J. Crew Summer Straw Tote

Buy at: J.Crew

I was never a bag girl, really. Always too much of a hassle, too big, too small, too girly. But when being friends with a wonderful girl who writes about bags has converted me into a bag girl, too (thank goodness, however, it’s not bag lady).

Wanting a great summer tote to carry all my goodies fashionably to the beach, the shopping promenade or a weekend brunch date had caused me for the past couple of months to search without luck. The charming provencal type bags where nowhere to be found stateside and most weave totes looked (and felt) as though they were to crumble. But then, today, I found this charming J.Crew tote. It was so love at first sight that I dumped my current favourite bag inside just so I could use the tote right away.

What I love is the size; it’s big without being big. It has beautiful lining inside which allows you to use the bag in three ways; one by using the tie to tie it closed, two by pulling the material up and cinching it or three, leaving it open all the way. Inside, there’s pockets for your cell phone, pencils, books and whatnot but it fits a huge beach bags, lots of mags, a camera, crayons and I’m sure a whole bunch of other things.

Walking down the street back home, I was asked by two ladies where I got such a bag. So perfect, they said, for a summer’s day. Oh yes it is.