There’s been a serious case of Honey, I Shrunk the Handbag in the land of fashion over the last year or two, with everything from crossbodies to baguettes being given the shrink-ray treatment. Just look at Jacquemus’s Le Chiquito bag (“bag” being a relative term here), which can barely fit a 50-pence piece—let alone a phone. Remarkably, these micro purses have been selling out in droves. Well, I say enough is enough. While I can appreciate the dainty stylings of a shoulder bag or the neat proportions of a clutch as much as the next person, I simply can’t get on board with the clickbait appeal of the nano bag.
If, like me, you’re desperate for an antidote to all this impractical fashion, let me introduce you to the macro tote, aka your new bag best friend. It can fit roughly 30 Le Chiquitos in it, and these bags are a living embodiment of the axiom “the bigger, the better,” thanks to their roomy interiors and generous proportions. Purse, keys, phone? That’s nothing—these bags will fit your lunch box, water bottle, book, hairbrush, etc. Essentially, everything except the kitchen sink.
If this isn’t enough, the macro tote is also so easy to buy on a budget, as there are so many expensive-looking iterations floating around on the high street. Mango and COS are looking particularly chic with their clean, minimalistic designs that will make any outfit look instantly more premium. If your budget is a little more generous, I’d recommend Dragon Diffuson’s woven tote, which stands out with its intricate leather plaiting. Or for a logo-clad showpiece, you can’t go wrong with a JW Anderson shopper—just maybe don’t use it for the weekly groceries shop.
Scroll down to see and shop my edit of the best macro bags. Trust me—you won’t regret it.
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