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Whether you’re hauling your laptop, gym gear, and makeup bag on a marathon commute or strolling to your neighborhood coffee shop with your tablet and a dream, one thing’s clear: a great work bag is a must. And let’s be real — that flimsy canvas tote doubling as your grocery hauler just isn’t cutting it anymore.
Ready to upgrade? We’ve got you. From sleek leather totes to ultra-functional backpacks — and even business-trip-ready options with luggage sleeves — these picks will keep your essentials safe, stylish, and organized. Want extra fashion cred? Look for suede textures, belted designs, and geometric shapes inspired by 2025’s biggest handbag trends.
Whether you’re shopping on a budget or looking to splurge, you’ll find top picks from R29 reader-favorite brands like Calpak, Quince, and Lululemon, alongside fashionable finds from Coach, MZ Wallace, Polène, and more.
Laptops Bags With Compartments
Laptop bags with compartments mean business. Think padded sleeves, triple-section interiors, and clever details like customizable inserts. These designs keep your tech secure and your essentials perfectly organized — all while looking sharp on the go.
Business-Trip Ready Travel Bags
When it comes to business trips, bags with luggage sleeves are a must. Options like the Béis Work Tote combine sleek, organized interiors with travel-smart features like secure laptop compartments and built-in luggage sleeves. Ideal for navigating terminals or heading straight to meetings, they’re the perfect blend of style and functionality.
Bags In Modern Shapes
Modern shapes are the secret to elevating your workwear game. Whether structured and architectural or soft and sculptural, these unique silhouettes add instant interest to your blazers and work pants. Pro tip: carry one to your next interview — it’s a guaranteed way to stand out as a top candidate.
Work Backpacks
Backpacks are our top pick for city commuters, but they don’t have to feel blah or grade-school-inspired. Go for a fun pattern like Rothy’s checkerboard print, water-resistant matte neoprene like the Alo backpack, or sleek leather — something Coach has perfected (see the Coach Lana Bag and Coach City Tote, two forever-favorite work bags). For travelers, a backpack with a laptop sleeve is the ideal blend of function and style.
Structured & Ladylike Bags
The ladylike trend is here to stay in 2025. Channel the sophistication of the ’30s to ’60s with a structured top-handle, timeless shoulder bag, or trendy belted tote for a polished touch that blends vintage charm with modern refinement.
Puffy Tote Bags
A puffy tote bag or quilted tote bag doesn’t just protect your office essentials — it also brings major winter vibes with its plush, cozy feel. Think of them as the chicest way to keep your stuff safe while looking effortlessly cool (and seasonally on point).
Suede Bags
Suede is the perfect mix of iconic and on-trend, with a timeless appeal that feels endlessly polished — whether it’s a slouchy or a sculptural take on the classic suede tote bag. This luxe fabric truly shines in rich earthy tones, from olive green to chocolate brown, cementing its status as a standout choice for work bags.
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Home to some of the chicest clothing and accessories on the market, Massimo Dutti — which also happens to be Zara’s sister brand — has elevated everyday pieces to add to your winter wardrobe. The Spanish retailer offers classic and trending designs alike: You can get your fix of ruffles, barn jackets, and loafers, while also picking up closet staples like work pants. To make it all even more enticing, Massimo Dutti is currently holding a winter sale, with select styles up to 50% off and free standard shipping.
From elegant winter dresses to casual square-toe boots, you can find everything to round out your wardrobe at a discount. Most styles on-site are currently between 20% and 50% off. And while there’s plenty of stock and sizes available, we can’t promise that your favorite pieces will stick around for long, so peruse the sale section to shop major deals and secure new threads.
Massimo Dutti Outerwear On Sale
If you’re looking to curate an outerwear rotation that fulfills all your cool-weather needs, Massimo Dutti’s sale section is calling your name. From corduroy, velvet, suede, and wool, the winter coats on offer are high-quality and extra-cozy.
Massimo Dutti Tops On Sale
Whether you want a new button-down or cardigan for work, a striped polo top to run errands, or an evening blouse that hits on a few 2025 fashion trends, you can find them all on sale right now at Massimo Dutti. Most of the brand’s tops also come in neutrals, ensuring they’ll easily mesh into and complement your existing wardrobe.
Massimo Dutti Bottoms On Sale
Slip into these unique yet versatile trousers, midi skirts, and statement jeans throughout the winter and beyond. Most are on sale for under $100 right now, making them hard to pass up on.
Massimo Dutti Dresses On Sale
Ahead of the holidays, Massimo Dutti had all the holiday party outfits we wanted. Surprise: Some of those styles are still available… and now discounted! Cart up a midi dress (or two) for your winter soirées, Valentine’s Day dates, and this season’s weddings.
Massimo Dutti Shoes, Bags, & Accessories On Sale
The cherry on top of any outfit is the accessories, and luckily you can find top-quality options at this brand, too. From trending green bags and loafers to decadent capes and hoop earrings, the sale section has it all.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
In Refinery29’s Talking Shop series, we’re chatting with owners of up-and-coming small businesses about their experiences launching, the big challenges and wins they’ve faced, and, of course, their products and services.
