As you may know by now, I am always trying to reduce my waste when shopping, whether it be retail or grocery shopping. One easy way to do that is by bringing your own (preferably stylish) reusable bags. Besides being far less stylish, plastic bags can take hundreds of years to decompose and often blow into our waterways, causing harm to animals — after only being used once.
Because of their environmental toll, a lot of cities and some states, like my home state California, have plastic bag bans in effect and charge you a fee if you use a store’s single-use bags instead of bringing your own reusable bags. (You can see a full list of which states have such policies in place here.)
When I first started using my own (stylish) reusable bags, the hardest part was just remembering to bring them with me. Now, it’s become a habit I don’t think about. To make it easy, I have a versatile yet stylish reusable bag hanging on a hook by my front door and I always leave some bigger bags in my trunk for groceries. I know many people also tuck a smaller one into their purses for any unforeseen purchases that come up.
Another way to use stylish reusable bags that many people don’t know about is as a purse for travel. I always pack a reusable bag made from fabric when I travel, as you can see in my Bali post. A fabric bag is super lightweight, so I don’t feel weighed down while walking the 20,000 steps a day that travel often entails. It also conserves a ton of space in my suitcase, no one wants to steal it, and it’s washable, which is super necessary for the messes I regularly get into while traveling. I got black gunk on half of my clothes while I was in Jakarta, and I still don’t know how I did it!
Anyhoo, below I have listed my favorite stylish reusable bags. Some are best for grocery shopping while others are better as a travel bag. I let you know the best use in each description.
Bonpoint x Khaite Diba Printed Tote Bag
This stylish reusable bag is great for everything. It works for travel. It works for grocery shopping. And please don’t forget that you can bring a reusable bag to the mall! Instead of accepting your Nordstrom purchase in a Nordstrom paper bag, put your shopping haul in your stunning Khaite bag!
Available at MyTheresa
Size: Height 35cm-14″, Max. width 50cm-19.5″, Max. depth 16cm-6.5″
Material: Fabric
How To Wash: Machine wash in cold water. Then hang it from its straps on a door handle in your house. This helps keep the straps smooth and not wrinkled as it dries. Skip the dryer as it will shrink it.
Williams Sonoma Market Tote
This chic reusable bag is perfect for shopping at a farmers market or grocery store (or even for going on a picnic!). It has dividers so you can separate your produce from bottles and containers. And it even has a strap on the outside in case you buy fresh flowers and don’t want the wet stems to drip inside the bag. Genius.
Available at Williams Sonoma
Size: 11 1/2″ x 11″ x 13″ high, 12″ handles
Material: Cotton canvas
How To Wash: Spot-clean with warm, soapy water and sponge
Scotch & Soda Graphic Tote
This stylish reusable bag is absolutely perfect for traveling. Throw your wallet and water bottle in here and then fill it up with whatever treasures you come across in your jaunt about town.
Available at Anthropologie
Size: 18″H, 17″W, 3″D
Material: Cotton
How To Wash: Hand wash
West Elm Claudia Pearson City Tote Bags
This canvas bag is thin, aka flat, so I often use it for travel. But it is best as a laptop bag when I’m heading to a casual work meeting and don’t want to be bogged down with my stunning, yet slightly heavier work bag.
Available at West Elm
Size: 13″w x 14″h
Material: 100% cotton canvas
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Madewell The Magazine Tote Bag
This metallic leather tote can basically double as a purse. It has an interior pocket and enough room to pop a laptop in.
Available at Madewell and Nordstrom.
Size: 16″H x 14″W
Material: Leather
How To Wash: Use leather lotion or bring it to your local shoe repair.
West Elm Claudia Pearson Culinary Tote Bags
I believe this collection of stylish reusable bags from West Elm are deeper than the West Elm ones mentioned above, therefore they are suitable for grocery shopping or a beach trip. This is one reusable bag I haven’t used yet, so please let me know if I am mistaken!
Available at West Elm.
Size:13″w x 14″h
Material:100% cotton canvas
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Corridor City of Angeles Tote
This stylish reusable bag has a velcro closure on top, which is nice if you’re using it to carry non-grocery items around.
Available at Revolve.
Size: 23″W x 17″H x 6″D
Material: 100% cotton canvas
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Medium Brown Bag Tote
You know I love Bloomingdale’s! Instead of getting a new, paper-brown bag each time you shop there, invest in a reusable one (or two!).
Available at Bloomingdale’s
Size: 14.5″W x 7.5″D x 15.8″H
Material: 100% jute, band: 50% jute/50% cotton, handles: leather, lining: plastic lamination
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Ronner Reusable Cotton Tote
This stylish reusable bag is great for travel, errands, or a smaller grocery run.
Available at Ronner.
Material: Cotton
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Boden Tilda Canvas Tote Bag
This reusable bag has an inside zipper to keep valuables like your wallet or keys inside. This would be a great bag to bring with you on vacation or to the beach or pool.
Available at Boden.
Size: 14″ wide at opening, height 12″ x 6” depth, total strap length 19½”
Material: 100% cotton
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Clare V. x Every Mother Counts Jumbo Tote
I love that this stylish, reusable bag by Clare V has two different strap options so you can wear it on your shoulder or carry it by the handles. This is my favorite bag for heading to the beach or clothes shopping at the mall. And 30% of all proceeds from this bag go to the non-profit Every Mother Counts, which focuses on improving maternal health.
Available at Clare V.
Size: 23 W x 17 T x 6 1/2 D
Material: Cotton canvas
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Natural Life Anytime Tote Bag – Spread Kindness
This reusable bag is large and sturdy enough for grocery shopping. I like using bags in this material for groceries because if something leaks it’s super easy to wipe clean.
Available at Natural Life.
Size: 15.5in L x 18in W x 7.5in D, 7in handle drop
Material: 100% polypropylene
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Kate Spade New York Canvas Tote Bag with Interior Pocket
This is another “flat” reusable bag, so this works for travel or as a laptop bag when heading to a casual meeting.
Available at Amazon
Size: 14″ tall, 13.5″ wide
Material: Canvas
How To Wash: Spot clean, air dry
Baggu Standard Baggu
My editor is a big fan of the Baggu reusable bags. She says she’s had hers for over 10 years and uses them for everything (groceries, as a lunch bag, on vacation, at the beach). They fold up into a super small square, so it’s easy to tuck one into your purse for any impromptu shopping that comes up. Plus, they come in so many fun designs and are machine washable.
Available at Baggu, Urban Outfitters, and Amazon
Size: 25 ½”, 15 ½”, 6″
Material: Recycled ripstop nylon
How To Wash: Machine washable
NPR Books We Love Tote
Support public radio and get a stylish, reusable tote bag in the process.
Available at NPR
