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Original poster

What's a tote bag?

152 replies

badger2005 · 13/12/2023 23:31

Dd (15) says that all her friends carry their folders to school in tote bags - so they have a rucksack but also a tote bag. I'd like to get her a tote bag for Christmas but don't really know what she means. Is it the sort of resuable fabric bags you get (sometimes for free with things)? Or something else? Can anyone link to one their dd has (if this is a general thing!).
I'm an adult without a handbag, and always deeply uncool, so really do need advice!

OP posts:
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justanothermanicmonday1 · 14/12/2023 06:42

This is the organiser I was talking about that sits inside the tote bag. £12.99 and comes in black. So handy for pens pencils, sanitary pads etc!

What's a tote bag?
Mirrormeback · 14/12/2023 06:42

DD told me never to get a fake leather tote bag because they're not cool apparently

I like them but refrained from buying myself one

JoanThursday · 14/12/2023 06:43

floofbag · 14/12/2023 06:38

Like this .. you can get them anywhere . It's what the teen girls use for school. Please don't get her a material bag for life 🙈

I think it might be these too. Ma y of the teenage girls round our way ha e these.

As someone else says, ask for a few ideas and the from your dd and then pick one.

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Clothing
Mirrormeback · 14/12/2023 06:43

It really depends where you live

They only have canvas / cotton ones here

thedamnseason · 14/12/2023 06:45

badger2005 · 14/12/2023 00:09

thank you all!
Just to clarify Whatevermate, I have typed 'what is a tote bag?' into google! Lots of very different looking bags come up. Am I looking for a leather-y handbag style affair, or a hessian thing, or a cloth bag?
What I am asking isn't really 'what is a tote bag?' (sorry in retrospect for the misleading title!) but 'what does dd mean when she says she wants a tote bag?'. So for those with teen dds, what do you think? I see that two of you are saying reusable cloth bag - so like the sort you can't really buy but sometimes get given for free?
I'm sorry TheOccupier but your link is not working for me. Please could you try again?

I see kids using leather/nylon tote bags more than cotton ones.

I think you need to try and find out from her what she means really because it could be either type.

fyn · 14/12/2023 06:46

Are you sure she isn’t talking about the Marc Jacobs ‘Tote Bag’? I see lots of those where we live!

grayhairdontcare · 14/12/2023 06:47

@justanothermanicmonday1 that is the exact bag that would mean "tote" here at the minute.
The others described would mean "shopper" in these parts.

gracielooloo · 14/12/2023 06:49

Around here, it’s definitely the canvas/cord type. My DD’s (14&15) would be horrified if they were given the black leather look ones linked!

AMillionMoreFirstTimes · 14/12/2023 06:50

You’re going to have to check with her OP. At my daughters school lots of the girls use leather/leather look tote bags. Like this.

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/accessories/bags/black-leather-look-tote-bag-trio-set/p/881662001

I’ve never seen any use canvas ones but it could be an area thing. Check with her before you buy.

Black Leather-Look Tote Bag Trio Set | New Look

Shop Black Leather-Look Tote Bag Trio Set. Discover the latest trends at New Look.

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/accessories/bags/black-leather-look-tote-bag-trio-set/p/881662001

ChocolateCandle · 14/12/2023 06:51

Many of the girls at my school carry the corduroy ones in all sorts of colours. This style makes sense if she wants it in addition to her rucksack. I'd look at what her friends have - or simply ask her for some ideas!

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 14/12/2023 06:53

My dd had the same sort of thing as @ChateauDuMont

justanothermanicmonday1 · 14/12/2023 06:54

grayhairdontcare · 14/12/2023 06:47

@justanothermanicmonday1 that is the exact bag that would mean "tote" here at the minute.
The others described would mean "shopper" in these parts.

Yeah same here.

zoomiboomie · 14/12/2023 06:54

WhateverMate · 13/12/2023 23:52

Yes, it's a reusable cloth bag.

Type 'What is a tote bag?' into Google.

Tote bags are not all reusable cloth bags. They are any bags that are big shopping bag shaped.

OP please make sure you know exactly what your dd wants. If she's imagining something cool and designer inspired and you get her a reuseable fabric bag she'll not be exactly thrilled.

What's a tote bag?
What's a tote bag?
determinedtomakethiswork · 14/12/2023 06:54

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 14/12/2023 06:38

michael lots, coach, ysl, Balmain for going up in designer prices here
I have a couple of coach ones
niece has balmain
sister has ysl

Are you really suggesting YSL for a schoolgirl?

loopylou42 · 14/12/2023 06:54

My DD13 has this bag for folders and oversized books, as well as a plain black rucksack. She did previously have a black leather style one but that was instead of a rucksack not an additional bag

What's a tote bag?
AMillionMoreFirstTimes · 14/12/2023 06:57

To add, although many girls use them in my daughters school, they’re not actually allowed. Every few months they do bag checks and get told to use a rucksack. They do for a week or so and then go back to totes, nothing is said until the next bag check. Ridiculous. Either allow them or ban them. Bloody schools!

PostmansKnock · 14/12/2023 06:59

floofbag · 14/12/2023 06:38

Like this .. you can get them anywhere . It's what the teen girls use for school. Please don't get her a material bag for life 🙈

To me this is the exact opposite of what a teenage girl would want. I think these things vary so much regionally.

My seventeen year old has a cord one from Urban Outfitters. It has a zip and is slightly padded.

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 14/12/2023 07:03

determinedtomakethiswork · 14/12/2023 06:54

Are you really suggesting YSL for a schoolgirl?

Show quote history

No if you see I started with MK, coach and then went up in price. It depends on budget. Mine had from urban outfitters but someone else had already mentioned them. One now has a coach one, the other MK. I said what my niece and sister both have. Couple of Niece’s friends would have had ysl and that Ilk from around 15/16.

Humbugg · 14/12/2023 07:08

I think it’s a fine line OP. Dpends on the school/ local style.

a) fabric bag with no pockets. Very plain in cotton or cord. This is what they use around here

b) mock leather Michael kors style bag

jb23newmum · 14/12/2023 07:13

both my daughters have them (but not in addition to a rucksack - it’s usually one or the other ) . Look in Primark /New look

jb23newmum · 14/12/2023 07:14

Oh and PE kit must be take in a plastic JD sports bag 🤣

luckylavender · 14/12/2023 07:15

WhateverMate · 13/12/2023 23:52

Yes, it's a reusable cloth bag.

Type 'What is a tote bag?' into Google.

A tote bag doesn't have to be reusable or cloth

ItsTimeToWrite · 14/12/2023 07:18

Be careful op as there is more than one style tote bag. They are completely different styles too. One is like the freebie canvas ones you get but another style is more like a leather handbag.

Could you ask dd specifically what one she likes?

At my dd school they would all have the handbag style ones. Don't think I've seen anyone with the canvas ones.

Ivyy · 14/12/2023 07:21

floofbag · 14/12/2023 06:38

Like this .. you can get them anywhere . It's what the teen girls use for school. Please don't get her a material bag for life 🙈

Yep this is the type all the teen girls have round here, including dd, usually fake leather, pleather?