Spring is here and a tote is the bag to purchase and to carry for the next 6 months, even longer for some styles. Not only is a tote highly functional - dare we say even practical, but many are also very chic as well as statement-making pieces. They'll hold everything you need for the day, or the weekend, as well as they're a wear with just about anything bag. But a word of warning, don't think it's not necessary to take this "simple" accessory seriously. This bag, like all others, speaks volumes about your personal style – and most often without you even knowing it.

My favorite "investment" tote this year has to be the "St. Louis" tote from Goyard ($940 goyard.com. This bag is a classic and a staple, as well as a guaranteed status-lifter. It also comes in a wide array of colors and you can get it monogrammed if that's your thing. I'm featuring the blue tote here, but I've got my eye on a red one… And as I think about the woman at the gym that I noticed lifting weights with her St. Louis by her side, as well as the woman I saw yesterday breezing into Trader Joe's with a Goyard tote as her only accessory, whether we like it or not it's the choices we make in accessories, (even in a new Spring tote), that define how others perceive our style know-how. Track pants or not, somehow with the right bag or in this case – right tote, you can still look spot-on.

Below are some of my other favorite totes for Spring.


Marc Jacobs, Memphis Robert Lexie Tote, for $1,995 at

Barney's NY, Classic Canvas Tote, for $450 @

Kate Spade, Cape May Tracey Bucket, $455 @ katespade.com

Bottega, Printed Canvas Tote, for $960 at net-a-porter.com

Cole Haan, Genevive Small East/West Tote, $525 @ bloomingdales.com

Jennifer Bakken is a San Francisco based wardrobe consultant. For more information: cabinetdenvie.com.