Everything on hand

If women could change their bags for every day of the week, they would, just like they do underwear. But while the latter is mostly meant for self-appeasement, bags are statement pieces. It’s futile to deny that bags are bought purely for functionality — if it were so, then those monograms wouldn’t stand a chance.

Women love their bags because these cavernous accessories are the easiest status quo uplifters there are, the new factors that decide a first impression. Style critics don’t just go from head to toe when looking over an outfit; now, looking sideways is a requisite. Remember how those huge hobo totes hauled the Olsen twins up the style ladder?

Every fashion-phile worth her bucket bag knows that designer labels, though a major consideration, are not at all necessary. Many women may profess label loyalty when it comes to totes but with the glut of bag labels on the market these days, bag monogamy is as questionable as the Murakamis being peddled in Mongkok. 

And if you are one to have a bag for every day of the week, you can’ really afford (and we don’t mean anything monetary by this) to stick to just one brand. Choosing to go with variety, after all, has never been considered a (fashion) crime.

Neutral

There’s a reason why we love the classics: Because they go with anything and save us the job of switching bags every day (some of us are attuned to monogamy). These fine leather totes are sturdy enough to take everyday use, and stylishly classic enough to be passed on to your granddaughter.

Patent

Now an ubiquituos finish for totes, patent resurfaces every season, relying on the hottest colors and shapes to mold its renovation. For summer, jewel tones sizzle. Both local brands and classic leather houses have picked up on the trend.

Quirky

Those stylishly illustrated figures that made Jordi Labanda a household name among the fashion cognoscenti have made a jump from notebook covers to soft, pliable totes. These slouchy canvas bags are the perfect summer carry-alls. In the same vein, Le Sportsac will never lose a fan base precisely for refusing to stick with plain-colored nylon totes. Every fun print churned out by this French bag brand deserves to be framed.

Oversized

Women can probably attribute their neck pains to those torso-sized bags now so prevalent but we don’t really see fashionably-clad women rushing to the chiropractor (in the same way, stick-thin stilettos aren’t responsible for giving business to podiatrists). Besides, oversized totes are the ultimate in fashion functionality — now you can lug around all the creams involved in your morning beauty ritual and still have space for your Mac Air. The conundrum, however: Why bags seem to be getting bigger as gadgets are getting reduced by the millimeter each day.