Put Down the Boring Leather Tote—Every Stylish New Yorker Is Carrying This Colorful Bag Trend Instead
Spotted in London and the French Riviera too.

I can understand why one might own a plain, somewhat boring (sorry) black leather tote bag. It's good for work, won't show signs of dirtiness, and goes with everything. But I'm sorry, at least in the summertime, they belong in a storage bin. When the sun comes out, a more fun, playful tote deserves some time in the spotlight, and stylish New Yorkers know it. Every outfit warrants a colorful market tote, decorated with stripes, gingham, or other, equally kitschy prints. They can be made of leather, canvas, or straw—it doesn't really matter—as long as it's not the same blasé black tote you carry in the dead of winter.
From The Row to COS, fashion's coolest brands are in agreement, sidelining their standard selection of classic tote bags in order to prioritize styles that release serotonin. Rather than dial down your summer outfits, their latest releases will take them to entirely new levels, whether you're going to the beach or the office. For added excitement, add an equally vibrant silk scarf or bag charm to their straps. Trust me, you won't regret it.
To help transition your tote collection from winter to summer, I went ahead and curated a list of the best colorful market totes on the market right now, including options from Staud, Tory Burch, Loewe, and more brands that are known for leaning into summer's unserious side. Ready, set, shop.
How to style colorful market totes
What you'll need: Barn jacket + Cuffed jeans + Sneakers + Green market tote
What you'll need: Striped Bikini + Duster cardigan + Animal-print pants + Striped market tote
What you'll need: White minidress + Cord sandals + Striped market tote
What you'll need: Pink sweater + Striped market tote
What you'll need: Floral top + Vintage jeans + Strappy sandals + Green market tote
Shop colorful market totes
I bet you we'll see Jennifer Lawrence carrying this bag come July.
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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