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In 1981 with a loan of £100, Karen Millen bought 1,000 metres of cotton and began creating white shirts to sell to friends. Now, more than four decades later, the brands’ ICON series partners with yet another, International Supermodel, Tyra Banks. Of course, Tyra is not only a supermodel, but also an entrepreneur and television personality (America’s Next Top Model series and The Tyra Banks daytime talk show). She taught me how to SMIZE (Smile with your eyes).

The ICON series highlights women from the Eighties, Nineties and Noughties. Previous faces of the series include Helena Christensen, Paulina Porizkova, Elizabeth Hurley, and most recently Elle Macpherson. With their influence, Karen Millen has curated dedicated collections inspired by their own unique style, fused with the brand’s classic design.

The campaign was shot at Milk Studios, Los Angeles, CA in August 2023. Collaborating with the Karen Millen team and photographer Laretta Houston, Tyra Banks is also the creative director of this latest campaign, bringing to life Tyra’s vision of her collaboration with Karen Millen.

“I am thrilled to be part of the Karen Millen ICONS Series, and feel honored to be featured alongside some of the most iconic supermodels in history. It humbles me to call them peers. People are going to channel their inner catwalk in these dynamic pieces as they power-strut down the runways of their world. The collection exudes glam meets luxury, and I love that the price point makes them affordable for everybody everywhere,” said Tyra Banks, Campaign Creative Director.

The capsule collection features Tyra’s favorite fashion fall trends that celebrate ageless women who are unapologetically themself no matter age, size or style. The Karen Millen x Tyra Banks Collection ranges from $136 to $1,152 USD and is available to purchase online at karenmillen.com

When I think of New York City, I think of a city bursting with artists/artisans sharing their talent with the world. Here are some notable ones I have met in recent years…

MESTIZA NEW YORK

After bonding as college students, Alessandra Perez-Rubio and Louisa Rechter founded MESTIZA in 2015. Their common ties to the Philippines and strong fashionable foremothers as inspirations, helped inform the brand’s DNA. MESTIZA NEW YORK creates iconic designs for iconic people – timeless, polished and dazzling as the women who wear them.

MESTIZA NEW YORK has a dual mission: to empower women through their Tastemaker Series, featuring inspiring women in their community, and to reduce waste through their Heirloom Project, providing excess inventory as gifts to women entering the next phase of their careers.

Min & Mon

In March, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the cofounders of Min & Mon, Catherine McKenzie. I escaped from the cold crisp New York weather into the Soho Flagship. I was greeted not only by the bright eye-popping palate Min & Mon Handbag and Accessories but also Catherine’s warm smile. The Columbian born, New York designer’s brand embodies the company’s mantra, “In the Sea of Life, Be an Octopus” to the fullest. The company invests in a fair-trade Columbian workforce, partners with social justice organizations like the Advancement Project, Be the Bridge and Colombia’s Wayuu indigenous community through Human Rights Watch and is working on making their products more sustainable. It’s hard not to love a brand so devoted to their loyal customers and growing community.

Fortune & Frame

Gretel Going is the founder of Fortune & Frame, a jewelry brand whose signature pieces hold personalized messages and love notes-to-self. The brand now includes a variety of accessories and keepsakes. Born out of the necessity of keeping an insightful fortune paper, her solution became the brand’s now-iconic fortune cookie locket. It’s such a unique way to hold meaningful messages; my fortune cookie locket has the message “Everything always works itself out.”

It’s no mistake that Gretel’s Fortune & Frame pieces have been worn by celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Kate Hudson, and Jennifer Hudson. Global stockists include retailers like Anthropologie, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong and Le Maison Simons.

DAFNE Italy

DAFNE Italy is, Creative director, Valentina Dafne Perissi’s first solo venture. With a base in fashion (working for Roberto Cavalli for a decade) and living in Florence, Valentina took her knowledge across the pond to New York City (by way of Milan and Tokyo) to start the brand. It was a huge step to move, from visiting New York with her fashion photographer dad at 11 years old. As told to New York writer, Wendy Sy, “Dafne is my middle name. My parents were supposed to call me Dafne but in the ‘80s it was a bit too different, so they named me Valentina.” Spot the eye in the “A” in the brand’s logo? This can be found in many of Valentina’s designs which speaks to her own pursuit of finding meaning in life.

