘Tote’ is a word of American origin according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It seems likely that it is from West Africa even though its precise origins are obscure.
Until the mid-twentieth century, it did not gain popularity as a noun to describe a bag. The American outdoor brand LL Bean introduced a large box-shaped bag intended to be used for carrying ice from car to freezer in 1944.
The strength and versatility of the bag made it instantly famous and recognizing this, LL Bean added color to the design and expanded the range.
The breakthrough into the world of fashion came in the sixties when American designer, Bonnie Cashin, created a leather tote bag in a range of colors. From that point onwards, tote designs proliferated.
In the twenty-first century, the tote became the obvious ‘bag for life’ replacement when supermarkets around the world began phasing out single-use plastic bags.
Moreover, it has been estimated that a cotton/canvas tote bag will need to be reused over three hundred times before it can match the carbon expenditure of a disposable plastic bag.
The two flat sides of a tote bag effectively make it a portable billboard, and its use as a promotional tool is now ubiquitous.
Best Tote Bags of 2019 for All Seasons
Aimee Tan Work Bundle Tote Bag
The Work Bundle consists of 2 elements: LEATHER TOTE and WORK BiB (BAG-in-BAG).
The leather tote is a gorgeous classic silhouette crafted in genuine soft pebble grain cowhide. This roomy Tote bag can be paired with almost any work or casual outfit.
The Work BiB is a Tote insert that thoughtfully organizes your daily work essentials and can itself be converted into a hand carry Tote bag when you attach the handles provided, giving you an additional bag for storage.
Its features include a laptop compartment, a bottle holder, a pen holder, and a business card compartment – to name a few.
Features and Design
LEATHER TOTE
- Stock code: TSK516TO0001/LS
- Material: Cowhide
- Hardware: Gold
- Open top with clip closure
- Dual flat handles
- 1 Zip pocket
- 2 Slip pockets
- 2 Tabs with snap closure
- 1 D-ring
- L36 H32 W15 cm
WORK BIB
- Stock code: TSK516TO0031/LS
- Material: Microfibre/Microfibre suede
- Hardware: Gold
- Open top
- 1 Bottle holder with drawstring closure
- 1 Long pocket
- 1 Laptop / tablet compartment
- 1 Business card compartment
- 1 Pen holder
- 1 Lipstick holder
- 1 Slip pocket
- 2 Detachable handles
- L34 H25.5 W13.5 cm
Good For
- For women who love staying organized.
Black Bailey Dome Top Handle Tote Bag
This gorgeous classic silhouette adds a touch of elegance to any outfit - from casual to evening wear.
Features and Design
- Stock code: TSK498TO0018-0008/MS
- Colour: Black
- Material: Cowhide
- Hardware: Gold
- Top zip-around closure
- Dual flat straps
- Front slip pocket w/ hidden magnetic closure
- Back zip pocket
- 2 Mobile phone pockets
- 1 Zip pocket
- L29 H24 W11 cm
Good For
- For women who discern understated luxury.
Aimee Green Travel Bundle Tote Bag
The Travel Bundle consists of 2 elements: NYLON TOTE and TRAVEL BiB (BAG-in-BAG)
The Nylon Tote is a gorgeous classic silhouette crafted in lightweight nylon and trimmed with genuine soft pebble grain cowhide. This roomy Tote bag is available in 2 colors and trolley slot strap that is convertible to a slip pocket.
The Travel BiB is a Tote insert that thoughtfully stores your travel essentials and can itself be converted into a lightweight shoulder bag when you attach the long strap provided, giving you an additional bag for storage.
Its features include two mobile phone/portable charger pockets and a secret (RFID-protected) compartment at the base of the Travel BiB for your passport, cash, credit cards, and other valuables.
Features and Design
NYLON TOTE
- Stock code: TSK516TO0006/LS
- Material: Nylon trimmed with pebble grain cowhide
- Hardware: Gold
- Open top with clip closure
- Dual flat handles
- 1 Slip pocket with hidden magnetic closure - convertible to a trolley slot strap
- 1 Zip pocket
- 2 Slip pockets
- 2 Tabs with snap closure
- L36 H31 W14 cm
TRAVEL BIB - Stock code: TSK516HB0015/LS
- Material: Nylon
- Hardware: Gold
- Top zip closure
- Front zip pocket
- 1 Zip pocket
- 1 Pen holder
- 2 Mobile phone / portable charger pockets
- 1 Hidden (RFID protected) compartment
- Adjustable/Detachable nylon webbing long strap
- L35 H27 W14 cm
Good For
- For women who travel without worry.
Black Impronta Short Roundbottom Top Handle Tote Bag
This adorable roundbottom silhouette is crafted from crocodile embossed cowhide and features two mobile pockets.
We provide you with an additional long strap to give you the option of crossbody carry. Pairs perfectly with work and evening wear.
Features and Design
- Stock code: TTK437TO0011-0008/MS
- Colour: Black
- Material: Crocodile embossed cowhide
- Hardware: Gold
- Top snap button closure
- Dual tube handles
- Front slip pocket
- Back Slip pocket
- 1 Centre zip compartment
- 2 Mobile phone pockets
- 1 Slip pocket
- 1 Zip pocket
- Adjustable and detachable long leather strap
- L31 H23 W16 cm
Good For
- For women who appreciate the details.
Aimee Blue Leather Tote Bag
The Aimee Blue Leather Tote Bag is a gorgeous classic silhouette which was crafted in genuine soft pebble grain cowhide.
This roomy Tote bag is available in a color blue that could be paired with almost any work or casual outfit.
Features and Design
- Stock code: TSK516TO0001-0003/LS
- Colour: Blue
- Material: Cowhide
- Hardware: Gold
- Open top with clip closure
- Dual flat handles
- 1 Zip pocket
- 2 Slip pockets
- 2 Tabs with snap closure
- 1 D-ring
- L36 H32 W15 cm
Good For
- For women who love the classics.
Takeaway
Rather than just a regular purse, Totes create a more personalized statement. They offer a quirky take on the traditional women’s bag, are spacious, and can transition smoothly to fit many social functions.
While the tote has undergone many makeovers over the years, it has stood the test of time and won’t be going anywhere soon.