This Under-$50 Workhorse Tote Screams East Coast Style—and Carries Everything I Could Ever Need

There are designer bags, and then there are workhorses. My L.L.Bean Boat and Tote is firmly in the latter category—and I mean that as the highest compliment. I own versions in small, medium, large, and extra-large; a full family. They've seen me through moves, breakups, ski trips, camping trips, grocery shopping, and many a farmer’s market run.

The Boat and Tote comes in a variety of colors, but I gravitate toward the neutrals: canvas with black trim, deep forest green, the kind of shades that quietly suggest competence. And then there’s my army print version, 12 years old, softened with time, structurally indestructible (almost literally). Right now, it’s preparing for a 16-hour journey to Tokyo. If any bag can handle long-haul travel and my overpacking tendencies, it’s the Boat and Tote.

What I love most about this bag is its refusal to be precious. It is unapologetically utilitarian: thick canvas, reinforced handles, zero fuss. (Editor's note: Marie Claire editor-in-chief Nikki Ogunnaike also loves the Boat and Tote for those reasons.) Which is precisely why it works so well with outfits that lean polished. I’m always interested in contrast—structure and softness, preppy and punk.

For day-to-day errands, I’ll pair the tote with wide-leg jeans and a cropped jacket from Ulla Johnson. The volume of the denim and the structure of the jacket balance the slouchy practicality of the bag. Add boots or loafers, and suddenly a canvas tote looks intentional rather than accidental.

For the Farmer's Market

For the farmer's market, I default to trousers and a cashmere sweater—soft, understated, capable. The tote, especially in a larger size, feels purpose-built for heirloom tomatoes and flowers I absolutely did not need but bought anyway. At the beach, the extra-large version is non-negotiable. Towels, books, sunscreen, snacks—it absorbs it all without complaint and still manages to look charmingly East Coast.

For Travel

Travel is where this bag truly shines. For long-haul flights, I’ll style it with relaxed wide-leg trousers or denim, a cashmere knit, maybe a bomber jacket and baseball cap for that off-duty ease. The tote slides under the seat, holds everything (headphones, sweater, skincare, snacks, existential dread), and emerges unscathed. No delicate hardware. No anxiety. Just competence.

For Intentional Trips

If I’m leaning more directional, I’ll throw it over my shoulder with leggings, combat boots, and a sharply tailored blazer. The juxtaposition is the point: utilitarian bag, tailored top layer. It says, “Yes, I have a plan,” even if the plan is just coffee and a post office run (I love snail mail).

The genius of the Boat and Tote is that it doesn’t compete with your outfit. It anchors it. It adds a note of pragmatism to tailored pieces and polish to casual ones. It’s democratic. Durable. Entirely unfussy. And in a fashion landscape that often prioritizes fragility, there’s something deeply chic about a bag that can handle real life.

Twelve years in, multiple sizes later, and one intercontinental flight ahead, it remains my most reliable companion. Not flashy. Not trendy. Just quietly iconic.