The Deal: Shop designer and brand name totes for less at Overstock.com

The Lowdown: With the holiday shopping and travel season looming, we’re ready to upgrade our daily carry — or round out our handbag collection — with something practical and chic. Considering the next few months will likely be Endless rounds of shopping, parties and traveling to visit family you didn’t even know existed, what’s more practical than a tote?

What gets us is that, in searching for the perfect piece, it seems one woman’s tote is another woman’s (or designer’s) hobo, or satchel, etc. etc. Would someone standardize these definitions please? Here’s our attempt: We’d suggest a tote a) is bigger than a breadbox (seriously, how can you call something that wouldn’t even hold a Chihuahua a tote?), b) features a sturdy set of handles that double comfortably over-the-shoulder, and c) is structured enough that whatever we put in it won’t simply morph into one impenetrable mass of, well, stuff.

Okay, now that we’ve cleared that up, where to find great totes on a budget? We like Overstock.com for a variety of reasons but mostly because we can find the brands we like (Steve Madden, Nine West, Kenneth Cole) at prices we also like. Here, our picks for under $150 (and most are under $75).

Shop: Shop handbags at Overstock.com

Our Picks:

1. Steve Madden Twist Knot Tote, $64.99
2. Kenneth Cole Unlisted Ringmaster Patent Tote, $35.99
3. Nine West Urban Large Tote Bag, $39.99

4. Kenneth Cole Unlisted Hey Stud Large Hobo, $35.99
5. Kenneth Cole Unlisted Ringmaster Snakeskin Tote Bag, $29.99
6. Nine West Catalina Large Tote Bag, $34.99
7. Hype Gaby Leather Large Tote, $132.99