Hannah says: You needn’t pay the earth for your funky summer tote…

Did you know that the first tote bag was designed in 1944 by LL Bean? They quickly caught on, as ladies realised they made light and easy work of carrying paraphernalia, and by the 1990s, when designer Kate Spade embraced the tote, they became not just practical, but super-stylish too.

What we women love about totes isn’t just their versatility, but the fact that they’re a great way to make a fashion statement when out and about.

Here are my choices for this season:

Yoins, £16.99 ($24.77) – simple and stylish, with twin handles and a zipped pocket. My top pick for elegant, understated chic.

Style & Co at Macy’s, £45.46 ($66.27) – super lightweightand so cute!

Sole Society’s ‘Sherwood’ at Nodstrom,£34.27 ($49.95) – I love the little fully pompom charms and its generous size; perfect for the beach.

MISA’s ‘Ciao Tote’ at Shopbop, £75.33 ($108.00) – a great triangular shape with vivid colours.

Joules at John Lewis, £19.95 ($29.08) – nautical inspiration, with a fresh twist, and great value.

Billabong’s ‘Beach Dwellin Bag’, £30.84 ($44.95) – big, strong and funky-coloured.

Billabong’s ‘Even Waves’, £30.84($44.95) – cheery and pink, with a zip closure to keep everything safe.

Kayu at Net-a-Porter, £100.04 ($145.82) – inspired by the colours of Mexico and made from natural seagrass.

Macbeth’s ‘St Tropez Anchor’s Away’ at Pink Mascara, £34.30 ($50)– simple, classy and in a cool mesh fabric.

Sunnylife at Lipsy, £14($20.41) – I love the contrast of the black and the colours; bold and striking.

Pepaloves at Simons, £40.47 ($59) – how adorable is this? One of those bags that attracts attention. My top pick for cool, funky chic.

Polyvore, £21 ($30.61) – a fun flip-flop design with beautiful colours.

Marc Jacobs’ ‘B.Y.O.T. Collage Print NS’ at Farfetch, £229.53 ($334.59) – a little more expensive, but I couldn’t resist adding it; isn’t the design interesting?

Sakroots’ ‘Artist Circle’ at Polyvore, £43 ($62.68) – extra-large, with understated chic.

Sensi Studio at Polyvore, £158 ($230.32) – funky candy striped with frayed edges; hand-crafted by an Ecuadorian artisan. My top pick for confident, exuberant chic.

Kipling Maxwell at Macy’s, £104.75 ($152.69) – whimsical summery fabric with silvery trims and the signature monkey charm.

Macbeth’s ‘The Hamptons Isla Azure’ at Pink Mascara, £34.30 ($50)– I love the chunky rope handle.

Fiorelli ‘Trixie Floral’,£65($94.75) – gorgeously fresh and summery, with a detachable pouch organiser.

Vera Bradley ‘Mesh Sequin Tote in Camocat Pink’, £53.51 ($78) – what’s better than a tote? A sparkly tote, of course!

Karl Lagerfeld ‘Choupette on the Beach’ at Stylebop, £155 ($225.94) – PVC finish, with an iconic design.

I love the last tote bag so much that I’ve bought one. Not for me, though – for YOU! Watch this space, because in August I’m going to be giving away this gorgeous bag to one lucky reader, as part of the launch of my new book, Legacy.

Which of the bags here do you like best? Do you live by a tote in the summer? What’s most important in a tote for you: style, size, quirkiness? I would love to hear your thoughts.