Best Ways to Style a Leather Tote Bag for Every Season
I didn’t plan on writing about my leather tote bag, but here we are. Honestly, it just sort of happened — I noticed the same bag showing up in nearly every mirror selfie I took over the past year. You know, the slightly slouchy brown one with the scratch on the corner (coffee spill, don’t ask). So I figured… maybe it's worth talking about?
Anyway, I’m not a fashion blogger. I wear the same five things on rotation. But here’s how I’ve been using — and styling — my tote bag, season by season. Not Pinterest-perfect advice. Just what’s actually been working for me.
☁️ Spring: It Starts with a Denim Jacket (Always)
The first time I dug out my leather tote after winter, it still smelled faintly of that bakery I visited in Prague (baguettes are powerful). I usually pair it with a denim jacket, a cotton dress, and white sneakers — not because it’s trendy, but because I’m usually running late and it’s the easiest combo that doesn’t make me look unwashed.
Sometimes I tie a weird little scarf to the handle. No idea why. Just feels like spring should have a scarf, you know?
☀️ Summer: Lighter Clothes, Heavier Bag?
Summer’s tricky. I switch to linen everything. Breezy tank tops, the kind of loose pants that make you feel like a cloud. But ironically, that’s when my tote is the heaviest — sunglasses, book I probably won’t read, phone charger, random receipts, a giant water bottle because dehydration is real.
I don’t match it to my outfits. I just don’t care in summer. But the soft brown leather looks kind of effortless with neutral clothes. Sometimes people even ask me where the bag is from. I tell them it’s "just a bag I’ve had forever," which isn’t even a lie.
🍁 Fall: The Season Where My Bag Looks Best
If the tote bag had a moment to shine, it’s October. Maybe late September. The colors match — burnt oranges, dark greens, boots that click when you walk too fast. I usually throw on a cardigan that smells faintly of last year’s bonfire and let the tote do its thing.
Also: I start carrying more again. Planner, snacks, gloves just in case. My tote has this inside pocket that I always forget about until I lose my keys for the fourth time that week.
❄️ Winter: It Becomes a Shield
Winter’s the worst for my back — not because of the bag, but because I pack it like I’m moving house. Scarf, gloves, lip balm (three, because I always lose two), a book, maybe a second pair of socks. I need structure in the bag so it doesn’t flop around when I’m wearing a bulky coat.
One weird trick: I wrap my coffee in a spare tote bag inside my leather tote, so if it leaks, it doesn’t ruin the lining. Learned that one the hard way.
Look — I know blogs like these usually end with some polished conclusion about investing in timeless pieces and capsule wardrobes. But truthfully? I like this bag because it fits my life. Not the other way around.
Curious what kind of leather totes we’ve got? Have a look: https://woyaza.com/