It got really, genuinely warm in NYC for the first time this year over the weekend, and naturally, that got my yearning for a trip to a body of water. I grew up in the land of plentiful neighborhood pools, and now that I live somewhere they’re few and far between, I miss being able to throw a towel, a book and a bottle of sunscreen in a tote and get to one quickly. I’ll find a beach or pool deck before long, though; mark my words.
Getting some sun, even if you’re doing it in a local park, does require that aforementioned tote, though. Summer bags need to be roomy and lightweight, fun to look at but impervious to wear, stylish but not outrageously expensive. They need to dry quickly and hold a lot. We scoured the Internet and came up with more than two dozen solid options, from the very affordable to the decidedly designer. No matter which beach you’re headed to, you’ll find a chic, functional companion for your trip below.
Alexander Wang Woven Raffia Tote
$650 via Nordstrom
Balenciaga Cabas M Marble Tote
$960 via Balenciaga
Bensimon Canvas Tote
$85 via Shopbop
Deux Lux Crosby Tote
$145 via Shopbop
Eliza Gran Venice Tote
$98 via Shopbop
Frame Beach Bag
$265 via Shopbop
Hat Attack Perfect Tote
$98 via Shopbop
Herschel Supply Company Bamfield Supply Tote
$75 via Shopbop
Kayu Pinata Tote
$130 via Net-a-Porter
La Ligne Painted Woven Straw Tote
$195 via Net-a-Porter
Lilly Pulitzer Canvas Beach Tote
$68 via Nordstrom
Loeffler Randall Perforated Beach Tote
$495 via Shopbop
Mar y Sol Capri Tote
$135 via Nordstrom
Marc Jacobs St. Tropez Beach Tote
$348 via Bloomingdale’s
Michael Kors Santorini Tote
$495 via Net-a-Porter
Roxy Butternut Beach Bag
$46 via Zappos
Saint Laurent Beach Tote
$795 via Net-a-Porter
Sensi Studio Maxi Woven Toquilla Straw Tote
$290 via Net-a-Porter
Skagen Anja Copenhagen Linen Tote
$195 via Nordstrom
Sophie Anderson Jonas Crochet Tote
$470 via Net-a-Porter
South Beach Watermelon Beach Bag
$19 via ASOS
Straw Studios Conversation Beach Tote
$48 via Nordstrom
Tory Burch Penn Applique Tote
$350 via Tory Burch
Truss Sunset Woven Tote
$195 via Net-a-Porter
Want Les Essentiels Sangster Tote
$350 via Nordstrom
