The John Lewis tote bag I use everyday is on sale for just £12.50
It's the perfect size and looks a lot more expensive than it is.
Tote bags are my guilty pleasure. In fact, bags in general are my guilty pleasure. And there's one reason for that — I love to accessorise. I'm a firm believer that any outfit can be upgraded with the right accessories, and that usually starts with the perfect bag. So whenever I get the chance to snap up a new style, I tend to welcome it with open arms. Which is exactly what I did with this versatile pick from John Lewis.
After keeping one eye open for a basic everyday bag for some time, I came across John Lewis's ANYDAY Puffy North South Tote Bag, which, right now, has been reduced to just £12.50 in John Lewis's clearance sale. That's 50% off!
Comfortable on the shoulder and super lightweight to carry, it comes in what John Lewis describes as their "best-selling silhouette" — oversized and featuring a cushioned design.
My go-to for travelling to and from the city on a regular basis, it's gathered quite the collection of compliments, with multiple colleagues and friends all impressed with the way it looks. And when I tell them how little it set me back as far as cost, they're in disbelief.
Previously available in varying colours including cobalt blue (my bag colour of choice), coral, sage green, beige and even lilac, there's currently only one colour left to choose from: blue denim, after proving so popular with shoppers.
🛍️ Product reviewed: John Lewis ANYDAY Puffy North South Tote Bag
⏰ Tested for: Eight months
⭐ Rating: 4/5
💸 Reasons to buy: Versatile, stylish, fits 17" laptop, good for everyday
✋ Reasons to avoid: No zip, not many internal compartments
💰 Best deal we've found: John Lewis's best-selling tote is on sale £12.50
Carry all of your essentials in this oversized, padded tote from John Lewis available in blue denim.
💸 Reasons to buy
This bag's biggest selling point has to be its size. It fits all of my essentials and more, including my 17 inch work laptop, over-ear headphones, perfume, purse, keys, make-up, book and emergency jumper.
Then there's the style of the bag itself — it takes on the cushioned, padded design that's been trending for quite some time now, which contributes to how comfortable it is on the shoulder.
With an almost slouchy design, it looks great on, easily bringing an outfit together.
£12.50 £25 at John Lewis Browse all John Lewis bags
It's also worth noting that in the eight months I've been using the bag, it hasn't lost its shape whatsoever. Not just that, the nylon-like fabric means that if anything spills or marks it, you can simply wipe it clean. Which, if you're familiar with London transport, is a huge bonus.
The trend-led cobalt blue shade that I picked my bag up in has since sold out, but the existing blue denim colour is just as wearable (if not more so). Keep your eyes peeled, though, as I've noticed various colours get restocked over time.
Overall I'm beyond pleased with this bag, not just for its practicality but also its style. And other shoppers agree, with one equally as happy customer hailing it the "perfect tote bag" and another saying it was exactly what they were looking for — "perfect for everything!"
✋ Reasons to avoid
There's just two gripes I have with this bag. 1) it doesn't have a zip, and 2) there's not many internal compartments. Now, these are things you wouldn't normally find from a standard shopper/tote bag, but I do think they would elevate this design that little bit more to make it the perfect everyday bag. But even so, it hasn't stopped me from using it constantly.
