Kate Spade Take A Dip Small Coal Tote

So it occurred to me that if I’m going to be spending time on a boat this summer (and hopefully, a lot of time), in addition to water-resistant sandals, I’ll need a good tote that can withstand water too. The last thing I need is to take one of my leather handbags on the boat with me, and have it splashed with salt water, or worse, fall in and get completely soaked. That would be the end of that handbag. There’s a big difference between the distressed look, and the destroyed look. If you’ve ever found yourself surprised by the tide or a thunderstorm while wearing leather shoes, you know what I mean. Luckily, there are plenty of good-sized totes out there made from materials other than leather. My favorite so far? This Kate Spade Take A Dip Small Coal Tote.

I’m glad Kate doesn’t go with the hideous alphanumeric names for her designs, but she does make them long, doesn’t she? Let’s go with Take A Dip. The Take A Dip tote is made from 100% cotton canvas, so it’ll be ok if it gets wet. It’s unlined, so it’s also lightweight. The top is open, with no closure, but since the bottom is pretty flat, the bag should remain upright on its own. The handle gives it a 7.5-inch drop, and the hardware is 14-karat gold plated, just like most Kate Spade handbags. It’s gorgeous in this bright white with the sunny yellow bottom. The Take A Dip tote is $195 at Piperlime.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

As beautiful as that Kate Spade bag is, I’m not sure if I want to carry a 200-dollar bag onto a boat, especially one with 14-karat gold hardware. I’d be pretty pissed if something happened to that bag. Other than cotton canvas, another good material for a summery on-the-water tote bag is grasscloth. Check out this Elaine Turner Gidget Bucket Bag. It’s made from woven grasscloth with braided hemp handles, and synthetic leather trim. The interior is lined with logoed fabric, which will offer a little more protection for your essentials if the exterior of the bag does get wet. It also has a magnetic closure to help keep everything secure. This peacock blue color is perfect for being on the water, too, and it sort of matches the sandals I was talking about the other day if you really want to coordinate. Get the Gidget for $150 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

Now you know I love Kate Spade, but I just discovered this brand, and I’m thinking about having a little affair on the side. I’m loving this Sherpani Blossom Tote Bag. It’s made of cotton, so it’ll dry quickly if it gets wet. The color is already a little faded, so you don’t have to worry about that happening in the sun. What’s a little odd is the suede trim on a cotton summer tote, but I can overlook that for everything else you get with this bag. The details are amazing. Embroidered down one side of the front exterior are tiny white flowers on vines. On the back, a vine and the outline of one large flower are stitched across the bag. There’s an exterior zip pocket, and the suede pull is shaped like a leaf. There’s even stitching on it to make it look like one. Like I said, details. There’s also a slip pocket on one side, perfect for keeping your sunglasses handy. The interior lining fabric is printed with a purple, olive green and red floral pattern. It may not sound like those colors go together, but they do. The inside has slip pockets to hold small items, and the main compartment is super roomy. A couple of those slip pockets are even big enough to hold bottled water. The top zips closed, so you don’t have to worry about anything falling out. I love it in this spice color, but it also comes in kelp (a faded green), lilac, and antique white. They’re all gorgeous. Get a couple of them since the Blossom tote is only $63.95 at Zappos.com.