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10 best tote bags

Accessorise with a stylish shopper this spring. Linda Sharkey finds carriers with room for all your essentials (and a bit more)

Thursday 16 April 2015 17:08 BST

From bold and bright to pared down pastels, here's our tote edit.

1. Flower Ball Shoulderbag: £200, follifollie.co.uk

This is really two bags in one - you get a colourful, roomy shopper with two straps and a pouch that you can zip up your valuables in or detach and use as a smaller clutch (there is an additional shoulder strap you can clip on to either piece). With a matte finish it has a sleek leather look and comes in nine colours, including this bright blue.

2. Geometrical Print Shopper Bag: £39.50, marksandspencer.com

M&S are really delivering on the accessories front this season. Here, a monochrome geometric pattern combined with a bright stripe makes for an eye-catching bag. It has a magnetic closure, but you can keep your wallet and phone safe in its inner zip pocket.

3. Arrow Tote Bag: £28, topshop.com

With all this sun, it’s time to ditch the black and greys in favour of summery sorbet shades. This minimalist tote in chartreuse green with a metal trim in the handles will fit everything from your laptop to your make-up bag. There is a nude version, too.

4. Reversible Vegan Leather Oversized Tote Bag: £42, urbanoutfitters.com

This pared-down shopper is reversible, so you can choose from spring-like mint or white. There’s also a detachable matching zip pouch, which can be used as a wallet. It comes in another five colours, too.

5. Animal Skin Teal Shopper: £26, simplybe.co.uk

This one gives you plenty of room – and a zipped compartment – in leather-look mock croc with an on-trend tassel in colour-popping bright blue. All for under £30.

6. Leather Shopper Bag: £49.99, zara.com

This is a great price for a roomy leather handbag. It’s unlined but that gives it a cool raw-edged look and the tassel adds texture. Inside, there’s a striped compartment for your valuables so you won’t be rooting around in the bottom of your bag for your keys.

7. Michael Michael Kors Cutout Leather Tote: £172, outnet.com

If you want a designer bag but can’t afford this season’s prices, the Outnet has some gems from previous collections. This bold red cut-out leather tote by bag designer of the moment, Michael Kors’s diffusion line, is perfect for spring.

8. Tote Bag: £34, next.co.uk

The high street staple has won a deserved reputation for its designer look-alikes for a fraction of the cost. This square tote is a case in point. It’s slightly smaller than some on the list so ideal for anyone after a more compact piece. Our pick is this classic ochre.

9. England Cara North South Tote: £169, modalu.com

If you’re after a timeless classic, we like Modalu’s elegant structured black leather tote. With three compartments – one zipped – it’s a good one for work. The unusual chrome hardware and Modalu’s signature shell on the lining, give it some nice distinctive features. There’s a new version in cream out, too.

10. Minimal Shopper: £17.99, newlook.com

You’ll notice a lot of pastel lavender accessories about at the moment. The minimal lines and matte finish on this bag makes it look more expensive than it is, and is another smart one that is good for spring office chic.

Verdict:

If you want to invest in a classic, elegant piece, we like Modalu England’s Cara North South Tote - opt for this season's cream version if you want something to lighten-up your wardrobe. If you have less to spend, New Look’s Minimal Shopper will suit you this spring.