Tote Bags

Tote bags are multitasking handbags. A symbol of the complexity of roles women play, they are a true American Classic. For the self-sufficient mobile women, a tote conceals the messes necessary for everyday life.

Of all the purses available on the market today, the tote offers the most basic design. Imagine your local paper grocery bag transformed into a fabric bound accessory, and that is the fundamental design of a tote bag.

The standard blueprint includes one large pocket, occasionally with dividers or small inset pockets. All incorporate some type of closure, typically a zipper, tie or magnet, at the top opening. The handle is short and simple, provided for carrying with the hands or casually on the lower arm.

The fabrics vary greatly, but tend to mostly be in the more informal vein, like classic leather, denim, canvas, basket weave or even plastic. A particular advantage of the tote structure is the large flat sides, enabling some manufacturers to display intricate patterns or screen prints that would be lost on a small evening bag.

Tote bags are perfect for the stash-and-go types. They serve a variety of functions, either independently or combined:

• Fashionable Briefcase
• Trendy Diaper Bag
• Environmental Shopping Bag
• Travel Tote
• Glamorous Lunch Bag
• Book Bag
• School Bag
• Beach or Swim Tote
• Gym Bag
• Travel totes

A tote is essentially a walking activity center, providing the extra room for a variety of supplies, from an extra clean diaper to your warm toasty mittens. A tote also function nicely as a dual bag, allowing you to hide a smaller purse inside to remove for a quick lunch at work or walk through the mall.

Due to the larger size, totes can be heavy and clumsy. For many, this large size is the appeal. If a small pocket purse to carry your lipstick, keys and credit card is your standard fare, however, then a tote bag may not your cup of tea.

The signature trend of tote bags begins with LL Bean’s release of their Boat Bag back in 1944. A basic canvas bag, designed for the boater crowd, the simplicity quickly caught the attentions of a variety of women. From this beginning, the design merged easily into the luggage market, as the leather tote travel bag hit the streets.

Totes became common as purses in the 1950s, as women’s handbags focused on practicality rather than style alone. As more demands were placed on women, the need for straightforward hefty bags grew.

Two feature handbag gurus caught wind of this trend and helped it to explode into the designer handbag arena. Bonnie Cashin, a popular Coach designer, created her own Cashin Carry tote bags in the 1960s. Later, in the 1990s, Kate Spade took the basic luggage-style tote and turned it into a truly feminine accessory. Imitations of these two women's designs quickly surfaced, and tote bags made their way into the fashion hall of fame.

Whether you create your own or buy your handbags, tote bags are a popular choice. For the crafter, they are a simple pattern that sews easily in a large assortment of fabrics. As a shopper, they are always in style, with only the fabrics, shape and decorations changing with the times.

A bag for the woman with responsibilities and the casual weekend getaway, tote bags can function as your sole carryall. Avoid becoming the "bag lady," and simply store all your essentials inside one basic container. With its simple structure, a tote can be comfortably loaded without looking unfashionably stuffed.

Enjoy your basket weave tote during the summer and your microfiber bag on your next gym visit. Arrive in style to your next evening engagement with a specialty silk tote. Whatever your needs may be, if you have stuff to fill it, a tote bag can be a classy way to carry it.

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