As I found myself eagerly watching the Paris Olympics on my television — and noticing how unique Team Canada’s beach volleyball uniforms were — little did I know that I was being introduced to my new favorite swimwear brand.
Launched in 2018, Left On Friday is the brainchild of co-workers-turned-friends-turned-co-founders, Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage, who, fittingly, met while working at another beloved Canadian active brand: Lululemon. Low Ah Kee came to the company somewhat unexpectedly (“I thought I was gonna be there for three months, and I was there for 12 years”), working up from being a visual merchandiser in a store to a product assistant at HQ, to a merchant, to the head of speed to market. Savage started as a design assistant for the men’s line before expanding into more categories, eventually becoming VP of women’s design. (Her “claim to fame,” as she puts it? “The inception of the women’s run and outerwear lines.” NBD.)
Low Ah Kee says they “would have night chats,” one of which planted the seed for what would become Left on Friday: “We were like, ‘Oh my god, there’s so many swim brands, but nobody is making active swim that’s beautiful and you could also wear to the resort.’”
“It was great that we were at Lululemon during the time that we were, because the training and the exposure were so robust. We didn’t stick in these tiny little lanes,” Savage says. “We could take all of those skills and be very confident in starting our own company.”
Savage and Low Ah Kee both left the company, for separate reasons, in 2016. Looking back, they both say they had positive experiences and learned valuable lessons, such as problem-solving for the consumer and, in turn, creating design solutions for the company. “I really understood the market, the brand Lululemon at the time, what was going on in the fashion world, and what was going on in the sport world, so I could tie it together and deliver something that was impactful,” Low Ah Kee explains.
As the pair grew closer and connected on their passions for active, outdoor lifestyles — and became best friends — they decided to collaborate on a new brand. “We worked together for 10 years before we went into business together, and I think that’s the key to success,” Savage argues. “I also respect her immensely, and I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else. It’s like getting married.”
Left On Friday emerged two years later. “Nobody was making bathing suits you could be active in and hang out in,” Low Ah Kee explains, noting how that inspired the duo to create pieces you could comfortably go from the beach to barbecues (and beyond) in. The brand’s “icons” (AKA bestsellers that boast hundreds of reviews each) include the Sunday Suit, the scooped Pool Days Top, the V-neck Sunday Top, the high-cut Hi Hi Bottom, and the medium-coverage Hi Tide Bottom. Each is versatile enough to style with alternative swim separates and to wear as activewear or resortwear. Plus, like a majority of the swim collection, they’re made from the brand’s soft and compressive Smoothing Dream Fabric — a nylon-polyester-lycra blend — and available in at least 20 colors.
Left On Friday’s most recognizable offerings, though, are arguably the Playa Top, the one-shouldered reversible bikini top, and the Streamline Bottom, worn by Team Canada’s Olympic beach volleyball players, Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, in Paris this past summer. Savage designed the top specifically for them, taking the athlete’s preferences and feedback in mind. Knowing that people would want the style once they saw it, the brand launched it to coincide with the start of the summer games.
“Every time they played, we’d get a spike in traffic on the site, and then as it built to the final game, there was a huge spike,” Low Ah Kee remembers. “In Canada, it was the highest-watched event, next to the opening ceremony.”
The brand began working with these athletes after national beach volleyball player Shaince Marcelle asked Left on Friday to sponsor her back in 2019. That led to a three-year contract to sponsor Canada’s entire female volleyball team and design the Olympic uniforms.
“It was six years of blood, sweat, and tears, coming to life in front of us,” Low Ah Kee says. “It’s the pinnacle of why we exist. We’re all about making the most beautiful swimwear, which performs. That’s what the uniforms were, and that’s what Team Canada was.”
Savage notes that the team “very intentionally didn’t put branding on our suits. We really went after something that was timeless, and wanted it to be identifiable through the fit, the look, and the construction. Now, people can recognize it without branding or logos, so that feels like we’ve done a really good job.”
The success of its Olympics debut has allowed Left on Friday to expand into more activewear categories — “a natural extension of the brand,” according to Low Ah Kee. In September, it launched leggings, bike shorts, tops, and playsuits, in a super-soft, fast-wicking, brushed nylon-lycra meant for out-of-water activities, dubbed the Super Moves Fabric.
“It’s just the most amazing progression of the brand and the product,” Savage says. Specifically referencing the playsuits, Low Ah Kee adds: “You can literally wear it morning to night. Just throw on a blazer, a sweatshirt, a top. — honestly, this is coming from someone who was anti-dressing-up Lululemon pants.”
There have a few additional new collections and fabrics since, too, including a moisture-wicking and thermo-regulating Sport Silk. All have helped position Left On Friday as an emerging player in the crowded swimwear and activewear spaces.
“It’s a dream come true,” Savage says. “It’s something we’ve always wanted to do. It was just always a part of our life. And I’m so happy we did it.”
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While the start of a new year has us re-evaluating our routines, goals, and closets, the chilly weather has us craving comfy, cozy vibes. The solution? A Lululemon shopping spree.
