This Dagne Dover tote ended my years-long search for the perfect work bag — here's what makes it so great

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Until recently, I often found myself lugging my laptop to and from the office — not wanting to part from important files or programs I may need offsite. That, in turn, led to toting around two bags instead of one, because my everyday purse wasn't big enough to accommodate my 13" MacBook Air.

But I got pretty tired of pulling double-shoulder duty. I really liked the look of my bag, but it was hardly the most practical option for my day-to-day needs. So I started shopping around for work bags with roomy interiors and lots of compartments.

Dagne Dover's founder and CEO Melissa Mash summed up my feelings about the tote best: "It's no longer good enough to just be 'arm candy'. Nowadays we expect the services and products we use to multitask, to be data-driven, and to work harder," Mash told Insider. "Dagne Dover is the only brand in the handbag market that does so while continuing to be stylish and organized."

I need a work bag that's working for me, not against me. And like the rest of Dagne Dover's customer base, I lead a fast-paced, on-the-go life and expect functional products that can adapt to my needs and perform beyond expectations. I want a product that fuses style with athlete-caliber function. The company's Classic Tote does — and then some.

On the outside, I have a durable, stylish, work-appropriate leather bag. But, as with many things, it's what's on the inside that counts. And I've found one of the best work bags for women.

Some of Dagne Dover's most popular features incorporated into the bags — like the water bottle holder, padded laptop compartment, and key leash that makes your keys easier to find  — are also some of my favorites.

"It's really a game-changer when you can trust that your laptop is safe, your keys aren't sitting on the countertop at home, and your water bottle is upright and not leaking on your phone," Mash said. As someone who admittedly hates carrying around her laptop in a reusable shopping bag, and who occasionally forgets her house keys on her dresser, I couldn't agree more.

Practicality and versatility are key when it comes to your work bag; great style is the cherry on top of everything else Dagne Dover has to offer. 

The bottom line

Dagne Dover's Signature Tote costs $255 and comes with tons of features that make it great for work and easy to stay organized. It looks nice, too. I paid $400 for my old work bag, and though very pretty, it wasn't half as useful for my day-to-day. If you're someone who invests in their purses and has struggled to find a work bag that has everything you want, I can't recommend Dagne Dover enough — it checks all the boxes.