A work bag is not the most exciting purchase you’ll ever make, but it’s a crucial one. Strategist writer Lori Keong recently chatted up a whole bunch of professional ladies for her guide to the best of the best of the work-tote-sphere, and the Madewell Transport made it to the top of the list. (It’s Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen’s favorite — as well as the whole borough of Brooklyn’s.) This Passenger Tote, also from Madewell, is a little smaller and daintier, but no less of a workhorse: It has both long loop handles (which can be tucked into the interior), so you can sling it over your shoulder, as well as smaller handles, so you can carry it like a briefcase. Snap gussets allow you to expand or minimize the interior for when you want to schlep around your gym clothes, or just tote a paperback, keys, and wallet. Right now, it’s sold out on the Madewell site, but on sale at Nordstrom (in both a spring-appropriate brown as well as black) for 33 percent off. Incidentally, here’s a leather Madewell backpack that we really like that’s also work-appropriate (and also on sale).
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