Every Woman’s Carryall Bag Survival Guide

Posted by Giovanna Barrios · June 26, 2019

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What an everyday carry is:

First thing’s first. Just what is a “daily carry.” Spoiler: You’re probably digging [insert almost any object imaginable here] from the pile of daily carries strewn across the bottom of your go-to tote. According to Who What Wear, a “daily carry” is any essential that is helpful to have on hand for any situation that may arise. These are the items you haul around on a day-to-day basis: the stuff you swear are essentials and - not shockingly - these items are always caught at the bottom of your bag.

As for the bag responsible for collecting this array of everyday necessities? Enter: The Carryall Bag.

This bag is the nucleus of success. It is a whatever, wherever bag that goes with every outfit, holds all of the necessities, and always stays around. Whether you’re holding your bobby pins hostage at the bottom for your easy updo or fishing for your phone cord that’s oh-so-ironically snaked around your Python Wallet, this bag is locked and loaded with everything you need to get through the day with an effortless breeze. As it turns out, most of us are guilty-as-charged when it comes to repurposing promotional totes and grocery bags to hold our daily carries hostage through meetings, lunch breaks, travel, and end-of-day cocktails. One sip from the rim of the martini glass and BAM!, the game has been changed. Functionality doesn’t have to replace fashion. In fact, some of the most fashionable bags are equipped to survive a full day of activities, just like the modern woman.

That being said, wave goodbye to the days of stuffing your reusable grocery bags with shoe changes, unused notepads, dog toys, and other random (and totally useful) daily carries. We know the ole hole-y tote that’s on its last leg is close to your heart, but trust us: A women’s stylish carryall bag is the ultimate organization tool.

Now that we know we can find a chic go-to carryall bag that’s just as functional as it is stylish, here’s our primer on finding the perfect carryall bag for you.

What to look for when shopping for a women’s carryall bag:

Practicality: This is the bag that you’re going to bring on all of your daily endeavors: From lunch breaks and exec meetings to happy hour, this bag needs to hold it all while staying stylish. Being able to hold your essentials, while not losing your key holder under everything else, is a staple for a practical bag. More than just a few pockets, a practical carryall bag for women is something that can transform from day-to-night, styled with precision, and structured accordingly. After all, who wants to haul around several poorly-designed totes when you can have one that does it all? Popular opinion: Not us. A well-designed carryall means more space for your stuff, snazzy pockets, and folds to keep you organized, and is comfortable enough to lay on your shoulder during a full day of errands.
Functionality: Zippers, deep pockets, pen holders, adjustable straps, strong but sleek hardware, and sturdy skins. We’ll take one with everything, please! A real luxury carryall bag is prepped with pockets to guarantee your day is easy, breezy, beautiful. Picture this: You walk into a lunch meeting with your company execs, the meeting has started as you begin digging through what seems like your bottomless-pit of a bag, while internally screaming, “Where the #$@! is my pen!?” Oh, that’s right, we don’t have pen pockets, yet. Whether it be your laptop, pens, agenda or your smartphone, having a designated pocket for every item will save you the time of digging through your tote while limiting the risk of looking like the only unprepared one in the room. The Messenger Bag is packed with two pen pockets, two slip pockets, and front lock closure for extra support. Heading to happy hour? Meet the Amelia Tote, a striking example of where functionally chic style. Boasting an interior (and removable!) zippered pouch that can also double as a clutch, it is the perfect transition purse. Just stick your happy hour necessities in this chic addition and you’re good to go. [Insert martini here.]
Wear-wells: The perfect carryall bag for women is built to last -- and that’s precisely why these coveted purses double as investment pieces. A true investment piece can stand the test of time while always appearing stylish on our shoulders. Every bag should wear just as well as it does on you! Durability is a necessity. Thankfully, we don’t have to sacrifice durability for elegance when it comes to exotic handbags. Naturally strong enough to make it through the ever-changing obstacles and environments we encounter daily, quality skins and leathers will withstand the test of time. A python skin, ostrich, or crocodile bag will look great and last for years (not to mention that exotic materials are currently a key trend).

Pro Tip: Exotic skins are so easy to clean that you can simply swipe of a cloth to fix a spill on these water-resistant beauties. So long, ole’ hole-y!