“It’s an extension of me!”: 5 stylish moms on their daily totes

I have a theory: you can tell a lot about a woman’s life from her everyday tote. Her choice of bag, the way she carries it, what she’s juggling through the day, can provide a quick snapshot of who she is and what her day looks like.

This summer, I finally picked up a Longchamp Le Pliage tote (late, I know, and it’s been life-changing, taking me from the gym to meetings). I hate bags that look too precious (no, your Birkin is not meant to be carried around like a Ming vase) and frankly I don’t have the time or the patience for high-maintenance items. I end up carrying or wearing the same accessory for days, and tend to carry everything but the kitchen sink when I leave home.

This feature, like so many, came about from a conversation with Tanvi Gupta Takhtani, one of the women featured here (who shares my proclivity for oversized bags), on how motherhood and work have changed our approach to fashion. Here, five women from across the world, living on the go, tell us about the tote bag that does all the heavy lifting for them.

Megan Kothari, founder, Aaryah, New York

Everyday tote: The Row Terrasse bag

A day in my life: “My days are constantly moving. I’m a founder, but I’m also a mom to young twin girls, so I need a bag that can keep up. On any given day I’m going from home to the Aaryah showroom, on the subway, in an Uber, and sometimes straight into dinner or an event. I need one bag that I don’t have to think about. I just grab it and go.”

How I carry it: “I’ve had it since the spring (it was on the waitlist for a while!). The leather is so soft and supple, it carries a surprising amount, but the bag itself is really lightweight, which is important because I fill it with everything. I also love the length of the straps. It’s one of those bags that look beautiful but are actually incredibly functional. Most days I’m in jeans and a top, but I’ll wear it with a summer dress too. I love that it doesn't feel overly precious and it has no visible logo.”

What’s in it: “Chargers, AirPods, card holder, multiple pairs of sunglasses (don’t know why I do this), lipstick, hand balm, and sometimes a baby bib–I have twins, so their things inevitably make their way into my bag. Then there’s usually something jewellery-related: a loupe, ring sizer, a packaging sample or something I’ve brought home from the Aaryah showroom. My bag is a combination of my work life, personal life, and mom life.”

Tanvi Gupta Takhtani, co-founder, Seven Oral Care, Mumbai

Everyday tote: Celine Luggage tote in olive green

A day in my life: “My day starts at the gym—an hour of sanity. From there, I might grab a coffee or go straight into a meeting before heading home to work. Most days are a slightly chaotic mix of calls, meetings, and looking after my four-month-old. I try to wrap work by 6 pm so I can properly switch off and spend the evening with my older one. Throw in school runs, PTA meetings, book club, catching up with friends, and whatever else the day decides to add to the agenda. My trusted tote comes through all of it with me. Eleven years later, it’s the one thing I never leave home without.”

How I carry it: “I’ve had the bag for 11 years. It’s an extension of me. It’s a bit worse for wear, and that’s part of the charm. I’ve bought plenty of other totes over the years but have somehow never been able to make the switch. My work ‘uniform’ is an oversized shirt, usually white, and jeans. As a new mum, I’m very into anything that requires minimal thought but still makes me feel put together. There are plenty of mornings when my first meeting is straight after the gym, in which case it’s head-to-toe black athleisure and zero apologies.”

What’s in it: “Beyond the usual wallet, keys, phone, perfume, and sunglasses, there’s always my travel coffee mug, Kindle for a bit of sneaky reading, AirPods, and a notebook. My on-the-go beauty kit is very minimal: D’alba White Truffle First Spray serum, Benefit Benetint, my Indē Wild lip balm, and Seven Oral Care breath strips, which I’m obsessed with and have permanent residency… I also always carry a pack of Mini Magna-Tiles for my six-year-old—genuinely one of my best parenting hacks for keeping him entertained without handing over a screen. The rest is pure chaos. My bag is a black hole in the best possible way. Need an emergency safety pin? An obscure receipt from three weeks ago? A Pee Buddy?”

Anushka Tata, freelance social media strategist and creator, Mumbai

Everyday tote: Uniqlo C drawstring bag

A day in my life: “An average day starts with a school run, so the tote carries a much-needed ‘car snack’ for my son. Then work, maybe from home, or I’m stepping out for a client meeting or a shoot. That’s when I’ll slip in a portable light and a mic. I take my son to some of his extra-curricular classes in the week, and my Kindle is a major means of entertainment. And a water bottle fits right in when I’m off to Pilates in the evening.”

How I carry it: “This tote comes with me when I’m in my favourite jeans and my trusty white tee, which I wear to meetings or to just get coffee; sweats and a cardigan when I’m running errands or doing a school run; and even tights when I’m going to Pilates. It’s a dark blue, so it really matches with almost my entire wardrobe.”

What’s in it: “I’m a part-time content manager and a full-time mom, so having something that’s water-repellent and fits everything (no, really, everything!). Since it has no partitions or structure, it’s filled with pouches in different shapes, colours, and sizes to add some order to the madness that’s usually inside. I have a vanity pouch in the bag for a lip balm, lipstick, perfume, sanitising wipes, and other essentials. Another pouch has a small box of sketch pens, a pen, pencil, and some knickknacks. Then there’s my notebook, Kindle, my crossword book, a hand fan, my little box of vitamins, and my card case. And, of course, Hotwheels and glow sticks—things to distract a toddler having a tantrum outside the house!”

Mamta Nihalani, founder, Apothecary by Mamta, Dubai

Everyday bag: Polène Numero Neuf bag

A day in my life: “No two days are exactly the same, which is one of the things I love about running my own brand. My day can move from checking orders and production to developing products, creating content, meeting suppliers, answering messages, and handling all the little details that come with growing a business, alongside everyday family life and my two boys’ schedules. I founded Apothecary by Mamta in 2016, so the brand has been part of my daily life for a decade now. My bag comes everywhere with me. In many ways, it’s my office on the go.”

What’s in it: “My phone, wallet, sunglasses, keys, charger, notebook, pens, and inevitably a selection of Apothecary by Mamta (mini) products. There will almost always be a lip balm, sanitiser or something I’m testing for the brand. Since I’m constantly on the go, my bag tends to become my portable version of a desk!”

How I carry it: “It’s one of those pieces that has just become part of my everyday life. I love a bag that feels effortless—something timeless, practical, and chic that works just as well for a workday as it does for running around Dubai. My work style is quite relaxed and understated. I’ll usually pair it with jeans or trousers, a great white shirt or simple tee, flats, trainers, and a few pieces of jewellery. I like clothes that feel polished without looking like I’ve tried too hard.”

Rewati Shahani, artist, London

Everyday bag: A black Ganni bag

A day in my life: “Drop the kids to school, before taking the tube to Labyrinth Photographic or the studio. Head out to lunch with a friend occasionally, or grab one for my desk, take the tube home to get the kids from post-school activities, squeeze in a hot yoga class, dinner with friends, and back to the studio till the early hours. Basically, the bag goes everywhere.”

What’s in it: “A paperback—I’m currently reading Flesh by David Szalay. A bit of makeup, especially lipstick, my keys, rOtring pens to draw or scribble with, and a film camera.”

How I carry it: “I’ve had it for two years now. I wear a lot of black as it is, and black boots to stomp around London in! So, it goes very well. It’s a versatile bag as it transitions smoothly from day to evening and is surprisingly capacious.”