Of All the Designer Bags Out There, This Is the One I'm Investing in This Autumn

I'm going to make a bold claim—if I could dress in one brand for the rest of the year, it would be Toteme. The Stockholm-based label has been dominating my feed for the best part of two years, with its perfect black ankle boots, striped knit and fringed scarf jacket becoming the closest thing to the official fashion-person uniform in the same space of time. With loyal fans amongst content creators and celebrities alike—Rosie Huntington-Whiteley being one of the first to start wearing it—you might ask, "What's all the fuss about?" Let me enlighten you. 

What I love most about Toteme is its slow approach to fashion. Founded by content creator Elin Kling in 2014, since its launch, its collections have never felt too tethered to a specific season, and the pieces stand the test of time in terms of passing trends. Instead, they're what could largely be described as "classic" with a refined colour palette that has been designed to layer and enhance the pieces you already own. Silhouettes are sleek, and embellishments are almost non-existent, the antithesis of the somewhat flashy brands that also launched around the same. Fast-forward to 2023, and Toteme's aesthetic hasn't just stood the test of time; it has informed a whole fashion movement. "Quiet luxury" has become something of a buzzword this year, and Toteme is right at its heart with its clothing, but what of accessories? Doesn't every It brand need an It bag to go with it? Sure does… 

At the end of last year, Toteme unveiled its foray into luxury handbags and predictably, it's starting to gain serious momentum. The minimal Toteme T-Lock bag is made from a beautifully soft leather that comes in black, tan, a mole grey and a milky white. Featuring a curved top flap, dual straps (short and long), and an understated T-shaped clasp (the perfect logo, in my opinion), which comes in gold or silver hardware. There's even a new mini clutch version which may just be the perfect evening bag. Amongst all the noise in the designer bag world, Toteme has earned itself a rightful place within the space, and the T-Lock is beginning to thrive. Even the queen of minimalist everyday dressing, Katie Holmes, has been spotted carrying her Toteme T-Lock bag not once, not twice, but three times running errands in NYC. And that's before we consider the sheer volume of times it has been shared on Instagram and TikTok. Make no mistake: This is the bag of 2023. 

So, if you are in the market for a designer handbag that goes beyond fleeting trends and has the power to elevate whatever you wear it with, this might be it. Available in two sizes, I've assembled the entire collection of Toteme T-Lock handbags for you below.

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