Creating “art that you can wear,” her customized hand-painted apparel and accessories are infused with that vibrant New York energy. I love the elevated Majestic Blazer complete with feathers and hand embroidery. A statement piece to say the least.

Dovetailing on Sofia Ritchie’s star-studded France wedding, NADINE MERABI releases a beautiful collection ready for wedding season. Say ‘I do’ to a forever love. Bridal SS’23 incorporates 13 designs with 12 brand new pieces and 1 already known and loved piece revamped in white for the bride. This collection incorporates a beaded and floral story along with a selection of other stand-alone breath-taking designs like jumpsuits, fitted shorts and crepe maxi fishtail skirts.

I love the complimentary detachable tonal slip dresses, available for both the beaded and floral dresses. The slip dress can be worn underneath as a layering piece to provide extra coverage while creating the illusion of a luxurious sheer finish when worn on the body. Available in both light nude or dark nude. 

“Offering tonal slips ensures that everyone can wear MERABI. We are inclusive and we continually ensure our designs match this by offering pieces that everyone can feel comfortable in.” – NADINE MERABI Design Team

These 13 styles create a collection encapsulating timeless beauty and glamour. A true ode to tradition but a nod to the modern bride.

Exclusively available at Nadinemerabi.com.

Check out this article from the knot about finding your perfect wedding dress.

In 1981 with a loan of £100, Karen Millen bought 1,000 metres of cotton and began creating white shirts to sell to friends. Now, more than four decades later, the brands’ ICON series partners with one of the best in the business, International Supermodel Elle Macpherson. The series highlights iconic women from the Eighties, Nineties and Noughties.

This fourth volume, entitled All About Elle, has Elle Macpherson at the center. Instantly recognisable across the globe, she has sustained her reputation as The Body, the brains and the beauty.

Hear from Elle…

How would you define your personal style?

Elle: I believe style is a reflection of your attitude and your spirit; how you are in this world. My personal style tends to be ‘heart-led’ which makes it natural and effortless.

What are your favourite pieces from the edit?

Elle: There are so many great pieces from this collection. I really love the yellow suit, it had an easy masculine/feminine almost Japanese-inspired vibe. The long black dress was so chic, sexy and effortless and I see myself wearing it with flip flops even on the red carpet – that’s very much my style! I also loved the white oversized jacket. It was the first look we shot and it really set the tone for the whole shoot.

I think the look that surprised me the most was the fluorescent green short dress and jacket which I actually loved, it had a real ‘90s supermodel feel.

What are your wardrobe essentials?

Elle: My personal wardrobe essentials anchor to quality and simplicity, and I love white and cream, no matter what the season!

The curated dedicated edits inspired by their style, fused with the brand’s classic design will be available at karenmillen.com.

Read more about fashion partnerships on Fashion Week Daily.

As Earth Month comes to a close, we should recognize that if we are really looking to make a difference –Everyday should be Earth Day.

Expanding on my original story for House of Coco, which you can read here; adding a few more brands that make sustainability a pillar of their brand ethos.

Ready – To – Wear

Craghoppers

70% of this outdoor clothing brand is made using recycled materials and the brand is continuing to focus on developing technology that is planet friendly. The water repellent technology named EcoShield DWR, uses 63% renewably sourced content from a variety of plant-based sources.

ETICA

Based in Los Angeles, ÉTICA is rooted in the ideals of fair labor practices and environmentally conscious manufacturing. Their factory, Hera Apparel has been manufacturing for the premium denim industry for over 20 years by using the most sustainable and eco-friendly technologies available. The brand is a supporter of One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation. For every purchase made on eticadenim.com a tree is planted.

French Lime

Founded by Denise Saad, French Lime is the sustainable athleisure brand designed to last (with a 10-year warranty), using quick dry eco-friendly fabric that won’t lose its shape or vibrancy.

Kinflyte

Designed by women, for women. The patented Posture System will support your posture and lifestyle, no matter what you do. Offering sizes in XXS-6XL, and A-K Cup, the brand prides themselves on being an inclusive brand that creates sustainable apparel to help everybody move better.

