cherylm, thank you! Which color you have? I have been dreaming of a tote like this for ages and this is the first I see that fits what I had in mind.

Here is one from Briggs and Riley, a luggage brand.
This is a Well-loved brand by travelers and has a very good warranty.
I don't have first-hand experience with this particular item, but it has the outside pocket you're looking for, and looks like a LePliage.
https://www.canadaluggagedepot.....oCvA3w_wcB

I don't have the Briggs and Riley tote but I do have their luggage and love it.

By the way, I tried the Isobel with my 13 inch computer and it worked brilliantly -- not struggle at all to get the computer into the bag.

I have a burgundy Briggs and Riley tote with a matching rolling carry-on, and I love it. Probably my best luggage purchase ever. I don't carry it day-to-day, just use it for travel (it's a little overkill for my personal day to day use), but it has held up beautifully with rugged use.

Yes, Janet. I wonder if it looks too much like luggage. I have to say, I have a huge weakness for luggage and seek out opportunities to buy more of it, or get other people to buy it.
I don't know why! I barely travel.

[Threadjack] -- Smittie, I totally share your love of luggage!! Looking at it alone is so much fun. I guess it holds so much promise, right? I am sure this feeling accounts for some of the popularity that Louis Vuitton bags enjoyed for a while...they hearkened back to old-style travel trunks. Dooney and Burke stuff has a bit of that "traveller" look also.

Janet, that is great to hear about the Briggs and Riley tote. I have the carry on and the larger suitcase. We FINALLY bought them this year after years and years of heavy travel with our other bags -- my so-called carry on was too big for regulation yet I lugged it with me everywhere for a dozen heavily travelled years. Given the amount of travel we do, we decided to splurge on this luggage and I have no regrets. I may look into the tote and the toiletries bag as well.

I considered the Le Pliage but ended up with the Tumi Voyageur because it is slightly more structured.

Well, my one tote to rule them all is my Fjallraven tote, which I've raved about before. Comes in two sizes; can be used as a hand, shoulder, or backpack, and is offered on a wide variety of colours. YLF Finds feature does not work for Amazon because the tote gets classified as gear?

Anyway, here's a quick review:
https://practicaltravelgear.co.....otepack-2/

My Pilage bag now often gets folded and stuffed inside for shopping on my way home because I can easily flip my Fjallraven into its backpack mode, then carry my Le Pilage. I frequently get stopped by other women who get intrigued when I suddenly convert my tote into a backpack. Three flight attendants who were deadheading back to Vancouver wouldn't let me board until I showed them how the tote works.

Thank you all for the tips. I hope I'll get something soon.

Elpgal, I have been thinking about this one. I'm worried that the width might not allow it to stay upright when I set it down. I would really love something that stands up on its own.

Liz A. I have the sable color. It is not at all structured - so if you want a tote that will stand up when set down, the Cuyana is not for you.

For structure and a lot of pockets, there's this:
https://www.betabrand.com/comm.....omens.html

It's very casual and won't collapse elegantly when there's less in it.

Haven't seen it in person. Betabrand's construction of "work" items often tends toward gearish.

But it might suit someone's bag needs.

(Also: why do they show it with shoes shoved directly into interior pockets. Doesn't she walk on the ground with those things?)

Thanks, again cherylm and minimalist.

I hope other readers are enjoying all the good advice on this thread as well. I still haven't committed to anything, but I am terrible at making decisions. I always want the "one x to rule them all" and can't seem to settle for just ticking most of the boxes.

When I said I wanted something that stays upright, I meant in the way that the Le Pliage does... not completely upright but just so that it doesn't fall on its side causing everything to spill out the top.

Right now I'm leaning towards towards the Dooney I mentioned upthread.

If you have a TJ Maxx nearby I second the suggestion of looking in both the purse and luggage sections. I have seen Tumi totes there, and LePilage also, and many other brands.
I also love my LePilages, and would love an extra inside pocket or two.

Just wanted to follow up in case anyone was interested.

I ended up trying the MZ Wallace Medium Sutton in the two-tone blue and black. It was a nice bag, but didn't really feel me for some reason. Plus, it was either too small or the shape just wasn't right to accommodate my enormous work laptop. So it went back.

Then, I tried the Frye Melissa shoulder bag. Was lucky enough to get it on deep discount. I haven't actually put it to use yet, but so far just trying it around the house, I think it may be a keeper. I don't think it's the one tote to rule them all lol, because it doesn't have an outside pocket, and it's a little heavy. But my Longchamp got water stains or something on it, so it needs a break

I'm late to this thread but have you looked at Henri Bendel? I have two of the Jet Setter bags large size and am happy. No finds but here is the link
http://www.henribendel.com/us/handbags-2/

Gail, no I haven't tried Henri bendel. That can be an aspirational bag for me