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Last year, the fashion world threw an are-you-serious curve ball at the non-fashion world when Balenciaga premiered its electric blue shopping tote. It was wide in size, had sensible straps and was made from a shiny plastic-coated canvas. Echoing the fabled story-line from The Emperor’s New Clothes, it was, of course, an exact replica of Ikea’s iconic blue reusable bag. Intentionally ironic yes, but an irony that would cost a fashion devotee a price difference of $2849. The style stars swooned, the interwebs meme’d and Ikea loved the compliment.
And this was not the first time. A year before, in July 2016, Balenciaga released a striped leather tote modeled on the archetypal storage market bag. Quickly followed by Louis Vuitton, Cèline and Stella McCartney who all did versions of the oversized checkered laundry bag.
Fast forward to the last two seasons and what started as a head-scratching trend is now majorly on the radar. Supermarket-chic shopping totes have become the new extra bag. Slung over shoulders of the street-stylers, alongside a micro-purse counterpart, this logo-y, oversized carry-all is your new backpack. Worn with fashion fully-fledged in clashing prints, garish colour and kitschy-trend appliques, downtown market style is now high fashion.
The 2018 tote is oversized, unapologetic and often distinctly labelled. Our slogan obsession seen splashed across a majority of them like a badge of honour. It’s walking marketing and we’re here for it.
It’s fun, it’s fashion, don’t overthink it.
Shop your new shopper right now.
Loewe fringed printed leather tote, $2490 from Net-A-Porter SHOP NOW
Zara jute tote bag, $20 SHOP NOW
Off-White printed textured leather tote, $1135, from net-a-porter shop now
Gucci ‘Ophidia’ medium leather-trimmed tote, $2098 from Net-A-Porter SHOP NOW
Assembly Label canvas bag, $30 from The Iconic SHOP NOW
Saint Laurent ‘Shopper’ leather trimmed canvas bag, $1595, from Parlour x SHOP NOW
Balenciaga ‘Bazar’ textured leather bag, $2225 from Net-A-Porter SHOP NOW
P.E. Nation carry-all, $69 SHOP NOW