Kindly

Kindly, the planet-friendly, Walmart-exclusive intimates brand, is on a mission to make the world a kinder place. Launched by the lingerie manufacturer Gelmart, the brand’s goal is to offer affordable, inclusive, and sustainable intimates to consumers. All of the products in the line – which also include underwear – is made from 75% recycled materials. The brand partnered with Walmart to bring you the first-ever plant-based bra cup made from sugarcane, and a collection of intimates sourced from recycled materials.

LA RELAXED

This female-founded eco-friendly brand is making clothes in a more responsible way, all under one roof in Los Angeles. It takes less than 100 steps to complete a garment, dramatically reducing their carbon footprint. LA RELAXED is made in limited runs, using natural fibers and deadstock fabrics, offering beautiful pieces designed to be worn across seasons and trends.

LILYSILK

The sleepwear and home brand uses the finest Grade 6A silk from China – the producer of the world’s finest silk and Grade A Cashmere from Inner Mongolia. LILYSILK partnered with TerraCycle on a Recycling Program, which offers a free and convenient way to recycle non-donatable silk and cashmere products including bedding, women’s/men’s apparel, and sleepwear.

Losano

Made locally in Los Angeles, Losano empowers consumers to reduce waste by buying less and investing in quality. The collection of elevated fitness wear, lounge sets, and athleisure uses recycled and recycled and eco-friendly materials throughout. Losano’s high-performance garments don’t sacrifice style or comfort and are available direct-to-consumer.

Londre Bodywear

Londre Bodywear is a sustainable fashion label offering ultra-flattering swimwear made from recycled plastic bottles and butter-soft loungewear made from sustainably harvested wood pulp. Dreamt up by founders Ainsley Rose and Hannah Todd on a beach in Mexico with the goal to empower and educate women on both environmental issues and social change. Ranging from versatile swim pieces to beachy loungewear, all pieces are available on LondreBodywear.com ranging from sizes XS – 5XL.

Luxeire

Luxeire’s mission is to provide women with sustainable, sophisticated wardrobe essentials that are exceptional quality, comfortable and easy-care. Developed from founder Gina Kuyers’ frustration with the discomfort and high maintenance of luxury clothing. With a 20-year career and PhD in school psychology, Gina spent decades applying research to real-world problem solving. She brought these well-honed skills to the challenge of designing and producing a line of elevated wardrobe staples made from luxurious, eco-friendly technical fabrics.

Marcella NYC

The sustainable fashion brand founded by Siyana Huszar, creates minimalist with an edge, pieces for the ultimate New York City woman and beyond. Their just-in-time production practices help the brand to stay on top of trends without creating unnecessary waste while using fully sustainable materials. With their vertical integration, the brand focuses on fair wages and compensation for all workers starting with their production teams including initiatives to enhance the livelihood of girls and women around the world. Marcella NYC is ensuring their impact is anything but minimal but always sustainable.

Neem London

The London based brand’s collection ranges from T-shirts to collared shirts, sustainable merino knits, and regenerative cotton button downs, all allowing for essential style with the advantage of supporting a carbon neutral company ethos.

Nudies and Nubies Essentials

Nikki Chu, a celebrity interior designer and entrepreneur, created Nudies for women who are always on the go, love to travel, and still enjoy being chic during that time of the month. The designs have a gentle effect on the environment and are made with biodegradable 100% cotton fabric with recyclable packaging and low impact dyes. Nudies recently expanded into the kids sector with Nubies , to encourage children to practice hygiene at a young age.

State Cashmere

To maintain the quality of its products, State Cashmere ensures sustainable practices across all facets of the process committing to sustainability and transparency; proudly being fair-trade and cruelty-free. Using pure Grade A cashmere and offering the fairest prices without compromising the wages and livelihoods of their shepherds from inner Mongolia, State Cashmere works to raise the circular economy and sustainability initiatives in the cashmere industry.

Tiare Hawaii

Since 2009, all pieces from Tiara Hawaii are handmade with love in Bali using traditional dyeing techniques that have been used for centuries. Branching out (pun intended) the brands latest eco-friendly collection, Naturals uses fibres from Banana, Bamboo, Eucalyptus, Pineapple, and Mulberry Bark Silk.

