20 Tote Bags to Carry Forever

Before I became a fashion editor, I assumed the best designer tote bags should be reserved for special occasions. Even if they looked and felt like elevated versions of my regular-schmegular market bags and weekenders—with exteriors that coordinated with whatever I wore and spacious interiors for lugging my laptop or a change of clothes, or both—the dust bag and shiny labels intimidated me out of carrying my most prized totes.

My mindset shifted when I started working in fashion. Once I could meet designers and test their creations myself, I realized luxury bags are so special because they’re made to be carried often, not hidden away. In their leather-trimmed, microfiber suede-lined way, the best designer totes are an aesthetically pleasing balancing act. “Investing in a new tote is all about quality and function,” BAZAAR accessories director Miguel Enamorado agrees. “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.”

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  Best Logo-Free Tote Bag

  Textured-Leather Tote
  Savette

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  Best Statement Tote Bag

  CHANEL 22 Large Back Pack
  Chanel

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  Best Straw Tote Bag

  Large Leather-Trimmed Basket Tote
  Loewe

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• 

  Best Patterned Tote Bag

  Large Prada Symbole Embroidered Fabric Handbag
  Prada

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  Best Minimalist Tote Bag

  Classic Easy Tote
  Cuyana

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Best Suede Tote Bag

Margaux Bag
The Row

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Best Two-Tone Tote Bag

Calella Large Bicolor Tote Bag
Hereu

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Best Woven Tote Bag

Arco Medium Intrecciato Leather Tote
Bottega Veneta

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Best Oversized Tote Bag

Everyday Soft Tote
Mansur Gavriel

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Best Embellished Tote Bag

Bamboo Leather Tote
Brandon Blackwood

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“Worth the investment” can mean different things in different wardrobes. Most experts I spoke to agreed that 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 & 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,” Tiffany Hsu, fashion director at Mytheresa, agrees. If you’re new to luxury accessories, “A durable, leather option would be a great first designer tote,” Hsu says.

Selecting your personal best designer tote from the thousands of Chanels, Bottegas, and Pradas out there comes down to your lifestyle. If you’re searching for a laptop bag, Glicksberg recommends double-checking its dimensions to make sure they’ll fit all your office essentials. If you’re imagining your tote as more of a fancy gym bag, extra pockets for separating pre- and post-workout clothes are a must. Then there’s the longevity factor. You may love the tote you buy today, but you could want to make a swap later. Keep your options open by considering the bag’s potential resale value, Glicksberg suggests. The stronger the brand signifiers–monogramming, logo hardware, or design signatures—the more value the tote will have if it’s back on the market.

Whether you’re more of a minimalist seeking a structured leather tote or a trend sampler looking for the next It-bag, the most worthwhile bag is the one you’ll actually use. Ahead, I’ve gathered the 20 best designer totes I’ve tested and researched with expert assistance—all that are worth carrying for years.