The 15 Best Everyday Bags to Casually Carry Your Daily Essentials in Style

Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Signature Crossbody Bag

Best Everyday Bag for Traveling

If you travel and commute a lot, you’ll need a well-organized bag to get you from A to B in style. This compact, crossbody bag from iconic American designer Michael Kors fits the bill with a rear slip pocket for your passport and tickets, front zipped compartment, and card slots for valuables. The logo coated canvas is a signature of the label that goes with almost everything and is easy to clean, too. Reviewers also say that this casual handbag for everyday use can fit practically everything you need for a short flight.

What the reviewers say: “It’s very practical: I carried my passport, small wallet, small packet of wet wipes, packet of tissues, charging bank, pen, 2 lipsticks, sachet of paracetamol, iPhone 11 Pro max and still had more space! It had a front zip compartment for things like tissue packet, lipstick, pen, etc. Middle large compartment for main things like wallet, charging bank, passport. It even had a sewn-on side pocket where I’d slide my passport without it getting damaged or bashed around. The outside sewn on flap pocket (back of bag that rested again your body) was great, hidden and secure to slide my mobile in.”

Price upon publish date of article: $79

Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Signature Crossbody Bag $398  $79 Buy Now At Amazon

Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Signature Crossbody Bag $398  $99 Buy Now At Michael Kors

Prada Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon Bag

Best Everyday Shoulder Bag

Carried by Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Lori Harvey, Prada’s Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon bag is one of the bags of the season. It’s inspired by the Italian fashion house’s original mini hobo but is updated in a fabric made from purified plastic trash collected from the ocean, textile fibers and fishing nets. Aside from its sartorial kudos, it’s practical, too. The bag fits snuggly under the shoulder and can also be worn as a crossbody. Yes, it may be small, but it packs a punch like no other.

Price upon publish date of article: $1,950

Prada Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon Bag $ 1,950 Buy Now At Saks Fifth Avenue

Prada Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon Bag $ 1,950 Buy Now At Prada

Gucci Ophidia GG Shoulder Bag

Best Designer Crossbody Bag for Everyday Use

Gucci’s Ophidia bag is an icon of the bag world, characterized by its slouchy half-moon shape, signature GG canvas and red and green stripe. We love that the strap is adjustable so you can wear it cross body or slung over your shoulder, plus it has an internal zipped pocket for keeping valuables secure. An unmistakable work of the Italian fashion house, this is the kind of bag that will have a place in your wardrobe forever. Treat it well, and it will pay you back in spades.

Price upon publish date of article: $1,390

Gucci Ophidia GG Shoulder Bag $1,390 Buy Now At Gucci

Gucci Ophidia GG Shoulder Bag $1,390 Buy Now At Net-A-Porter

Kate Spade Sam Icon Recycled Nylon Tote Bag

Best Sustainable Everyday Bag

Kate Spade is a beloved handbag label, and the Sam Tote remains one of its core heritage styles that appeared in its very first collection. This incarnation is updated in sustainable recycled nylon, recycled polyester, and patent leather making it super lightweight yet structured. Ideal for the working week, this casual everyday bag has an external pocket to house your cell, a secure zipped top and internal pockets for your wallet and keys. It also has room for a small tablet or laptop, so it’s sure to become an essential part of your everyday roster.

Price upon publish date of article: $298

Kate Spade Sam Icon Recycled Nylon Tote $298 Buy Now At Nordstrom

Kate Spade Sam Icon Recycled Nylon Tote $298 Buy Now At Bloomingdale’s

Cuyana Classic Easy Tote

Best Everyday Bag for Work

An editor favorite, Cuyana’s Classic Easy Tote has quite the following thanks to its versatility, elegance, and practicality. It’s made from butter-soft pebbled leather that looks better as it ages, and LWG certification that means it’s tanned using environmentally friendly methods. One of the best elements of this bag (other than its soft, unstructured shape that fits so much inside) are the customizable options. Choose from a range of shades such as terracotta and stone, and classic, tall and small sizes. You can even choose between having a zipper or open top.