The reader-favorite brand has tons of new and best-selling styles across loungewear and activewear (as well as versatile, hybrid pieces) in winter-appropriate fits, fabrics, and colors to help us crush fitness and wellness goals. Several have particularly caught Refinery29 editors’ eyes: From vetted pieces we want multiples of to newly-dropped collections, we’re looking to Lululemon to upgrade our cold-weather wardrobes.
Ahead, the 11 Lululemon finds — from workout jackets to sneakers and leggings — that we’ll be adding to our carts and wearing, especially throughout the months ahead. Read why they’re our top picks, and consider them for your closet refresh, too.
“After years and years of using the same Lululemon jacket to throw over my workout clothes to go to the gym, it’s time for an upgrade. Maybe blame it on Valentine’s Day, but I have my eye on this Pink Haze colorway that also feels like the perfectly soothing hue for the harshest winter months.” — Irina Grechko, Fashion Director
“I already own several pairs of Lululemon leggings, but the Align styles hold a special place in my heart. The super-soft fabric feels extra cozy this time of year, especially when paired with a Softstreme half-zip, and the 25-inch inseam is perfect for petite gals like me. (I also love the extra cropped 21-inch or short versions.) I can’t think of a more versatile legging for doing everything from yoga to grocery shopping to lounging at home in, and this evergreen shade is such a winter mood.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
“As someone who celebrates Lunar New Year, I’ve been inundated with endless new launches covered in snake motifs. (2025 is the Year of the Snake.) It has honestly been kind of overwhelming — the way I see it, the best way to invite in positive vibes is to wear an auspicious red outfit on the first day of the Lunar calendar year, which will be January 29. Anything simple yet eye-catching is preferable, which is why I’m carting this jazzed-up version of the Scuba Fleece Pullover. The pop of red is so smart, and the snazzy gold lettering (not a snake in sight) means that I can wear this on future Lunar New Year holidays, too, no matter what the animal zodiac in question is that year.” — Venus Wong, Senior Writer
“We all know and love Lululemon for its standout leggings and yoga clothes, but don’t sleep on its sneakers. The brand just dropped its newest version of its elite Chargefeel Workout Shoe that’s designed to be supportive and cushioned for both running and training. The black-and-white colorway is right up my alley, and I’m excited to swap out my current winter salt-stained workout shoes for a fresh pair.” — Kate Spencer, Senior Affiliate Partnership Manager
“Due to the quick rise and continued popularity of the brand’s Dance Studio bottoms, I think it’s time I jump on these best-selling cargo pants. While I typically wear leggings for workouts and long walks, I do own a pair of thick cargo sweatpants that I sometimes reach for, but they’re only practical for the winter. The fabric for these lightweight, stretchy pants are more cross-seasonal, and the style is also versatile enough to wear to the gym, to run errands, or to grab brunch.” — Victoria Montalti, Associate Fashion Writer
“I’m not a runner, but I do try to get out everyday for a walk, so this jacket is appealing to me for when it gets warmer, especially for the bright-white color and reflective details. I live in the countryside, so when it gets dark, it gets really dark — there are no street lights and lots of small, windy country lanes. With this jacket, I can stay visible and safe.” — Esther Newman, Affiliate Writer
“Since I’ve always been attracted to the sleek design of the OG camera bag, I was stunned when I saw the new Lunar New Year iteration. The vibrant red and twisted top handle are so fashion-forward, I’d be happy to wear it out to dinners and parties. It still has the signature water-repellent fabric and removable crossbody strap, which also make it functional for everyday use, too.” — Victoria Montalti, Associate Fashion Writer
“Lululemon’s long-sleeve base layer isn’t just cute for wearing on the mountain or on brisk runs — I can totally envision myself wearing these lightweight tops under sweaters or jackets for extra warmth, without added bulk, while running errands or lounging at home. The Tencel-blend fabric is also super breathable and comfortable for all-day wear. I’m very into this icy baby blue hue, which is very much giving me après-ski vibes.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
“I’ve already owned two pairs of these pants for five years, and I need more! I originally brought them during the pandemic as a work-from-home alternative to pajamas, and I haven’t looked back since — these with an oversized, graphic tee and cozy slippers?! I’m all set. They’re just so comfortable to wear. The fabric is buttery-soft and weightless, and I love that it’s breathable and sweat-wicking, so I don’t have to change for my midday mental health walk. Also, the short length option with a 29.5-inch inseam is perfect for my 5’2” stature.” — Esther Newman, Affiliate Writer
“I own a few Lululemon two-in-one sports bras and enjoy them, so I think it’s time to add another to my rotation. And why not choose a style that’s half its regular price? This top-rated design is an iteration of the best-selling Align V-Neck Bra, and the sweetheart neckline is so adorable, it may just have to be the finishing touch on my Valentine’s Day outfit.” — Victoria Montalti, Associate Fashion Writer
“If I’m going to invest in high-quality workout gear, I usually prefer it to be versatile enough to wear both in and out of the gym. This slightly retro varsity jacket is a perfect winter-to-spring transition piece, and is roomy enough to easily layer during these icy winter months. I love the way the brand styled it onsite too, with some leggings, socks, kitten heels, and a thick headband.” — Kate Spencer, Senior Affiliate Partnership Manager
