Tote Bags - How do you decide which one to Buy?
By Mark Knowles
Tote bags. Why on earth am I writing about tote bags? Simple - my wife wants a tote bag for Christmas, I have a designer hand bag blog and I have no clue what a bloody tote bag is, let alone what makes a decent one.
As far as I cam tell a tote bag is exactly the same as a non-tote bag, but bigger than a handbag and smaller than a rucksack and you use it to "tote" things around in. Great. Why not call the damn things an all-purpose bag and have done with it? Oh no - we need a special category.A quick perusal of the handbags for sale online and I am just about ready to puke at the sales pitches. I though the electronics' sales pitches were bad, but to read this rubbish, you would have difficulty believing life was worth living without the latest Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel or whatever handbag. And as for the incredibly annoying flash based, popup "designer" websites full of stick insects that look about 12 years old most of these manufacturers seem to insist of paying huge amounts of money for - I am surprised any woman ever buys a handbag.
The Chanel website made me sea sick in about 45 seconds and I am surprised their models can stand up unassisted. Don't these women eat? Ever? Pay them a visit and tell me it is not so..... I am no particular fan of obese, but these people are at the other extreme. Most of them carrying a bag, it looked like the bag outweighed them.
I would have thought a canvas bag would be more practical as these things seem designed to be taken to the beach of used to go shopping, but not the case apparently and these things are desirable. I knew there was a different between men and women other that the obvious plumbing ones and this is it. Handbags. I mean - I know plenty of women that crave a car or motorcycle, but a few French men aside (and yes, French men do carry handbags) - what man wants a new handbag?
And how the hell do you choose one? There must be forty million different ones. They all look the same to me, and I can't see any of them apart from the cheaper ones doing the job right.
So, I suppose I will have to resort to asking her friends which of the several million tote bags on the market is the "right," one, but I suspect that is going to mean 10 different answers from 10 different friends. I am bound to get the wrong color, or size or maker. Wouldn't it be easier to buy her a gift voucher?..........
Comments
My thoughts exactly - I am not qualified lol
You gave me a morning chuckle, Mark. I agree with Lynne - just get her a gift voucher. Personally, I carry as little as possible, and use tote bags strictly for grocery shopping and library visits.
Where does your wife shop for personal items? Go there and find the price range of totes. Then, and here comes the easy part, purchase a gift card. That’s it, shopping problem solved and she picks out the tote! LOL
Thank you ladies. See - I knew it - gift vouchers are the way to go.....
1. A gift card seems like you didn't put much thought into it. Why not ask her what brand she would like and that would narrow it down a bit?
2. Show her a few and ask which type she prefers.
3. Ask her how she would feel about a gift card.
4. Close your eyes, point to one and get it.
Pop-ups of stick insects that look about 12 years old? How interesting! Maybe you have something here.
I remember when I was 12 or 13, I was fascinated with handbags, but thankfully, I got over this obsession by the time I left my teens. I hate buying ANY handbags now.
Could it be that young ladies go through that stage in early adolescence because they now have important things to tote around? Hey, maybe the advertisers know about this, and tap into this mindset to sell their totes and purses.
You poor man and that terrible woman. My heart bleeds for. What agony women put men through tu tu tu. There should be law against it. Good luck and hopefully you'll have a good Christmas.
Now there never mess with a woman and her Tote bag
Make the gift card personal by adding a little handmade tote bag to put the voucher in or something if you feel the need to personalize it a bit. I would rather get a gift card than a tote that didn't go with a darn thing I have.
ask her what kind of tote bag. For a day out?the gym? Night out? Traveling? Then go by her style.. Girly, rocker, preppy? I suggest overstock.com amazing prices and great items. Good luck!
Voucher - definitely. My rule is that I want the one I like the look of that also fits the most crap. Pretty vs capacious ...I think capacious actually wins.
I have lots of tote bags, different colors. If you are serious about finding the right tote bag, look at what she wears when she is heading out of the house to go run errands etc. Match those colors. Thoughtfulness put into buying something is worth a lot more in my book than a gift card. IMHO.
I LOVE TOTE BAGS! What girl doesn't really?
This hub brought a smile to my face. My husband(god bless him) is a good shopper, and returns from his travels usually with two bags one for me and one for the daughter. I am always amazed that he picks such good stuff! I would opt to gift a voucher anytime!
lynnechandler 2 years ago
Aside from a few typing errors I feel your pain it is why I make my own tote bags. I was thinking the same as you a gift voucher or card seems appropriate here to a local shop that carries these items. No man should have to shop for women's accessories or feminine products.