What's a tote bag?

[badger2005]

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!

DD is in 6th form and it’s a cord tote that zips closed for her. Her friends all have similar.

Um, we all know what the cool kids carry to school https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115960833132

Here's a thing: I never thought of this type of bag as a tote bag. In fact, I had a very different idea of what a tote bag is. To me, a tote bag is a cylindrical shaped bag (maybe zipped?), the kind of thing that you see in old movies with Jolly Jack tar sailors on leave carrying them on their shoulders; think Sinatra or Dino or Fred Astaire. If that's not a tote bag, what is it?

Yes, or
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325928434244?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Uqaq0NfESNK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=LFINke4rRnm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I would call that a duffle bag

I know I’m late to the party but my eldest dd uses a large canvas bag from Daunt Books - like this https://dauntbooks.co.uk/shop/books/daunt-books-canvas-bag/

She uses it alongside a backpack as she has a few lever arch folders to transport, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of her friends carrying a handbag.

OP, as someone who has a slightly strained relationship with her mother, seeing the care and effort you're putting in to getting this right is soooo lovely! The fact it's not even a big flashy gift makes it even lovelier. Will you be my Mum please?!

My DD has a corduroy bag from Urban Outfitters.

I have a large black Michael Kors tote that I use for work - it’s dual purpose - laptop bag and handbag - I love it

Oh BrassOlive thank you! For some reason your post brought tears to my eyes (ridiculous of me!).
And I'm sorry that you have a strained relationship with your dm. 💐

I’m a bit late to the tote party but I gave my daughter this one for her 16th birthday last month. She’d specifically asked for it after seeing it in Vogue. I was pretty relieved to discover it wasn’t the usual Vogue sort of price!
https://us.goodtotes.co/products/going-places-tote-sea-sage

Mine have something like this https://thespark.company/products/petrify-the-patriarchy-tote-bag?currency=GBP&variant=45250438005030&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=a03911613053&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=18133642710&utm_content=&utm_term=&gadid=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6q6t49qPgwMVUZJQBh0B0wvFEAYYASABEgLV7_D_BwE

but I've bought one a Chanel exhibition bag from the V&A shop (as its the only Chanel bag I'm ever going to buy her....)https://www.vam.ac.uk/shop/exhibition-ranges/gabrielle-chanel-fashion-manifesto/va-gabrielle-chanel.-fashion-manifesto-black-tote-bag-166525.html

Longchamp tote bags seem to be really popular with teenagers round here this year. Could that be what she has in mind? https://www.johnlewis.com/longchamp-le-pliage-original-large-shoulder-bag/navy/p5051141?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7OqrBhD9ARIsAK3UXh2ibWMSedPpjK1gwilAh01fYNNRlS2hhOYdzCFFhEop2K9kLUC6874aAq35EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I think that's more likely than a cotton bag for life, which can also be called a tote bag!

The young girls I see with tote bags all seem to own a LongChamps
https://www.longchamp.com/gb/en/products/tote-bag-m-L2605089001.html

@londonmummy1966 thanks for that link, I’ve just bought a Chanel one too for DD as well as few other V&A things for various people!

Thanks so much - I’ve just ordered the Chanel tote for DD who will be starting a fashion degree next year, she will love it!!

My niece and her friend both have this one for school Uniqlo tote bag.

I don’t have a teen daughter but I really think it will be the leather look style. I live on a busy bus route and see all the older teen girls walking past with them. No rucksacks in sight, younger girls just started secondary seem to have them.

Saw two friends the other day with matching beige ones that looked like designer bags….probably better than my old handbag.

@badger2005 please do!! I've spent my afternoon looking at tote bags 🤣

Back in the 90s “the” bag we all used at school was a Body Shop cloth tote bag. This thread has brought bag some happy memories of carrying files around in that bag, while wearing morello cherry lip balm and smelling of dewberry or fuzzy peach. Happy days.

we used to call that a kit bag

You need to ask her OP. There's too many to choose from, and if it's wrong she'll just never use it

Dd 16.has several , one she uses for college. Its black puffy material a bit like the old school puffer jacket and a cord one from urban..she also has multiple cloth ones but not for college

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/accessories/bags/brown-animal-print-padded-tote-bag/p/879545729?_cclid=Google_Cj0KCQiA7OqrBhD9ARIsAK3UXh0ZYgDH_ZDgrdterjFH5FG_6CWo6Kz-HNz7DbDb6anpc511nApCC9QaAumCEALw_wcB&extcam=UK_PPC_PLA_Designer_NC_Google_DV_m_AGID_126584460716_PRID_8795468&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7OqrBhD9ARIsAK3UXh0ZYgDH_ZDgrdterjFH5FG_6CWo6Kz-HNz7DbDb6anpc511nApCC9QaAumCEALw_wcB
Like this but black

I really miss the early 90s Body Shop — it was so different and intriguing.

Japanese washing grains 💔