Surveys show that tote bags are a primary factor in the first impressions that people wearing them make. Because of this, it’s important that you invest in high-quality leather tote bags that look classy and sophisticated.
But how can you choose a tote that works perfectly for your everyday life? Read on for some tips on how to choose tote bags for work, travel, and casual use.
Set a Budget
The first step toward choosing the right leather tote bag is to consider your budget. You don’t want to drive yourself into debt by purchasing a thousand-dollar luxury handbag. These bags generally don’t even have much going for them beyond the brand name, so it’s a huge waste and a flashy, substance-free investment.
There are tons of awesome retailers that offer high-quality leather and canvas tote bags. You can get these totes for under $100 and rest assured that they’re durable, long-lasting, and utterly stylish. Sometimes you may also be able to find online coupon codes to get deals and discounts that prevent you from breaking the bank.
Think About Practical Concerns
Tote bags for women come in thousands of styles, which means that there are thousands of possibilities for how to use them.
Some people use tote bags for travel while others use them in professional settings. Travel totes will need to be large enough to fit some clothes and personal effects; professional ones will need to come in simple muted hues and clean rectangular shapes.
Casual tote bags are the most common options, and they come in tons of shapes and styles. You’ll want to fit a wallet, cell phone, makeup bag, and other daily items inside. Make sure to carefully consider the dimensions of your preferred bag so that everything you want to fit goes inside.
In addition to size, strap length is another practicality to consider when tote shopping. You want something that lays in a comfortable position on your body. Adjustable straps are always a great choice, but you may also just want to choose something that falls mid-torso.
Opt for Sustainability
Recent years have seen pushes towards sustainable alternatives to everyday items. This is a huge step in the right direction since it helps to protect the planet and reduce pollution. Eco-friendly objects promote clean air, environmental quality, growth of resources as the population grows, and even public health.
Environmentally-conscious handbags are made from natural resources like real leather and quality canvas. They’re long-lasting, which means that they won’t need to be replaced quickly. This means that they won’t end up in landfills prematurely and that there won’t be too many harmful production methods.
Upcycling is another awesome trend where fashion companies re-use recycled materials. Quality bags might be made from upcycled canvas military tents, leather products, and stamped fabrics. You can’t even tell these ethically-sourced materials apart from alternatives, so they’re an investment that’s well worth it.
Consider Your Wardrobe
Once you figure out the practicalities of buying yourself a tote, it’s time to think about the style that you need. Beyond just choosing something that speaks to you, you’ll need to think about the wardrobe choices that you make each day.
Think about the colors that you wear you prefer. If you largely wear cool colors, for example, a blue or green tote will look perfect. Warm-color enthusiasts will love bags that have red, yellow, and orange patterns.
Neutral hues are a great go-to for those who want something to wear with every outfit. There are tons of complex black and white designs as well as those featuring gray or beige.
You also want to get patterns and materials that match your frequently-worn clothing items. Clashing patterns and styles will look really strange, so get something that you can get the most use out of when building cohesive outfits.
Do Your Research on Leather Tote Bags
Before you start looking at totes, it’s important that you do some research on what styles you tend to prefer. Head over to Pinterest and create a new board. Search for the color or design of the tote you’re looking for, pin about 15-20 styles, and go take a look at the completed board.
You’re bound to see some trends in those styles you’ve pinned. Whether it’s a specific color, size, or material, you’re going to want something that meets your seemingly-preferred specifications. This is the best way to choose something you’ll actually wear.
You can then head over to a high-quality retailer and go through the bags that they’re offering. Totes come in a wide range of styles, so you know that there’s something for everyone. Working with a reputable brand also ensures that you get the best bang for your buck.
Consider Options Carefully
Once you decide where to buy your totes from, it’s time to browse the site and consider all options available to you. Beyond practical concerns like size and shape, it’s also important to choose something that you actually like.
This may sound obvious, but some people select bags only on utility and price. They don’t consider whether or not they’ll be excited to wear it. If you’re not pumped about your new tote, you probably won’t get much use out of it.
Go with your gut. If you see a bag and think, “That’s the one,” it probably is.
Learn more About Fashion and Accessory Trends
Now that you know how to choose the best leather tote bags for daily use, it’s time to learn more about styling your favorite bags. Check out the “lifestyle” tab on our home page to get some information on how to rock a tote with any one of your favorite outfits. You can also use the search function to find more articles about trending fashion in 2022 and beyond.