What the reviewers say: “It’s everything you could ever want in a tote: the design is simple but polished, the leather is soft and beautiful, and the quality is so high that we’ve all owned ours for years.”

Price upon publish date of article: $268

Cuyana Classic Easy Tote $268 Buy Now At Cuyana

Clare V. Agnes Backpack

Best Everyday Backpack

If your everyday bag needs to comfortably hold a larger laptop with room to spare, consider Clare V.’s Agnes backpack. Made from vegetable-tanned Italian cowhide, it’s super soft and spacious with space for tech up to 14 inches, plus an easy access front-zip pocket that makes the ideal spot for your keys, phone, and wallet. Best of all, it can be carried on the shoulders or toted by the short top handle for a more elegant look. The top also secures shut with a double zipper, adding extra peace of mind when you’re traveling to and from the office.

Price upon publish date of article: $435

Clare V. Agnes Backpack $435 Buy Now At Claire V.

Coach Sling Pack

Best Everyday Bag for Commuting

If you’re looking for a sporty and practical bag that’s also beautifully made, consider this sling pack from Coach. Its front zipped pocket and main compartment make it brilliantly practical and ideal for commuting, while rich pebbled leather maintains that luxury feel Coach is loved for. One busy mom reviewer says that it’s also surprisingly spacious — even holding room for diapers, wipes, a wallet, and phone. Sling it across your body and take it with you everywhere.

What the reviewers say: “I have been looking for a slingback and I really like this one. I love the quality of the leather and the fit. I am very short, and this bag does not look large on me. It has enough room for my wallet, phone, hand sanitizer, makeup and tissue. It has a total of three different zipper pouches and slots on the inside as well. You can actually fit quite a bit. I was able to put a diaper and some wipes in this bag when I had to run out of the house with my baby. Highly recommend.”

Price upon publish date of article: $395

Coach Sling Pack $395 Buy Now At Nordstrom

The Row Large Park Tote Bag

Best Luxury Handbag for Everyday

Home of quiet luxury, The Row is a go-to label for the most beautiful and coveted accessories of the season. The Park Tote is one of its must-haves, carried by the likes of Kendall Jenner, who uses hers for running errands and sessions at the gym. With such a spacious size it’s no surprise, as it can easily fit a laptop, wallet, and workout leggings in its suede-lined interior. The Row’s everyday shoulder bag also comes in four very chic yet versatile colorways that will work with plenty of existing looks in your wardrobe. In terms of investment, this is a bag you can take everywhere and rely upon to elevate everything you carry it with.

Price upon publish date of article: $2,690

The Row Large Park Tote $2,690 Buy Now At Net-A-Porter

The Row Large Park Tote $2,350 Buy Now At Ssense

Dior Book Tote Bag

Best Everyday Designer Bag

Trust Christian Dior to make the tote bag into a seriously luxurious investment piece. The fashion house’s now iconic Book Tote was introduced by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri and features the Christian Dior Paris logo along the centre. The tote is available in a range of backdrops such as this beautiful Toile de Jouy motif, and it can also be personalized for a truly bespoke finish.

“I personally look the Dior Book tote in the medium size,” says celebrity stylist Samantha Brown. “It’s large enough to fit all the essentials, plus a laptop or tablet. It’s lightweight and doesn’t have any hardware, which is a nice chance from the clunkier bags I sometimes carry.”

Price upon publish date of article: $3,350

Dior Book Tote $3,350 Buy Now At Dior

Louis Vuitton NéoNoé MM Bucket Bag

Best Logo Everyday Bag

Louis Vuitton has taken the classic bucket bag silhouette and made it into one of the most wanted accessories of 2023. Enter the NéoNoé MM. Compact yet beautifully formed, this slouchy bag has all the space you need for those everyday essentials while making a serious style statement.

“I’m currently carrying a bucket bag from Louis Vuitton,” says Brown. “I find bucket bags to be very comfortable to carry, easy to access and that they give a more casual vibe to an outfit,” she says. The fashion house’s Monogram Empreinte Leather also elevates this everyday Louis Vuitton bag shape to luxurious new heights.