Accessories

Allurez

Allurez offer lab-grown diamonds that are both eco-friendly and affordable. All Allurez jewelry is proudly crafted with love locally in New York, USA with superior materials and craftsmanship.

AMYO Jewelry

AMYO Jewelry make minimalist and classic pieces meant to last at an affordable price point. Not only, does the company guarantee a fair wage and good working conditions for their artisans, but also upcycles and recycles materials for new jewelry.

Emma Israelsson

Born in Stockholm and with a touch of Los Angeles, the Swedish brand quickly entered the fashion market when it launched in 2013. Offering sustainable and lasting jewelry, always on-trend, and with a signature piece and bestseller representing a Peace Dove, the collections have been must-haves for many.

Haverhill

The sustainable luxury jewelry brand uses ethical practices in all steps of their production. With conflict free, traceable and 100% recycled gold and silver, they are known for their ability to personalize necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Rooted in confidence and thoughtfulness, they crafted a series of premade collections that are dedicated to giving back and they are also currently donating funds to save the children in Ukraine with their new Solidarity collection.

Idyl

Idyl offers the finest materials handcrafted in their Antwerp ateliers. The brand’s signature modular design allows customers to mix and match various styles over time to grow a collection that is easy as it is affordable. In addition to transparent pricing, the Belgium born brand proudly donates a portion of all profits year-round to the Global Fund for Women, a global champion for the human rights of women and girls.

M.Gemi

Each week M.Gemi releases new, limited-edition designs. By effectively speeding up the supply chain and building small batches of inventory more rapidly than typical manufacturing models, they’ve created limited surplus inventory, allowing them to keep product out of landfills and in your closet at an accessible price point.

Merry People

Merry People is the Australia-based, female founded, unisex, vegan gumboots brand that look cool enough to wear anywhere! Merry People’s quality vegan rain boots are 100% waterproof and made with natural rubber and lined with 4-millimeter neoprene, which adds warmth and comfort to the entire shoe. Unlike other rainboots, Merry People boots hug the foot a little more, and lines the footbed, giving the whole shoe a much more snug, comfortable fit that only neoprene can.

Modern Picnic

Founded in 2018 by 25-year-old, Ali Kaminetsky, Modern Picnic was born following an attempt to find fashion-forward adult lunchboxes in lieu of wasteful brown paper and plastic shopping bags. Committed to using organic fabrics and ethical manufacturing, Modern Picnic aims to provide working women with a chic and sustainable alternative to the traditional lunchbox. Crafted with functionality in mind, Modern Picnic feature high-quality vegan leather exteriors, insulated interiors, and available in several rich colorways with an option for hand-painted monogramming.

Paradigm Eyewear

Paradigm Eyewear is committed to offering products that are produced responsibly and sustainably so that the consumer can feel as good about their processes as their products. Using ISCC-certified recycled materials in their latest collection enables Paradigm to reduce the amount of newly produced plastics while also meeting increasing customer demand for sustainable fashion. Throughout the year, Paradigm donates a percentage to the National Forest Foundation.

Interested in sustainable beauty too? Read this piece on VOGUE.

Last month, I had the opportunity to meet New York designer, Rebecca Minkoff at her media launch for her Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter collections. It was such a treat to meet her and join in the fun.

In honor of today, Earth Day (April 22), Rebecca has re-launched RM Green(e), a collection of made to order pieces that are size inclusive and environmentally friendly. The name pays homage to the original Rebecca Minkoff flagship store, 96 Greene Street.

In partnership with Resonance, this collection uses cutting-edge technology to help mitigate waste, ensure fair labor practices, eliminate toxic inks, and reduce excess water usage, while using a block-chain traceability system.

Check out this Sustainability Made Collection.

Looking for more Earth Day/Sustainable fashion articles? Read more from our House of Coco team: Laura Bartlett, Anna Willatt and Elena Murzello and this article about sustainable fashion designers in VOGUE.

There is nothing that quite says “Hong Kong is back” like the flurry of international exhibitions that has been hitting the town in recent months. The biggest of which is Art Central, a key cornerstone of Hong Kong Art Week that is happening at the end of March. This showcase event is in its eighth year and on display are the next generation of artists from the brightest and the best of Asia. It is also their largest gallery lineup since 2019.

