Everlane Day Market Tote Review

I love a great crossbody mini bag as much as the next girl, but working a regular 9 to 5, it’s not really the most practical option for me day-to-day. My bag tends to become a little bit of a catch-all for me, and I personally like to reach for something throughout the week that can accommodate items such as my lunchbox, a spare pair of shoes, or the odd package I’ve been sent to work with ease. If you’ve watched any of my WIWIAW videos, then you’ll already know that a classic leather tote tends to be my daily bag of choice, something that often spills over into the weekend, and it only seemed natural to put the Everlane Day Market Tote Bag to the test. It’s a fairly simple design; flat leather straps, one large open pocket with a smaller internal pocket, with very minimal branding stamped into the leather near the opening of the bag.

There were a few things that drew me in to the Everlane day market tote; for a start, I completely fell for the pure simplicity of the design. My style tends to be pretty basic, and aside from the odd statement shoe, I prefer to invest in the classics, and this bag ticked all the right boxes from a design perspective. While there’s a touch of branding visibile, I liked that this was pretty understated and really only noticeable up close. And finally, I loved the colour options. The tan saddle/cognac shade made famous by Meghan Markle is absolutely stunning, though it was the blush-toned beige leather option that really cinched the deal for me.

QUICK FACTS

Price: $175USD
Available in seven colours: Black, Navy, Blush, Cognac, Light Taupe, Red and Rose
Made in: Florence, Italy
Fabric: 100% Italian leather. Unlined interior.
Care: To clean, wipe dry with a damp cloth; for best results, apply a leather conditioner and water-repellent spray before first use and after each cleaning.

SIZE & QUALITY

SIZE: The dimensions of the Everlane day market tote bag measure 19 inches wide at the top and 16 1/2 inches wide at the bottom, with a height of 13 inches and a 9 1/2 inch handle handle drop, which make this a pretty hefty size against my 5’8″ frame. I like the fact that the bag is pretty well balanced from a height to width ratio – and it makes for the perfect size for my every day needs. I generally have this on rotation during the work week as it fits my lunch box, laptop (if I have it on me), notebook, a small beauty pouch, a calico tote bag, a scarf or sweater if needed, and a travel-size umbrella quite comfortably.

FABRIC COMPOSITION: I’ve come to expect quality when it comes to Everlane leather goods (their leather shoes have set the bar high!), and the day market tote didn’t disappoint. It’s a sturdy smooth leather without any real grain to it, which makes it look very high end on the exterior. Inside, the bag is unlined on the sides but lined at the base, so you’ll feel the texture of the raw leather – something that may or may not be off-putting, depending on your preference. Thankfully, it doesn’t appear to be colour treated, so I haven’t found that there are any issues with colour transfer on items that I place inside the bag. I opted to get this in the ‘Light Taupe’ colour, and so one other point worth noting is the ‘dye’ process. It doesn’t suit me to baby my bags, so I like them to be as carefree as possible, which means that the odd nick and scratch is inevitable. I managed to get a small scratch near the base of my Everlane day market tote, which has exposed the natural colour state of the leather. This suggests to me that the leather used has been painted, rather than vegetable tanned to achieve the colour. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this process, it can crack, or in my experience, scratch over time, so it needs to be cared for appropriately.

DETAILS: One of the things that sets this bag apart from other totes I’ve owned in the past, is the rigid leather base; I like that it holds its shape and doesn’t droop when carrying something thin and tall such as a laptop. The leather is pretty sturdy, however it’s also quite a floppy style, meaning it won’t stand up on its own. Inside the bag is a small pocket that you can place your every day essentials into such as a small card case, cellphone or keys.

FINAL VERDICT

A great leather tote bag is a pretty integral part of my every day work uniform, so I’m pretty specific on what I’m after. I want it to look refined; the appearance should be professional enough to take into a work environment. I want it to be spacious; admittedly I probably carry more things to the office on a regular basis than the average person, but it needs to be a practical size so I don’t have to carry any overflow in a separate tote bag. Finally, I want it to be hard-wearing; there’s not a lot of space in my wardrobe for items that aren’t durable, or wear poorly. I’m looking to add in pieces which are going to stand the test of time, and be a worthy investment that I’ll be reaching for year after year.

And, I think I found a lot of that in the Everlane day market tote. Despite the ‘painted’ leather, I do think that the quality is there, and I’m happy to overlook the raw leather interior as it doesn’t result in any colour transfer. It’s worn pretty well too. As I mentioned, I don’t baby my bags and while I’ve gotten a couple of small nicks, the leather is otherwise in pristine condition. It does have a tendency to crease a little which I suspect will only mellow out over time as the leather softens more, and my only real complaint is that the leather where the back pocket is has sagged quite significantly – something I hadn’t anticipated at all, though it’s only really noticeable when the bag is empty and unworn.

And then there’s the colour… As I mentioned earlier, I opted for the Everlane day market tote in the ‘Light Taupe’, and I don’t think I could have gone for a better option. It softens up an all black outfit, pairs really well with neutral hues, and it’s a great alternative to a classic black option.

Perhaps the bag’s only real shortcoming is that the size can be a little cumbersome. I do love a large tote bag, but the stiffness of the base of the bag means that while the sides are malleable (yet still sturdy), it can make squeezing into a tight space rather awkward. It’s not the most effortless bag to prop up on your lap when taking public transport, as it sits wider than the seat, meaning I generally will sit it on my knees at an angle when taking the train just to accommodate it. If you are on the more petite side, I’d probably recommend taking a look at the magazine tote instead which is a vertical shape – I think this will look a little less overwhelming against a smaller frame.

TL;DR: All in all, it’s a great choice at a reasonable price point – you’re definitely getting value for money with this bag. The leather is sturdy but malleable, meaning it will soften over time, and the oversized style means it can fit a lot in it. If you’re petite however, the size may be a little overwhelming against your frame (I’m 172cm tall/5’8″ for reference), and you may also want to avoid this particular style if you don’t like bags with a raw leather interior.