Price upon publish date of article: $2,379

Louis Vuitton NéoNoé MM Bucket Bag $2,379 Buy Now At Farfetch

Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag

Best Affordable Bag for Everyday

It’s very rare that the season’s ‘It’ bag costs below $20, but Uniqlo’s Round Mini Bag has become just that. This cute everyday bag has a lightweight, banana shape and is designed to be worn across the body or on the shoulder with the adjustable strap. One of the most notable things about this bag, however, is the amazing number of items it can hold.

One TikTok user posted a video of how much she could easily fit: Her haul comprised a packet of biscuits, a lip balm, phone, wallet, keys, phone charger, headphones, perfume, EpiPen, and a hair clip. If you don’t have one already, buy one immediately in your favorite color.

What the reviewers say: “Great bag! It holds so much for its size and squashes up to fit in hand luggage on a budget airline”.

Price upon publish date of article: $14.90

Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag $14.90 Buy Now At Uniqlo

Parker Thatch Nylon Tote Bag

Best Everyday Tote Bag

Californian, female-owned brand Parker Thatch is a destination for love-forever bags with a streetwear edge, and Brown is a big fan. “Parker Thatch makes a perfect tote in nylon, which is lightweight and timeless,” she says. The Medium Mimi she speaks of is crafted from camouflage-print nylon with orange top handles and a colorful grosgrain striped trim.

Functionality is key to this designer tote bag, with a zip-top opening for keeping your valuables secure on the move, and space for a 13-inch laptop. The brand’s flat clutches fit in perfectly if you want to add more internal organization, and you can also purchase an additional longer strap that attaches at the ends for further customization.

What the reviewers say: “This is the most functional and stylish bag I’ve owned! May we never be parted”.

Price upon publish date of article: $586

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Best Overnight Bags

• Color and fabric: “Neutral colors in good quality leather or nylon will hold up over time,” advises Brown. Blumenthal also adds that muted tones are key this season. “However, expect to see the bright greens, the Barbie pinks, and at least one bold color in every designer’s assortment,” she says.

• Design: “Smaller or more minimal branding feels modern right now, while logo mania comes in and out,” Brown explains. She adds that when investing in a higher ticket item, consider the cost per wear and how much use you’ll get out of the bag over time. 

• Comfort: “Comfort is key when purchasing a new handbag,” advises Brown. “Make sure it has a supportive strap and isn’t too heavy when empty.” If it already feels cumbersome, you should rethink — no matter how beautiful the design. Don’t forget that the beauty of the everyday bag is the way it marries style and practicality, and its ability to take you anywhere.

• Size: Empty your current everyday bag and think about what you actually need on a day-to-day basis. If you simply need a wallet, phone, keys and lip balm, a smaller bucket bag or crossbody style will suffice. If you want a bag to also take you to the gym after the office, with space for other essentials like your child’s water bottle and a small laptop, you’ll need something bigger like a slouchy tote or backpack.

• The bucket bag: Bucket bags got their name as their shape largely reflects that of an actual bucket, with a cylindrical shape and tall sides. Most have drawstring closures, like the Louis Vuitton NéoNoé MM or Gucci Ophidia. Versatile and chic, Brown adds that “A bucket bag is comfortable, casual and fits all the essentials.”

• The tote: Characterized by its large, unstructured size with parallel handles, a tote bag is super versatile and ideal for those days when you need to carry a little more. You can find a number of materials, such as canvas tote bags or leather tote bags. From the Marc Jacobs’ The Tote Bag to Mansur Gavriel’s beautifully understated large tote, practically every brand has one in their collection.

• The backpack: While backpacks are traditionally a utilitarian essential, they can also make a super chic style statement, too. Backpacks in lightweight nylon have a sportier feel, but if you want a smarter look, opt for one made from butter-soft or quilted leather. A backpack is also a good option if you find that cross-body or shoulder bags affect your posture.

• The crossbody bag: “A crossbody is very versatile and can be styled many different ways,” says Brown. Blumenthal adds that “clutches have experienced a resurgence with brands cautiously adding at least one to their offerings. However, unlike their older contemporary, they will come with an option to be worn as a crossbody”.