Art Central

Discover the Unparalleled Artistic Offerings at Art Central

There will be 37 cutting-edge galleries from Hong Kong including the likes of Contemporary by Angela Li and Square Street Gallery, 60 renowned galleries from Asia such as 021gallery (Daegu) and K Gallery (Chendu), and 12 galleries handpicked from the rest of the world including MARC STRAUS (New York), VETA by Fer Francés (Madrid), and Guns & Rain (Johannesburg).

There are large-scale, immersive installations like Glows in the Night by Yang Yongliang. It will be a video artwork to be presented on an eye-catching scaled LED installation of 18 metres. Yang has a background in Chinese paintings, so he will use his knowledge to reconstruct and recompose urban images in the style of historic Chinese paintings. Ecological issues caused by urbanisation, commercialisation and consumerism are raised in a thought-provoking manner.

There is a ground-breaking group exhibition, Blue Throat – Start the Churning. It places the spotlight on sixteen Hong Kong artists. They articulate through their work the relationship between the individual and the collective, self and the modern world through the lens of art in the contemporary society of Hong Kong.

Exploring Themes of Displacement, Discovery, and Survival

A significant portion of Art Central is devoted to performance art. Three performance artists will deliver a series of intimate flows of movement that focuses on the themes of displacement, personal discovery, and survival. For example, Kensa Hung and Kiwi Chan will be exploring the theme of homelessness with their piece, Pack/Unpack. They will play out a contrasting performance of opposing actions in a journey of what it means to pack and unpack. Particularly poignant is the work of Natasha Cheung who draws from her overseas background living as part of the Chinese diaspora in She Taut. She highlights key elements of her identity that have built up over the years in her survival as a queer, Chinese woman. Themes that are touched on in the recent Oscar-winning film, Everything Everywhere all at once.

Nurturing Future Artists

Central to the philosophy of Art Central is inspiring the artists of the future so they have a wide-ranging educational programme that engages all ages during the fair. There will be educational tours, talks and workshops that are free of charge to Art Central ticketholders. The activities vary from workshops that are suitable for children from 4 to in-depth one-hour talks from featured artists which are aimed at university students. Art Central’s Children’s Education Partner, Art Loop, will be offering a unique hour-long immersion course with an art workshop and guided tour aimed at children aged 4 to 12 years old. Whilst the fair’s talk programme, not only includes artists but also collectors, academia, and leaders at art institutions. Art Central will be running small guided tours of the fair twice daily on a first-come first served basis.

Explore Contemporary Art from Anywhere in the World

You can take part even if you are not visiting Hong Kong this month through their exclusive online partner, Artsy. It is the largest global online marketplace for buying, selling and discovering art by preeminent artists. The commercial digital platform will feature handpicked works from each exhibiting gallery, thus they can showcase their virtual booths to a global audience.

Since its inaugural edition in 2015, Art Central has been growing from strength to strength. It is constantly pushing the boundaries of contemporary art, especially for the Chinese market. It is universally recognised as the place to visit for collectors and curators representing private, corporate, and institutional collections worldwide.

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Here are some fall fashion outfit ideas from your favourite brands.

DRESS + BOOTS:

Rails // Nellie Dress

Rouje // ELSA Boots

Patou // Le Patou Bag

Cult Gaia // Alondra Earrings

Karen Millen // Corset Waist Blazer Mini Dress

Joie // Kehlani Boot

Princess Polly // Reeves Bag

Sanctuary // Ruched Dress

COAT + PANTS:

The Kooples // Wool Jacket with Houndstooth Motif

Princess Polly // Beckham Jacket

Sanctuary // Reissue Cargo Pant

Princess Polly // Tilton Claw Clip

Calzedonia // Cashmere Socks with Glitter Trim

SWEATER + JEANS:

Sanctuary // Rascal Slip-On Heeled Sandal

Rails // Chandler Sweater Vest

Karen Millen // Lydia Millen Cable Knit Shearling Cuff Sweater

Joie // Livia Bootie

Cult Gaia // Laleh Top Handle

Calzedonia // Animal Print Cashmere Socks

We all know Earth Day should be more than just a single day. That’s just a fact. To move the needle on any sort of systemic environmental change, a company should invest in these social responsibility measures from the start. It should not be a disingenuous afterthought.

