I’m monogamous when it comes to my work bag. Winter, spring, and fall I tote around a sleek leather slot of a bag from the small NYC label Auto Studio. The piece looks as if it were chiseled from a glistening block of the finest obsidian. Yet, my tune tends to change as we hit the height of summer. In the heat, my stunning bag becomes an anvil soldered to my shoulder. And forget when I’m in a rush: waddling in kitten heels in 90-degree weather, the bag literally sticks to me, little salty dribbles of my underarm sweat cascading down its sides. The horror!
This is where the art of the summer work bag comes in. You don’t want to look too beachy with wrinkly linen. (Slacker! Forget that raise!) Nor do you want a sad little tote. (Which, as we all know, are a dime a dozen). The rule is simple: a summer bag can be made of soft, light material but the silhouette must be sharp. No feeble slouch. No bland anonymity.
One option is a summer material that is light yet strong, like straw. Consider a simple natural raffia bag from The Row, which is finished with substantial grosgrain handles. Want a richer hue? Madewell makes a dark chocolate brown straw bag that boasts collapsible sides.
In the same vein, there is the forever favorite preppy L.L. Bean tote, which, despite its casual materials, stands starched and erect, adding an air of structure to any look. This was a longtime editor favorite at the Vogue offices when I worked there, and I wanted to know if it was still so beloved. Irene Kim, Vogue’s Production and Editorial Associate, vouches for its continued popularity. “You are bound to get sweaty and nasty in the New York humidity, so why bother getting the handles of your leather goods all gross?” says Kim. “The L.L. Bean boat & tote can go right in the wash as soon as summer is over.” And let’s not forget the viral Trade Joe’s version that has crossed continents, or the monogrammed Alex Mill style that is equally schleppable.
And though there are leather naysayers during a heat wave, it isn’t completely out of the question. If you do opt for the sturdy material, reverse the formula: go for the strong material but choose a breezy shape. Vogue’s Senior Fashion and Style Writer Christian Allaire opts for a Mansur Gavriel tote in a deep green leather. “Everyone thinks it’s The Row,” he attests.
Ultimately, your summer work bag must be versatile. Have hope that even if you’re strapped to your cubicle office chair, shivering in the air conditioning, you can leave early and head to the beach, laptop and sunscreen and maybe even a bottle of chilled rosé in your summer work bag.
