I’ve always said I’d never get on board with the mini bag trend, but the Petite Tote from Dagne Dover proved me totally wrong (this bag was previously named the Tiny Tote).
The Petite Tote wasn’t anything I ever expected to love, and yet from the moment it arrived I was intrigued. The Dagne Dover team (lovely people, btw) sent me The Charlie Tote in Ivy and nestled snugly in the box was an unexpected Petite Tote in Cherry. Admittedly, I felt a little challenged by this teeny tiny bag’s presence. I’m a notorious lover oversized handbags. I like to have everything with me including my Surface Pro 3, a bottle of water, snacks, and a backup battery large enough to charge my phone at least 3x. I’m a busy woman with needs, you know.
The first night it arrived, I planned to walk around the Dyker Heights Christmas lights with my mom & a friend. I was shocked at how much I could fit inside the ultra-organized interior. One of my favorite features of Dagne Dover bags is a coordinating key strap perfect for finding your keys in a cavernous bag, or in my case keeping my Card Case safe.
Although I do attend a lot of events and cocktail parties, they often come at the end of a long day of running from other events to meetings and in between trying to grab a few moments at a coffee shop to work. On those days I still rely on my trusty Sunday Somewhere leather backpack, another bag silhouette I protested on Twitter for years. I didn’t have many chances to fall truly head-over-heels in love with The Tiny Tote until I flew to Austin for SXSW.
It was during this trip that I realized the Petite Tote is not only the best evening bag option for crowded festival situations, but it also fits perfectly inside my leather backpack to appease the airlines & their “one personal item” rule. Taking this one step further, it fit perfectly on the armrest underneath my arm in the window seat while flight attendants were none the wiser. When I said I am a woman with needs, I meant it.
When it comes to construction, the Petite Tote is made of coated canvas which makes the bag feel substantial but still light. The finishing touches, like zippered and magnetic pocket closures, are thoughtful. In fact, that’s how I would describe the brand overall. You can tell a lot of time and care has gone into each of the designs.
Should you be in the market for a mini bag, the Petite Tote retails for $145 at DagneDover.com. Sadly Cherry, the color of my bag in the photos, is no longer available.