Click on the links to read articles by Anna Willatt and Hannah Lynn Tan on sustainable fashion.

A popular term you many have heard floating around in the fashion world is deadstock, which is a way of upcycling. Deadstock refers to existing fabric/material that did not sell, was produced in surplus or from previous collections that can end up in the landfill if not reused. Gaining in popularity, a British company is simply named Deadstock Fabrics. Companies use deadstock and re-create these landfill-destined fabrics into brand new products. What’s old is new again for these brands helping to slow the roll of the fast fashion engine. Below I am listing a few of the more notable one’s for you to follow:

Boyish: 

Who knew that making clothes from deadstock saves about 10,000 pounds of CO2 emission each year? Jordan Nodarse, the Founder and Designer and his team at Boyish did. Designed in Los Angeles, Boyish uses ethical and sustainable practices when developing and manufacturing their jeans. They hunt for vintage rolls of eco-friendly fabrics to create their jeans and full collection of apparel. I myself adore the Joaquin, which can serve double duty and be worn as a dress or a jacket. To certify their sustainable efforts, Boyish has invested in metrics that reflect this effort. To achieve this, they focus on using a transparency supply chain platform, Retraced, utilizing the international Global Recycle Standard (GRS) that verifies the third-party certification of recycled content and finally measuring/scoring their sustainability performance through the Higg Index (developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition). The Boyish site also has a Consignment Shop that ensures that your pre-worn items will also have another life. In return, you earn money towards a new pair. Every purchase on Boyish is a win-win, as they plant a tree for every purchase on our website through 1% for the Planet and One Tree Planted.

Gaâla: 

Sustainable French fashion brand Gaâla was founded by husband-and-wife duo, Kelly de Gaâlon and Alexander Zhalezka. Being one of 8 siblings, Kelly is not a stranger to upcycling clothing. Hand-me-downs were simply a way of life. Cut to her time in Shanghai, where Kelly took her hobby and expanded it into a career. Developing Gaâla to fill a gap in the market; classic French styles made from high quality fabric sold at accessible prices. This is thanks to their team of talented tailors and cutters, who work in the small-scale workshop with ethical standards including compensation with an above living wage.

Maintaining a quality standard, Gaâla handpicks their deadstock material from around the world. From Italian fashion houses for the luxury leftover cotton, viscose and wool to Hangzhou, China, for the traditional silk. 

All Things Mochi: 

Years ago, I came across All Things Mochi and their collection that celebrated cultural, traditional methods of embroidery all around the world. I purchased a beautiful green off the shoulder top complete with embroidered mirrors on it, and it’s definitely one of the most unique items in my closet. It’s been almost a decade since All Things Mochi started showcasing different cultures through the handicraft of local artists for a contemporary market. Since then, founder and Designer of Mochi, Ayah Tabari and her team have re-framed their business’ fast fashion model to a slowed down, refined approach. All Things Mochi now has three collections: Mochi Reconstructed, Mochi Signatures and Mochi Finds.

Mochi Reconstructed, includes repurposed pieces and Mochi fabrics from previous collections combined into one-off creations. Mochi Signatures, includes unique favorites from Mochi’s most coveted collections (much like my mirrored top). Finally, Mochi Finds are a curation of vintage classics. Same Mochi flair with and fresh new focus.

BAGGU: 

Ever since my good friend gifted me a reusable nylon bag last year, which I carry in my work bag daily – I am hooked. Since then, I have purchased a few of their well-designed/fitting masks (the adjustable nose piece, straps and neck underlay makes it the most comfortable ones I own to date!). BAGGU was created to eliminate unnecessary waste, and has made a commitment to never incinerate or landfill their deadstock products.

I find myself frequently perusing their online store for products in their coveted strawberry print. I also love that BAGGU launched a series of deadstock bags using half and half prints. They also have reusable bags are assembled from one continuous piece of recycled nylon material, with the neck of the bag used to construct the carrying pouch. And when your bag is all worn out – you can recycle it with BAGGU for a discount off a new one.

