A tote is the bag people most often buy as a gift, partly because the sizing is forgiving and partly because a large flat front panel is the best surface a monogram can sit on. If you are buying for someone else and you are not certain of their taste in shapes, a mid brown tote with a blind pressed monogram is the safest good gift on this site.

Why the tote takes a monogram well

The front panel is large, flat and under tension when the bag is full, which is exactly what a press needs. On soft or curved panels the letters can distort as the leather moves. A structured tote holds the impression sharp for the life of the bag.

Sizing when you are buying for someone else

Choose the medium. The large is the better bag for a daily commuter with a 16 inch laptop, and it is noticeably big if the recipient does not carry one. Medium works as a work bag and as a weekend bag, which is the safer bet when you are guessing. All the dimensions, including base width, are on each tote product page.

Colour when you are guessing

Cognac or chestnut. Black is safe but reads as a work bag; tan is beautiful and shows hand marks quickly, which some people love and some find stressful. A mid brown works with almost everything and ages well without changing beyond recognition.

Getting it there

Ships in a rigid box with a cotton dust bag inside, no prices anywhere in the parcel, with a handwritten gift note if you add one at checkout. Two to three working days to dispatch with the monogram, then three to five in transit within the US.