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'Tis the season for hauling it all 1mm Veg Tan Leather
Summer is here and I can feel myself changing with the season. I’m more social, more go-with-the-flow, and my tan is popping — this is all to be expected. What’s different about this year is my desire to break away from the collection of itty bitty purses I’ve cultivated and the minimalist attitude I have around packing them (phone, wallet, keys, and sunnies). I’m declaring it a BBS: Big Bag Summer.
As a big bag virgin, I needed shopping inspiration, so I looked to the stars. Katie Holmes is always buzzing around NYC with Mansur Gavriel purses, like the oversized Maxi Candy Leather Hobo. And an image of Nicole Kidman at the Sydney airport has been lingering in my mind since October; she’s carrying a tan leather tote that looks to be from The Row, unfortunately out of my price range at $2,390. Then there’s this still of Jennifer Aniston in Murder Mystery 2, where her character is carrying a beautiful straw and leather bag.
My goal for warm-weather accessories is to stay away from black since the color is such a safe space for me and is kind of the antithesis of summer. I like the soft structure of Holmes’ bag, but with the travel and weddings that come with this time of year, I’m not ready for its price tag ($895).
This Mango bag, on sale for $56, is a versatile saddle brown color with an adjustable strap and magnetic closure. I love that it has a center zip-pocket divider that can hold little, important things like keys as well as keep everything from falling into a pit at the bottom (something that’s turned me off from big bags in the past). Nordstrom notes the capacity is large at 14 inches wide by 13.75 inches high and 5.5 inches deep.
Holmes actually owns this exact Madewell bag (in a similar burgundy color to her style above — we love a woman who knows what she likes). In the ecru shade, one of eight colors the best-selling purse comes in, it could pass for a cousin — maybe a second cousin — of Kidman’s beautiful but pricey leather tote from Olsen twin-designed label The Row.
Notable features include a magnetic closure, interior pocket, and interior size that’s spacious enough for a 15-inch laptop.
While my Aniston bag inspo is technically from the wardrobe department, I think we can all agree the spacious straw tote dangling from the crook of her arm could easily be seen on Jen IRL — or any of us. The classic beach bag gets a little city swagger thanks to leather straps, similar to this under-$100 style from Anthropologie.
Small Leather Machinery Join me in big bag summer and shop more purses, totes, and straw styles from Charles & Keith, Revolve, Amazon, L.L.Bean, and more below.