Honey, Who Shrunk the Bag? Why You Need a Teeny-Tiny Tote This Summer

Hailey Bieber steps out for solo lunch in polka dot pants and black top in NYC
Photo: Backgrid

When it comes down to it, we’re tied to just a handful of essentials: Phone, wallet, keys, maybe a lip product and headphones if you really want to cover your bases. Too much for a pocket, these small yet crucial items usually float aimlessly in a big bag. You need something to contain them on a quick walk to the bodega, something to pop onto the passenger seat for a drive across town. Enter the tiny tote. Everything you need, nothing you don’t.

The ideal version has simple top handles and not much else, not even a closure. No pockets and no closure gives you the freedom to really stuff it, but the size means nothing is getting lost in the depths. And the best part of the tiny tote? It fits ever so easily into a larger bag. Essentials in the little bag for day-to-day use, little bag goes into the big bag when necessary—call it nesting, simple as that.

Featured in this article

The Celeb-Favorite
The Row Cecily tote bag
Jump to review
The Monogrammable
Alex Mill The mini tote bag
Jump to review
The Editor Must
Valesque Thea tote bag
Jump to review
The Easy Crossbody
Gucci GG Emblem mini bag
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The Classic Boat and Tote
L.L.Bean Boat and Tote bag
Jump to review
The Woven Basket
Hunting Season The small basket bag
Jump to review
The Vacation-Ready Raffia
Miu Miu raffia handbag
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The Studded Suede
Valentino Nellcôte tote bag
Jump to review

Both the practical and aesthetic appeal of these simple, tiny totes have officially caught on in a big way, and we’re lucky to have a flood of tiny tote options as summer approaches. From The Row and Miu Miu to L.L. Bean and Zara, in canvas or nylon, satin, raffia, suede, or crochet, there is a tiny tote out there for you and we can practically guarantee you won’t let it go for months to come. The sooner you have one in your life, the sooner you gain true freedom from the schlepp. Below, our favorite tiny totes to shop right now.

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The Row

Cecily tote bag

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Valesque

Thea tote bag

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L.L.Bean

Boat and Tote bag

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Alex Mill

The mini tote bag

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Zara

crochet mini tote bag

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Magda Butrym

Julia tote bag

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Hai

little silk bag

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Kallmeyer

Brunch bag

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Miu Miu

raffia handbag

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Valentino

Nellcôte tote bag

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Chloé

Spin tote bag

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Tory Burch

Perry tote bag

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Prada

Jardinière bag

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Gucci

GG Emblem mini bag

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Rue de Verneuil

canvas tote bag

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Hunting Season

The small basket bag

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Métier

Incognito 20 bag

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Polo Ralph Lauren

Play tote and crossbody bag

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Alaïa

Mena tote bag

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NLA

knot bag

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TL-180

Lola knitted bag

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Pura Utz

floral beaded pouch