Everlane Day Square Tote vs. the Everlane Day Market Tote – Comparison & Review

If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram, then you may have picked up on a new leather tote bag that I’ve added to my wardrobe; the Everlane Day Square Tote. And seeing as I’ve received a few questions about the size, I wanted to do a comparative review with the Everlane Day Market Tote.

Wearing Whistles ‘de rien’ tee (old but similar here), ASOS farleigh mom jeans, Everlane day heels

Now before I dive into it, if you want a full review on the Everlane Day Market Tote, I did share my honest thoughts HERE, so it might be worth reading that post before coming back to this one, as I don’t want to linger too much on the nitty gritty.

THE BASICS

So the first obvious thing I want to note about these bags, is that bar the size, the style is the same. Same style of interior with a slip pocket at the back, same logo embossed in the leather at the front, and same strap length (at least by my own estimation). The bag has a flat base, and is slightly stiff from the outset through the body, however this will soften and get creased or ‘floppy’ with age.

The only real difference aside from the size with these two bags I have is the colour, which can be a pretty big decider and it’s worth noting that the Everlane Day Market Tote does have four additional colour options. I have the Everlane Day Market Tote in the colour ‘Light Taupe’, which is a nice blush-toned nude (I’d say it pulls slightly more pink and darker than it appears on the website based on my own monitor). Whereas I opted for the ‘Cognac’ in the Everlane Day Square Tote, which is a classic warm-toned brown, that has a slight red undertone and darker hue in person.

SIZE COMPARISON

The main difference between these two bags is the size. And again, this can count for a lot. If you recall from my review of the Day Market Tote, I concluded that the larger size was probably going to be too big if you fell on the petite end of the height spectrum, and that observation still stands. And coincidentally, I have had a couple of women 5’4” or shorter reach out to me to tell me that they agreed with that assessment. So let’s talk about the size difference here.

Everlane Day Market Tote: Measures 49cm wide, 34cm tall, and is 10 cm deep

Everlane Day Square Tote: Measures 42cm wide, 34cm tall, and is 10cm deep

Essentially, the Day Square Tote isn’t as long as the original style. And you can probably see the size difference from the photos. I’ve been using the tote quite a lot since I received it, and I find the size to be very reasonable. It fits my DSLR along with a few other necessities, I can get my laptop in there, and it feels a little less cumbersome against my frame.

QUALITY

I also wanted to quickly touch on the quality, because I know investing in a tote bag can be a pretty big decision. I’ve been pretty happy with how my original market tote has held up. I have some minor complaints about how the leather has sagged or creased – mostly because I see these as imperfections from an aesthetic standpoint, when really they’re signs that the bag has been well-loved – but otherwise the leather hasn’t been prone to scratches and it’s been a great option when I want to carry around a lighter tote bag.

The leather on the newest iteration of tote bag is the same smooth feel. It can feel a bit plasticky at first (the nature of some smooth calf leathers), but the leather softens up after about a month of rigorous or daily use. The interior is unlined, however unlike my original tote which has a scratchy finish, it appears to have been shaved down so that it is smooth to the touch.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If I was headed to a deserted island and could only pick one leather tote, I’d still be opting for this tote from Cuyana as I prefer the more relaxed look. However I think if you’d rather opt for a more structured style, Everlane is a great place to look. The quality of the materials is good, the craftsmanship is clearly visible, and the colours are classic. While I see myself using and cherishing both bags for years to come, I do prefer the size of the Day Square Tote over the Day Market Tote. It’s slightly more compact, it’s easier to travel with, and it looks more in proportion with my frame (and I’m 172cm tall for reference). For me, this is pretty important. I don’t want to wear a bag that feels bulky, but I also need it to be roomy enough to fit in all the essentials. The Day Square Tote gives me the best of both worlds, plus the cognac hue is unsurprisingly versatile – perfect for both autumn/winter seasons and the warmer spring/summer months.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to know which bag you would choose! x

For full disclosure I did select and receive the Everlane Day Square Tote as a gift from the brand, however was under no obligation to post it or share a review. All thoughts are my own.