I love reusable shopping totes! I love the idea of being eco-friendly by avoiding the plastic shopping bags they hand out like candy at all the stores. But they do have a practical purpose as well. They help keep things at my house clutter-free since I was always saving plastic bags to take to the recyclers. Reusable shopping totes allow me to skip that part all together! Now they do have their disadvantages, I will admit that. They can take up a lot of room in my car. Plus you need to be careful if you use them when you’re buying meat at the grocery store. Make sure the wash those babies afterwards because they can harbor a ton of nasty bacteria! That being said, I still think the benefits outweigh the inconveniences. So when I saw the Kenzo Tiger Nylon Packaway Shopper, I just knew I had to write about it!
If this bag was available last week when I wrote my piece on Reusable Shopper Totes, this packaway shopper by Alexander MQueen would have been on the top of my list. I have an obsession with Alexander McQueen stuff – bags, shoes, blazers, dresses, you name it! The very first thing I ever purchased by the designer was years ago (maybe 4), it was a grey-ish blue blazer, that I still occasionally wear to this day. That was the first item that kinda kicked off my obsession. I have many pieces by the designer in my closet that have truly stood the test of time. Quality is always at it’s best. Which is exactly what I’m looking for in a reusable shopper tote – it’s a requirement! Like I mentioned in my previous post, there is a grocery bag ban here in Seattle so it’s essential to have a tote that can withstand high-usage and being tossed around. Now this isn’t a tote that I would recommend using at the grocery store, unless you’re just picking up a couple small items. This is more of a fashionable statement shopper. One that I would used when out shopping for clothes, or on one of my weekly trips to Pike Place Market ~ flowers & baguette. And the bag is made of nylon which makes it a cinch to clean after each use. Also this “Packaway” shopper cleverly folds down into its own zipped leather carry pouch – brilliant! Makes it easy to store in your day bag.
Ever since the Plastic Bag Ban Law here in Seattle passed I have been stocking up on shopper totes. I remember a few years ago when Anya Hindmarch kicked off the anti-plastic bag trend with her stylish “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” and ever since then designers and even departments stores (love the Norstrom’s Tote!) jumped on trend creating their own reusable totes. I probably have over 50 basic ones that I use when I go to the grocery store, that I don’t really care too much about and toss in the washer every so often. They do need to be washed occasionally!! However when I walk down to Pike Place Market here in Seattle I usually opt for something more fashionable, like my Burberry Check Market Tote or my Jacobs by Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs in collaboration with Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs floral tote (yea, it’s a mouthful).
Here are a few of my favorite picks for reusable designer shopper totes. Featuring Foley + Corinna, KARL, Malene Birger and Marni.
Foley + Corinna Bon Voyage Additional Shopper. $82 (orig $165)
Oh my gersh you guys this one is on sale too. What I love about this Foley + Corinna reusable bag is that it folds up into a wristlet! Convenient.
I will admit that when I first laid eyes on the Mettle Simi Bombshell Brass Wood Bag, I thought to myself “what the heck is this thing”. Seriously though, what the heck is it? A quick glance probably makes you think a bowl or a vase or an upside down helmet of some sort. These were the things that flashed through my mind. But no, this piece is actually meant to be a handbag. The hammered brass exterior gives it a very rustic look, perfect if you’re looking for an evening bag that is a bit outside the box. There is no closure of any kind, simply an opening in the top. I suppose you would want to wear it as a crossbody bag, that way there would be less risk of any contents spilling out.
The groundhog said there will be 6 more weeks of winter. Considering how unseasonably warm it has been this winter, I suppose I can live with that. With the weather being so Spring-like, I already have summer on the brain. It seems like others do too, considering all the beach totes I’ve seen popping up recently. I’m thinking this year, I might go for a little less traditional beach tote. Instead of structured and straw, I was thinking unstructured and crochet! Check out the Stela 9 Zigzag Crochet Beach Bag!
Have you ever bought something at a random store and looked at the plastic bag they put your purchase in? It’s usually blank, has a smiley face on it or just simply says, “Thank You”. I see them often when I go to a family owned business or the market. They’re the kind of bags no one pays attention to I guess. I never did until I saw what Cast of Vices designed for us.
There’s something more than the colorful canvas, theme, and easy to wear designs by Anya Hindmarch totes that catch my attention. It’s the simple wit that her pieces carry that allows her totes to stand out above your average designer canvas accessory. You won’t find fancy leathers or exotic furs on this piece, but an eye-catching statement that’ll get the general public smirking. The latest two to the Hindmarch collection are the Penny and Inspire Totes.
Did you know that Yves Saint Laurent has a bag made out of recycled goods? But not just any bag, the Muse Two. Yves Saint Laurent has partnered up with female artisans in Burkina Faso to produce the ‘Muse Two Artisanal Recycled’ bag, a hand-crafted masterpiece made out of recycled plastic bags and fair-trade cotton.
We have picked a winner in our quick little Weekend Envirosax Giveaway brought to you by Modnique!
Congratulations to…
The Work Bag:
The Beach Tote:
The Weekend Bag:
The Evening Clutch:
