Its summer and you haven’t gone out in ages. Lockdown rules are changing imminently – we hope. Plans are afoot for that holiday/party/holiday party that you so deserve. Is this not just the perfect time to invest in a spacious tote bag for the season – or perhaps the year ? Unfastened, with generous handles and a wealth of room to double up as shopping bags – they are the ideal summer accessory. Whilst store shopping remains an option, many of the options below are available on the brand websites (chanel.com has details of the bags and stockists, the rest have an option to buy) or on luxury e-tailers who now also stock limited editions. And with getaway season on our mind, we suspect a few of these may make a passing appearance at Glass HQ shortly.
1. Chanel
Possibly the statement tote of Summer 2021, this lined raffia straw bag with calfskin handles and the requisite Chanel gold & black strap chain is a sublime stunner born to turn heads.
Chanel Large Tote in Straw, Calfskin & Gold Metal, Beige & Black £3,850 from Chanel stores – see Chanel.com
2. Hermes
This unique Hermes Bell bag in yellow tan calfskin and rose-pink canvas comes from the Petit H collection of one-offs. It has no hardware and an open top that reveals a unique lining – truly special and one-of a-kind.
Hermes Bell bag £1,890 from hermes.com
3. Saint Laurent
The ever reliable Rive Gauche tote gets an animal print makeover – just the bag to take from those trips between Marrakesh and Monaco.
Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Tote in Leopard Print Canvas £ 945 from ysl.com
4. Fendi
We love the love for raffia this summer season, and this Peekaboo X-Tote by Fendi features an intricate weave of beige FF motif on a black background, finished with black leather edges and decorated with the classic twist lock. Designed to be carried either as a handbag or a long tote, this versatile bag is a travel godsend.
Fendi PEEKABOO X-TOTE Black FF raffia bag £ 2,790.00 from fendi.com
5. Gucci
Gucci’s special collection dedicated to dream destinations feature woven tote bags individualized with colours, trims and personalized leather tags representing each location. ‘Cannes’ is embossed in metallic gold lettering on a leather patch enriching the tote. Stripes and red embroidered Gs are paired with red leather trims – surely the tote definition of the Riviera.
Gucci Cannes striped tote bag £ 1,750 from Gucci.com
6. Bottega Veneta
Did you say hottest tote of the season? Well if you’re a fashion maven then that would be the appropriate reaction to this beautiful large intrecciato tote – by Daniel Lee’s NEW BV as everyone’s stylist keeps saying.
Bottega Veneta beige Intrecciato tote bag £2,645 at bottegaveneta.com
7. Dior
Nothing says summer more than a bit of tie & dye – enter this season’s key Dior book tote piece. Perfect for perching on that sun lounger.
DIOR Book Tote £1,924 from 24S or dior.com
8. Moynat
If yours is a more classic style ala Goyard, why not opt for the OG – Moynat has the oldest signature logo in French leather marquetry history – and what a standout beauty its large Oh! Tote it is.
MOYNAT Large Oh! Tote Bag £1,130 from 24S
9. Louis Vuitton
This eye-catching Onthego GM tote bag is one of seven special edition bags created for the exclusive LV x UF Collection with swiss artist Urs Fischer who who has reinterpreted the iconic Monogram, tufted on canvas for a velvety effect and lined with Monogram coated canvas.
LV x UF Onthego GM Tote Bag £2,610.00 from louisvuitton.com
10. Celine
Hedi Slimane’s calfskin and canvas tote bag for Celine is as precise as it is luxurious – its calfskin handle and key cover , the little gold engraved padlock. This says: I did not come to play.
Celine Vertical Calfskin and Canvas Tote Bag £1,300 from 24S and celine.com