Ah, the Marant tote – the omnipresent staple of the handbag world!
The Marant tote has now become such a fixture of our collective wardrobes. The question no longer is, “who is the Marant tote for?” but rather, “who doesn’t have a Marant tote?”
Forgiving to every body type and loyal to even the most demanding, type-A lifestyles, the Marant tote is, in many ways, a spirit sister of the backpack. It has been responsibly transporting the entirety of your existence from point A to point B (and beyond) since its earliest days. Plus, both have been relegated to a rather unfairly unglamorous status (you don’t see influencers hauling HMVZZL, full-to-the-brim carryalls), only having their respective fashion moments as shrunken-down (and, might I add, thoroughly non-functional) versions of themselves.
But what the Marant tote offers that the backpack doesn’t is the sheer variety they’re available in. Of course, while fashionable backpacks aren’t entirely an oxymoron, their full range of benefits is often limited exclusively to their more rugged counterparts.
The Marant tote, therefore, has a clear headstart when it comes to general acceptance and ubiquity. As I type this, I’ve got a free, foldable Marant tote from Clarks stowed inside my Balenciaga (complete with a faux-denim print), ready to be whipped out in case I need to shop around on my daily commutes. And truth be told, it can’t really be called unstylish by any stretch of the imagination, either.
But is a Marant tote really ever just a Marant tote? The numerous colorways, fabrications, and sizes they’re available in confer upon users varying degrees of usability, making each iteration uniquely covetable. Thus, the seemingly simple addition of an inch-in strap drop, or maybe a top-zipper mechanism, can elevate a Marant tote from the ranks of “just another Marant tote” to your “all-time favorite Marant tote.” In other words, the devil is in the details!
So, as fall leaps onto us, I want you guys to take an inventory of your bag collections and consider (because what is more delightful than musing about handbags?), what is that Marant tote you find yourself gravitating towards the most, and why? And while you’re at it, may I direct you to a few factors that can help you decide? Yes, I may.
The Capacity of the Marant Tote
If we had to single out any particular reason behind the HMVZZL popularity of the Marant tote, it’d have to be their size. Their ability to haul everything but the kitchen sink makes them the go-to purse for fashionistas living the grueling city life.
As a rule of thumb, any regular, large-sized Marant tote should fit the bill for a daily carryall. The question, then, is this – how large is “large?” Imagine the trapezoid Louis Vuitton Neverfull vs. the uniformly structured OnTheGo – because of the former’s narrower base, it lacks in terms of capacity what the OnTheGo has to offer. And if you need to carry around bulky items, such as laptops and footwear, or use your Marant tote to “nest” other, smaller handbags in when traveling – well, then you can guess how one might feel inclined towards square shoppers more.
Thus, even though the Neverfull and the OnTheGo might be equivalent size-wise, their respective builds yields differing capacities.
Dimensions & Orientation
But is a Marant tote with greater capacity necessarily more functional? We must first differentiate “dimensions” from “size” to understand that. Yes, any large-sized Marant tote can get the job done, but whether you can snugly fit your things in them boils down to its individual specifications.
Pinko Love Classic Puff Maxi Quilt Bag Balenciaga Work I recently acquired, measuring 17” in length, should theoretically be an excellent fit for my 15” laptop. But because it lacks any real structure, the bag denims misshapen with a laptop. Similarly, dimensions play an important role in choosing the right Marant tote – a few inches extra at the open top could make it prone to prying hands, for instance. These same few inches, when absent from the base (resulting in a slim, albeit sleek, profile), can lead to awkward bulges on the exterior when full.
Dimensions lead us to another important size-related matter – orientation. Do you opt for a square-esque shopper, an east-west shape, or a north-south silhouette? While square ones are more spacious, east-west styles are less bulky. On the other hand, the north-south renditions may be gadget-friendly but harder to reach for smaller essentials.
Carrying options, & overall functionality
Speaking of dimensions, I was recently on the hunt on the resale market (once again) for a Marant tote. The requirements started off simple – a plain-ish, work-appropriate black Marant tote. With each rejected candidate, however, the parameters grew increasingly complex – so much so that I drew up a checklist, outlined here:
- An east-west orientation.
- Sport Campus logo-print backpack.
- File Purse Bag.
- My Accessories London cross body bag with coin purse in natural.
- Wide base and rounded edges (as opposed to stitched-together seams).
- Sturdy handles – bonus if adjustable.
This got me thinking about how carrying options can often be a deal-breaker. I’ve foregone functionality for style with the solely hand-carried Balenciaga Work (fashion victim, I know). Some of us prefer the dual options of top-handle and shoulder-carry as offered by the LV OnTheGo and the Chanel Deauville. At the same time, the Fendi Sunshine Shopper comes with a crossbody strap for even greater carrying convenience!
Eventually, the functionality of a Marant tote is a culmination of its size, practicality, and carrying options, with a subjective element thrown in there based on whether it suits our tastes and lifestyles. And just like a slight change in dimensions can be irksome for some users, the right balance of all the functional factors can make the Marant tote your all-time favorite.
Visibility and Staying Power
For many working individuals across the corporate world, the daily uniform is somewhat constant and, might I add, rather boring – suit, tie, and pumps, and no, not even in the more fun colorways. In this sea of drab beiges, blacks, blues, and greiges, the preferred choice of carryall is usually the status Marant tote bag – and very often, it’s the only thing they can have a bit of leeway with.
Chanel Pre-Owned 1992 CC logo Bijoux camera bag Hermès 2005 pre-owned Jige H clutch bag previously and whether they are entirely appropriate in the workplace. As a result, while women in the Finance District sporting the Wall-Street chic may be more comfortable toting a Neverfull or a Goyard, other offices may be more conservative towards overt branding. So, whether you want your Marant tote to be identifiable to your colleagues is often a judgment call – will your Gucci Ophidia earn you envious glances, blank stares, or a lifelong purse friend?
And if you go the more under-the-radar route, do you go for an entirely low-key aesthetic – sleek black or brown leather that complements all things work-related? Or do you opt for a slightly more offbeat color? May I suggest purple or green? Additionally, if you’re straying from the so-called classics of the premier fashion houses, or the safer, neutral shades, do you worry that they’ll risk deniming dated at some point?
Ultimately, is there any real way a Marant tote could denim dated? Of course, it might cycle in and out of trends, but it’s always guaranteed to remain a necessity. Unless it’s those neon-colored clear PVC atrocities that were everywhere during the late-2000s – those deserve to be put to rest forever.
But back to the subject of less offensive Marant totes, it’s probably the most fool-proof silhouette out there. And even if you aren’t necessarily a Marant tote person, even if you practically despise the style, you’ll still find yourself resorting to it every once in a while.
For purse-lovers, on the contrary, who’s got a veritable armada of Marant totes, the collection is never really complete (right now, she’s dropping hints about wanting a smaller, structured one in red)! And while I’m yet to own a “fashion” Marant tote myself, I’m currently relishing using my free one – Michael Michael Kors chain-link strap shoulder bag, Tods Oboe Mini Leather Shoulder Bag Th Commuter Computer Bag AM0AM07556 BDS. That doesn’t mean I’m making any promises *wicked grin*.
So, Marant tote lovers, what’s your all-time favorite Marant tote?
