Gift It: Totes.

I don't often consider the usefulness of totes. I was inclined to think they were the hipster's territory, but I can no longer ignore their mass appeal. A good tote can serve as your primary bag (fits books, magazines, and notebooks perfectly), or can be folded up into your regular bag to keep on hand for grocery shopping or stuff collecting (I don't know...whatever). That's handy, no? Especially if you live in New York and you decide to go grocery shopping after you've already gone clothes shopping and there are so many things to carry that you wish you had another cotton/canvas bag with a cute print on it. Totes totally solve that. Also, they are ch-ch-cheap. Most are $15 or so, or you can stalk your favorite haunts and see if they ever give out a lil satchel with their logo on it, which has happened to me more than once. If you'd rather purchase than stalk, here are some bags from online boutique Little Paper Planes or your consideration:

Robots, spatulas, bikes, antler girls? There's something here for everyone! Click any of the images for more information.

Get Graphic With Ashkahn.

Ashkahn puts the graphic in graphic designer, and then he takes it back out. I mean, you would think a tote bag featuring the evolution of the muff would be shockingly inappropriate for public use, right? But the funny sketch on the side of a canvas carry-all is rendered gentle enough to be almost, well, cute.

What? I mean I think it's cute. Ok, if you don't like the idea of muffs on your accessories, maybe you'd rather sport a triple-decker hamburger or a Nina Simone print on a tee?

Either way, you should totally consider signing up for the Ashkahn fan club, where among other things (mainly cache and clout) you will receive this lovely, personalized, autographed headshot from the artist:

Totally worth the $2 fee and the SASE he asks of you. Totally.

Click any image for ordering information.

Advanced Screening

Silk screening is an elevated art form and Reckon does it well. They print popstars, philosophers, comedians, and artists onto totes, tees, tot clothes, and pillows for under $30.





Click any of the images for details on how to snag em.