It’s the end of summer, which means it’s almost fall time(!). Back to school – back to work, back to a solid routine is just around the corner and of course, fall fashion. Want to read more about Fall fashion and beauty? Read these articles on Fall fashion trends by our EIC Laura Bartlett and this piece on Fall #CocoBeauty by Rachel McAlley.

Even Vogue is onto some great totes. Check out the roundup here!

Almost 8 years ago, I bought my black Balenciaga tote bag and it has been my workhorse ever since. For starters, it fits my laptop and a pair of shoes which is valuable, if you are commuting. It’s narrower than it is wide, which can pose a little bit of an issue when accessing belongings at the bottom of the black bag. Yet, if in a crowded space it’s also great for the safety of your valuables. The thick leather is a tad bit heavy, but it has taken a beating over the years without breaking down.

Looking for a great tote for your life’s adventures? Here are my top selects that can take you from the office to the outdoors, sorted by material:

Leather: You really can’t go wrong with a leather bag. If you are wondering – Yes, it’s worth the investment. Leather bags can stand the test of time, being both fashionable and functional. In fact, over time, the leather can get soft and supple with use. 

The Kingly Tote by Smythson comes in super soft, Pavilion leather making it an ideal bag to roll up in your suitcase. The Pavilion leather is lightweight and flexible with a suede underside, not requiring a liner. Like their paper shopping bags, the Kingly is found in their iconic Smythson signature Nile Blue. 

Strathberry’s S Cabas has comfortable thick shoulder straps and a zippered top closure. The side pocket helps to keep things organized and it’s adorned with the S logo and gold-tone hardware. Shown in Tan, it is available in 2 other classic colorways including bottle green and black.

The Rebecca Minkoff Edie Maxi Tote will be your next staple in this go-with-everything Black colorway. The quilted leather chevron pattern can bring a subtle texture to any outfit. The antique brass metal chain shoulder straps and magnetic snap-fastening in front add a touch of glam. 

Leather and Canvas: The best of both worlds. A tote in both leather and canvas gives you the durability of leather with the semi-casualness of canvas. Don’t forget that wax coated canvas functions well in rain.

The Viator Tote in Gray/Tan by Portland’s Orox Leather can function as both a weekend getaway or a work briefcase. The travel strap along the side of the bag secures it to your trolley suitcase; while the interior sleeve helps keep 13-inch laptops and documents secure.

This roomy Kate Sheridan Waxed Canvas Tote is found on the curated online site, TOAST. It’s made from waxed British cotton canvas. Though the bag is quite generous at 19 inches in width, you can use the press studs at the sides to adjust the shape. 

Woven: Looking for something as functional as leather without the price point? These woven bags are a great way to carry a large number of belongings and accent your outfit at the same time.

Keeping traditional hand block stamping alive, this Pink City Prints Scarlet Posy Beach Bag is a fun way to add some pattern into your outfit. The cotton base is structured enough to stand upright, perfect for your next picnic in the park or beach day. It’s fully reversible with the Candy Lolita print inside.

Anything tweed, like this Urban Revivo Tweed Tote Bag in blue checkered pattern, is Fall fashion at its best. Think school-girl cool. This highly structured tote will let you keep all things safe – from paper to take out boxes which can open at a moment’s notice. 

Utility: Here are the true workhorses of the group. In the vein of the blue IKEA shopping bags (you know the one!), just more fashionable. These are the bags that you can throw around and still look great at the end of the day. 

What do you call a cross between a backpack and a tote? The Cotopaxi Todo Convertible 16L Tote – Cada Día. Carry it by the shoulder straps, or tuck them in when using the tote handles. Its padded 15-inch laptop sleeve and a fleece-lined pocket makes sure valuables are protected. Perfect for those commutes on the tube.

Part of the new F.A.R. (For All Routes) outdoor travel collection from AWAY, this F.A.R. 45L Tote is an organized way to stash all your essentials for work or play. The bag itself is made from lightweight, high-strength polyester and the webbing top cinch closure adjusts to how much you pack. As an added bonus, it meets requirements for most major airlines as carry-on luggage. 

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Hi! I’m Elena and I’m new here at #TeamCoco. I love writing about all thing’s lifestyle. Think travel, fashion and beauty. Check out what I am up to on my website.

ELENA