November is upon us, which means the shopping Olympics have commenced. Whether you’re a Black Friday master or a nervous newcomer, you’re in the right place. This year, you won’t succumb to the perils of the impulse purchase, but rather navigate the fashion and beauty sales like a true expert. Avoid the overwhelm and join ELLE UK's Senior Shopping Editor daily as she reveals the one single thing you need to see from the behemoth November sales. We promise you’ll emerge with your sanity intact (and some very good purchases under your belt).
You know the juggle: trainers for the commute, comically big water bottle, laptop. These are the things we feel the need to lug around with us through the working week. Add to that a make-up bag, book (if it’s a hardback, you’re a sadist) and 13 inexplicable lipsticks and you’ve discovered the root cause of that creeping backache.
But if you’ve invested in a nice designer bag, where does all the detritus go? If you’re like me, the answer is likely a canvas tote, hastily packed by the door and quickly greying at the edges. Needless to say, it’s not the chicest of looks: but coming from someone who once broke the strap on a treasured (quadruple-figure) shoulder bag by trying to Tetris their laptop into it, I can tell you the trusty tote exists for a reason.
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So, what’s the solution? For your posture, it’s a backpack: one with padded straps and ergonomically crafted contours. But I know you haven’t come here for practical advice, so here’s the silly fashion solution: a designer tote bag, big enough to store your every last working-week essential.
Of course, big, logo-ed fashion totes are everywhere now, from Dior’s ubiquitous (and increasingly pricey) Book Tote to Louis Vuitton’s iconic Neverfull. But while I’m all for a purchase that looks good, I don’t believe anything you stuff on the floor of a Central Line tube should cost more than your mortgage, which leads us nicely on to the best thing I’ve found on the internet this morning.
Parisian e-tailer 24S has quietly launched a particularly generous seasonal sale on-site, and within it lies the tote of the season: Chloe’s boho-inflected canvas Woody. All three sizes and all three colourways are currently reduced by 40% (just input the code BF40 at checkout), which take it far below the pricing benchmark for a Big Fashion bag.
Of course, it’s still an investment purchase, but rest assured in the knowledge that this one comes in longevity and versatility: sure, you can take it to the office, but it looks just as good with denim at the weekend, and isn’t too tied to a transitional trend that it’ll look outdated once the seasons shift.
There are others on offer too, including Marc Jacobs’ logo-stamped totes, also reduced by 40% (these fall into the ideal gifting price bracket, FYI) And for the Y2K obsessive, Acne Studios’ extra-large denim-effect tote is up for grabs – you can get your entire gym kit in this one. So whichever you choose, you might not be resolving the muscular misalignment, but you will be able to finally ditch that fraying beige tote.
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Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
