The 10 Best Everyday Bags, According To BAZAAR Editors
We carry these totes, shoulder bags, and satchels 24/7.
The best everyday bags need an effortlessly chic exterior and a spacious, organized interior to be worth carrying 24/7. Inside and outside, versatility is the most important factor.
Every BAZAAR editor taking stock of their accessories collection said their hardworking everyday bags eclipse 2023 trends. To these certified fashion experts, whether they’re relying on a streamlined leather tote by Cuyana or a cult-favorite bag like Luar’s Ana tote, the best everyday bags can carry all the workday essentials with a sense of originality. Some editors count forever investments like quilted Chanel bags or triangle-printed Prada totes as their most-carried bags; others rely on affordable hidden gems with extra compartments and smart strap attachments. For editors who are constantly traveling, their everyday handbags double as a roomy personal item for plane rides. And yes, most of the best everyday bags come in classic neutral shades like black, brown, and camel—to remove any overthinking from the getting-ready process.
The following luxurious designer tote bags, nylon shoulder bags, and roomy laptop bags all balance practicality and personal style. It-bags come and go, but the 16 best everyday bags ahead are permanent wardrobe heroes.
"I tried elevating my daily tote to a leather version but you just can’t beat the comfort and roominess of Baggu’s Cloud Bag. It fits my laptop, a book, and then some, and has an interior zipper pocket and exterior slot pocket for optimal organization. I carry it with me pretty much every day—and it’s great for travel too." —Ariana Marsh, senior features editor
Dimensions: 13 4/5" H × 12 4/5" W
Materials: Recycled Heavyweight Nylon
"I like this Clare V fanny-pack as a work bag on days when I don’t need to carry much more than a Kindle, a wallet, and an iPhone. I wear it like a crossbody, fairly high up on my chest, almost where a long necklace would hit. The croc-effect leather and gold hardware add visual interest to simple tops and sweaters and always make me feel more pulled-together." —Izzy Grinspan, deputy digital editor
Dimensions: W 7" x H 7"
Materials: Embossed Italian cowhide
"I received this bag as a gift from a friend and it's quickly become a wardrobe work horse. Large enough to carry my laptop three days a week—plus a change of shoes, wallet, and keys—it makes my daily schlep all the easier. Bonus points for the bag's wide straps that evenly distribute everything I (probably shouldn't) lug around New York City." – Nikki Ogunnaike, senior digital director
Dimensions: 15"H x 17"W x 7"D.
Materials: Heavy-Duty 24 oz. cotton canvas
Related article: 16 Chic Bags That Can Carry Your Laptop
"I live in FEAR of the carryall. It's too heavy and too unwieldy, so you can never find what you need—wallet, keys, phone, book—when you need it. Instead, I carry a small handbag (what I believe in ye olde times was called a 'purse' or a 'pocketbook') and a big-ish bag: this beautiful Medea bag in black, which fits a slender laptop and the LRB,plus a phone charger and one of those water sprays you use at 4 P.M. to look ALIVE. It looks like a classic shopping bag, so it offers the added thrill that you've just made some life-changing purchase on a daily basis, when in fact you're merely commuting." —Rachel Tashjian, fashion news director
Dimensions: W 420mm x H 300mm x D 132mm
Material: Leather
"My fiancé gave me this bag for my birthday and I'm obsessed. I always love an unexpected, abstract silhouette to my bags and surprisingly the large version of this holds all my essentials—even my work laptop." —Bianca Betancourt, culture editor
Dimensions: 14 1/2"W x 10"H x 2 1/2"D. 7" strap drop
Materials: Leather
"I never quite understood the appeal of mini bags. They look adorable, but how can you possibly fit everything you need in them? I always gravitated towards something more mid-size. However, now that I've become a two bag kind of a girl on office days, my everyday purse has literally shrunk down to the size of a pocketbook. My laptop, charger, and lunch go in a Meruert Tolegen mesh tote, and the everything else—phone, keys, cards, hand sanitizer—is perfectly contained by a Chanel Wallet on Chain." —Alison Cohn, deputy fashion news editor
Dimensions: 4.8 × 7.5 × 1.4 in
Materials: Lambskin and gold metal
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"I desperately wanted an elevated tote and this Proenza bag is just that. The ruched detailing makes the hobo-esque shape feel a bit more sophisticated (and allows it fit snug under my arm)." —Katie Intner, assistant beauty editor
Dimensions: 13.8"H x 12.6"W x 6.3"D.
Materials: Leather
"My mom had graciously gifted me her old, early aughts Prada bag once I informed her that Prada's nylon creations were having something of a renaissance. It’s figured as a wardrobe staple ever since, punctuating my outfits with the kind of uncomplicated cool-girl charm often found in those who frequent scenes below Canal Street. Utilitarian, versatile, and luxurious, the Prada nylon bag has reemerged as a timeless classic for a reason." —Chelsey Sanchez, associate editor
Dimensions: H 18cm x L 6cm x W 22cm
Materials: Nylon and saffiano leather trim
"My sister surprised me with Longchamp's Large Le Pliage Tote as a birthday gift a few years ago, and it's since turned into one of my main go-tos for the office and the airport. It's roomy enough to store my laptop, over stuffed makeup bag, and other knick-knacks at the same time, and since mine has a neutral brown and black colorway, it also pretty much goes with everything." —Tiffany Dodson, associate beauty commerce editor
Dimensions: 12 ¼"W x 11 ¾"H x 7 ½"D. 9" strap drop
Materials: Nylon and leather
Related article: Why Animal-Shaped Bags Are All The Rage These Days
"The retro-futuristic-60s print in a very wearable camel and black is reason enough to carry this bag. This well-proportioned, structured tote is also a styling triple threat. For starters, it's a utilitarian work bag that looks chic with my Brunello grey suit. Then, it's a fantastic travel companion, and it goes well with my Vince cashmere camel hoodie and track pants. When it gets to be all too much, it hits the beach in style, with black Birks and an Orlebar Brown swimsuit at the ready." —Miguel Enamorado, accessories director
Dimensions: H 31cm x L 11cm x W 39cm
Materials: Fabric, leather
This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US